Postcard from Alpbach

Arrived home yesterday after a wonderful week in Alpbach, the prettiest ski village I have ever stayed in and a lovely little guest house - by the end of the week you felt like you wanted to stay, everything was so homely and cosy - we wondered why we had never stayed there before and would definitely go back!

The skiing was great, although we had a couple of days of fog and thick snow, so the visibility up the top was not good, but the ski school kept going - but we did not want to risk injury to ourselves or others. Plenty to do off the slopes, including an excellent bus service along the valley linking the villages and connecting with the train at Brixlegg, so spent a nice day in Rattenberg - which we would not have done otherwise. The Tourist Board have a good programme of events, including a film show about the history and traditions of the village, a walk through the woods with large candles, which apparently looked lovely - although we were part of it so only saw it from our persepctive - a ski show which is the best I have seen from one of the ski schools and lots of other activities like snow shoe hiking. It is clear that many people are returners and also I have never seen so many European nationalities all skiing and socialising together, from Monaco to Sweden, Ireland to Czech Republic - it was lovely not to be dominated by the Brits or the Dutch.

The ski area was in 3 parts, the slopes were well looked after and well groomed, plenty of places to stop and eat/drink and the lift attendants were very nice, and the few times people did have problems, they were quick to help.

Only downside was the TO we used, who will be hearing from me shortly for breaking health and safety rules, and not doing what a TO should, so they will get a letter of complaint shortly!

Other than that, a lovely holiday in stunning suroundings!

I also forgot to mention, you get an Alpbach Seenland visitors card, free local transport on the ski bus, the Postbus to the local villages and the local train network. In the summertime the lifts are all free with this card.

Also the village has a good range of shops and facilities, including a good Spar, and an unusual souvenir shop that sold .. wait for it... goat's milk soap, potato handcream and grey cheese! Lots of other shops to buy souvenirs, clothing, ski stuff and ski hire shops, plenty of places to eat and highly recommend the Dorf Cafe for THE best cakes we have ever had in the Tirol!!

Very good for families, couples, and those who like a more relaxed ski resort! :P

Who's the tour op?

For now I will say it is the first and probably the last time I will go with them, and begins with a 'C'.

Now that does NOT come as a surprise after my one and only experience with them last year in Mayrhofen.
They did not seem to give 2 s***s about anything to be honest. The reply to my initial emailed complaint was dismissive to say the least.

Well one point which alarmed us all was the transfer coach not having enough room for everyone's stuff, so 8 pairs of skis were piled in the aisles of the coach and bags placed in the emergency exit doors! :twisted: :shock:

I could go on..

dgou wrote:Well one point which alarmed us all was the transfer coach not having enough room for everyone's stuff, so 8 pairs of skis were piled in the aisles of the coach and bags placed in the emergency exit doors! :twisted: :shock:

I could go on..

Is that all? Thats happened loads of times, and not just on trips I've been on. Usual thing with people turning up with more bags than planned. I think its a result of people reading threads on this website about how to pack your ski bags, get 500kg of hand luggage on board, and travel in a coffin.

Dgou,
I'm glad you had a good holiday, but sorry you had a bad time with the TO.

I was on the Altibus (public bus) once, going from Val Thorens down to Moutiers, and when we got to Les Menuires there were enough seats for the people getting on there (because you have to book tickets in advance) but not enough space for their luggage.

I was quite impressed with the bus people, really, because they refused to take the extra people on (as it would have meant filling the aisles with luggage) and got a mini-bus taxi to take them down to Moutiers instead. And I know they all got down there okay because we met them there whilst we were waiting for the Eurostar.

It's surprising that the public bus offers a better quality service than the TO's :shock:

Ally