Soelden

I would like to hear form anyone who has stayed and skied in Soelden. I know most people who go to the Otztal Valley tend to go to Obergurgl and I will get a day there on my lift pass, but I don't know much apart from what I've read in WTSS.
I'm driving from Munich so expecting a good 3 hour journey on a Saturday late afternoon.
We will be skiing Sunday to Saturday inc (the benefit of a rare DIY trip for a change as it was much cheaper than a package).

Looking for advice on good eating places, mountain huts, runs off the mountain, and lift opening times.

Cheers in advance.

I take it no one on here has been then?

Posted yesterday but not appearing so here goes again. Two good lift systems from the village, the Giggi which is busy, gets you to the run a towards the glacier and main meeting area for all ski schools. Giaslakogel is newer and other end of town. Have done both package and driven down from Munich, was there Christmas and back again 15 March, we go twice a year. Good commercial restaurant/bars near both lift stations and on the glacier. My favourite huts are Bubis (blue 2 I think) and a nice easy run back to Phillip for Apres. You can get the Centrum shuttle lift down from there. Old and very traditional are Gampe Alm and Gampe Thaya, red 11. skiing back to the village available although back from the top of the Giggi to the bottom is red/black and can get really icy. Don't miss the 15km run bfn front he glacier but again Don't leave it too late it's icy. Hunersteig does good chicken on that run. For footie and rugby go to Chris & Co Irish bar, you can even order a pizza next door and get it delivered tor the bar. Gusto an d Onkle Tom good places to eat. For ski school I recommend the blue school but hey're all good. Have fun.

Tone, just seen your post. I'll be along a bit later with a detailed response!

Thanks guys. I am stopping in a small B&B on a piste, but I don't actually know which piste it is. All I know is I ski down to the lift in the morning about 600m, that should be nice. Looking on the town map I'm at the Glaslakogel end of town which I am pleased about as Giggi gets busy reportedly.

Njw - How long does the Munich Airport drive normally take you? I was reckoning on 3 hours, landing at around 3pm on a Saturday afternoon, so 4pm by the time Ive picked up the hire car.

Also any ideas on prices for a large beer, bottle of wine in a restaurant, simple mountain lunch like spam bol/goulasch soup, and something like Vienerschnitzel?

Ta Very much

First of all, it would appear you're at the right end of town for the best access to the mountain. The Gaislachkogl (correct spelling!) has fewer queues than the Giggijoch access lift - and the skiing is much more rewarding - steepish reds and blacks as opposed to cruisy blues. If you are staying near the piste, it would appear you're likely to be close to the Innerwald nursery area or perhaps at Ausserwald or Unterwald. The main piste through these areas can be a bit like the M25 at rush hour, or the happy valley at St Anton, at peak periods. As a high mileage man, you will enjoy the Big 3 Rally - a special round-the-mountain route that takes in all three peaks over 3,000 metres. The glacier is really snowsure but the long, long run back home from there can also be busy (not even slightly demanding, though). As for mountain restaurants, I liked both the Gampe Alm and the Gampe Thaya on piste 11. Atmospheric traditional huts. The self-service at Giggijoch is massive and ok, but has all the atmosphere of a motorway service station. The Heidealm above Gaislachalm came recommended; I thought it overpriced and over-rated; the itinerary to reach it was a bit of a nuisance, too, and not to everyone's taste.

A day in Obergurgl is worthwhile for a variety and to confirm to yourself that it would not be suitable for a week's holiday. Having a car means Kuhtai and Hochoetz are in easy striking distance.

Innsbruck airport is just an hour away so Munich, I'm afraid, is not the best travel option.

As for prices, difficult to say as I last went three seasons ago.

Overall, though, I liked it very much and would definitely return.

My thoughts, on immediate return from Soelden are here: https://www.j2ski.com/ski-chat-forum/posts/list/12325.page

Cheers for that. I didn't get an option with flights as I am using freebies with Avios. Innsbruck had pretty much zero availability plus car hire was about twice the price there.

I ca confirm one thing: all cars at Munich have winter tyres until 15th March included at no extra cost.

Hi Tony

We paid €4.40 for a beer at Christmas and it's usually the same price on the mountain as in the village. It's only gone up €0.80 in the five years I've been going there and with the strong Euro makes it good value. As you say winter tyres are included, don't forget your vignette (to drive on Austrian motorways) and snow chains. You probably won't need the chains but better to carry them just in case. It's A relatively easy drive from Munich but beware it does get busy going back with lots of Germans doing Fri - Sun trips and heading home on a Sunday. We've been held up so it might be worth leaving a little extra time. Enjoy.