Zell Am Zee - have we made a mistake ?

Having just had probably the best winter holiday (of my many years) in Corvara (as we couldn't get into Arabba!) we are now concerned about where we have booked for 2015...

We are booked to go to Zell the first week of Feb, as a group of four (3 experienced skiers / boarders and one beginner snowboarder).

We were influenced by the beginner to be fair (we want them to enjoy as this means her other half can get to ski....) but with hindsight think the lack of pistes (unless you jump on buses) could put the mockers on the trip, that and what has been a very poor looking snow fall Jan and Feb this year.

Can those that have been give us some reassurance / or positives on the resort? We are considering changing destinations otherwise. :(

We went to Zell am See for a family ski holiday about 10 years ago and it was ideal for us - but we were all beginners or lower intermediates. And we went to Kaprun for a day to see what the ski-ing was like over there.

I think you might get rather bored if you just stayed in the Zell am See area itself - but it's not far to Kaprun on the bus.

Been to Zell loads of times, but usually stay in Kaprun, that way you are mid way between the Glacier (Kitzsteinhorn) and Zell, so if weather or conditions in one area are bad, they are often OK in the other. I am a skier however, so my views may not hold for boarders. Bus journey from Zell to Glacier will take approx 20-30 mins, buses run about every half hour. Bus runs through Kaprun, but Maiscogel (the local Kaprun slope) is not really much good for boarders (although the Lederhosen bar at the bottom is one of the best apre bars in Austria), so best stay on the bus to Glacier. I would assume glacier would be good for boarders as there is lots of off piste and a good selection of runs and there is a fun park. You cannot however ski/board back to the bottom at the end of the day, so you must get the gondola.
As for Zell, granted the area is not massive (but it is bigger than a lot of Austrian resorts), but there are a good selection of runs and I have never been bored there yet. I would say though that there are more runs (and longer ones) in Zell than on the glacier
I have never been to the resorts you mention you have been too (I don't even know where they are) so I can't offer a real comparison, but if they are not in Austria, then you are in for a treat. Austrian hotels are good quality and value and the atmosphere is really good.
Hope you enjoy it. We love it, but ones mans pleasure can be another mans pain!

I've been too zell a few times but only once as a base. It's a good area but I got bored very quickly. We stay in leogang now as it's a much bigger area and it's only a short bus ride to zell or the glacier. This years snow has been poor although it's picked up now. We went to France. Phew. Every time I've gone in late jan it's been amazing snow for the last 6 ish years. Also we go in march and it's fantastic. A little slushy but I'm a boarder and enjoy it. Although this year we are going in march to courchevel. Fancied a change. I don't think you've made a mistake at all. It's a lovely area but maybe just try to change your view of the bus trip. It's not long and it's well worth it. Hope it helps.

Duplicated post tidied up - carry on... 8)

Skied Zell loads of times the smittenhohe is a nice area for beginners and intermediates there's some great skiing over kaprun on the glazier we did some great off piste and gully runs with a top ski instructor enjoy the après ski is also great in both areas -)

Hi,
I stayed for a week from 1st Feb 2014 in Zell at The Tirolerhof.

Snow was in short supply but plenty high up both at The Schmittenhöhe and of course on the glacier in Kaprun where we got the free ski bus which took about 35 mins. We also paid €8.80 return for the no 680 bus to Saalbach for the day. This was possible because we made our Zell/Kaprun pass into the super pass which gave access to 22 other resorts in the vicinity including Kitbuhel.

Nightlife was brilliant including early evening Après and later nights at The Crazy Daisy.

We are thinking of going back to Zell for New Year. Enjoy!

Denchy

Judging from previous posts from Boardbiker I reckon I have a reasonable idea of the kind of area you like. I've never been to Zell, and theres a reason why, and I'm surprised you chose it as it has limited extent, a bleak glacier according to a mate who has been there, and theres the risk based on altitude of less than great snow. I reckon the best bet will be ski the area in the first couple of days, then take transport to neighbouring resorts. Another mate has been to Saalbach and rates the run across to Leogang as one of his favourites, probably worth a trip. I am sure there are other close by as well. But the beginner in the group may not be so keen!!!