Niederau.... What's it like?

Just got a text of a ski club, and they are organising a trip to Niederau, €599 in 4* hotel, half board, flights and transfers for march 6th - 13th.

What sort of a place is it. I like to be the 1st person up the lifts and the last person down. I like skiing all grades of piste and usually spend 25% of my time off - piste. After coming from Serre Chevalier with 250km of piste, which I only skied about a 1/4 of it, do you think there's enough piste to keep us entertained. Not really into Apres ski as i'm usually in bed early, but a lively atomosphere would be a plus. It could work out over my price range when I add the lift pass, so not sure if it's worth it. But no harm in finding out some info from people who have been there?

Hi,
I've never been, but if you do a search on Neiderau (on this forum) you'll find lots of discussion over the years.

It's somewhere that seems to get lots of mentions.

My view from a short break there December 2008:

Very limited skiing, tiny village, very quiet at night, a limited number of bars around. I didn't take to the place I am afraid. Just my opinion, and not one that needs to be pulled to pieces or shot down in flames.

Having said that, there are plenty of people who appear to love the place. I understand its very good for beginners and has an excellent ski school, and several people go back year after year as they fall for it big time. Each to his own I guess.

If you want variety of pistes, its not the right place for you. One of our members on here will tell you that you can ski the same piste differently each time, which is technically true.
Serre Che will seem ENORMOUS compared to N. Mind you, my back garden does.... :wink:

I personally would not pay £599 half board anywhere for a ski holiday, with the exception maybe of Cortina or St Moritz, and N usually gets late deals going to it for around £199 if you are prepared to wait. Look on Inghams, Crystal and Neilson as well as the skideals website if you want to pick up a cheapie.

All I can say is you probably need to try it in order to make your own mind up. I tried it, didnt like it, and wont be going back. Other people tried it and have religiously been going back year in year out, so it has to have something for them to want to return.

Now, perhaps someone will come along and tell you just what it is that makes the place special to them.....

Which hotel are you staying in?

We am going to Niederau on 30th January. We had originally planned to go to Gosau, but because there are only 2 blue runs and 14 red runs and O/H being of a fickle nature, switched to Niederau in favour of 14 blue runs.

We have never been to Niederau before but is seems to get high praise on this forum. I have read a lot of reviews and not many have any bad points. The Apres ski is reported to last until 04.00am, but if you are like me, a few beers after dinner and I am ready for the cot.

I will post comments and perhaps some pictures after the event.

Mick.

Small but beautifully formed!

Had short break there last year and met some great people, but I would find it way to limiting for a week unless I had my own transport to get to the other nearby larger areas. Even with only 4 days there we still took a day out somewhere else for some variety.

Rusty

Hi,

Niederau skiing is probably best suited to beginners and early intermediates, with a highly regarded ski school, nice nursery slopes and gentle blues. There isn't really much for more advanced skiers apart from a bit of off-piste and a couple of black runs, although there is a good snow park down in Auffach and some nice red runs (free ski bus)for those that are that way inclined.

I would defo spend most of ur time in Auffach. Thats what I did in 2008 when I was there. The bus is only 1 minutes or something and is covered in the lift pass.

Enjoy

Graeme1986 wrote:Hi,

Niederau skiing is probably best suited to beginners and early intermediates, with a highly regarded ski school, nice nursery slopes and gentle blues. There isn't really much for more advanced skiers apart from a bit of off-piste and a couple of black runs, although there is a good snow park down in Auffach and some nice red runs (free ski bus)for those that are that way inclined.

I would defo spend most of ur time in Auffach. Thats what I did in 2008 when I was there. The bus is only 1 minutes or something and is covered in the lift pass.

Enjoy

I had 4 days in N. I skied 2 of them on the local slopes, drove to Mayrhofen for a day, and spent the other day in Auffach which has by far the better skiing IMO.

Thanks for all the replies, I didn't get the details of the hotel, but I may sit this one out, for this year anyway!