driving to austria - any advice please?

Hopefully some if this snow that is pounding the Italian Alps will move over to the Dolomites\Tirol and stay there when you arrive around XMAS (I assume). We booked into Ortisei for the 20th but no snow there from what I can gather. Really starting to worry.

we;re stopping 3 differnt places in the area, but will get out on the snow at 4, possibly 5 different resorts. 2 in austria, 3 in italy. no rest for the girlfriend. yesterday all of those got a good layer and today too hopefully. Always want more though. One of the place said total snowfall last year at this time was around 4m and it's only just hit 2 now (base of 130cm)- however it was pretty avalanchey last year. it's early days yet though and sometimes what's printed as 5 cm on a website turns out to be 10 fresh up a hill.

just want to thank everyone for their info - and wish the best of snow for the season - checked the route again last night and made some amendments but will hit the stuttgart route, ulm then down to bodensee and up the bregenz pass, past st anton to Landeck. May come back via munchen to test the time difference.

we're now planning on leaving the night before and sleeping one (chilly) night in the van at folkestone before the train so friday 18th we can be driving the continent all day. think we will take the sock guy's advice and try ischgl/samnaun out too, always been slightly put off by crowds but i'm guessing 19th might be quieter? probably opening day so maybe not. come on the snow!

Good plan, have a great time.

Sock man x

Do you have winter tyres on the car? I think they may be compulsory in Germany (would someone care to confirm?). Snow chains are OK but most other cars will have their winter tyres on, especially in the mountains. Remember that winter tyres are still good to have back in the UK as they're as much for colder weather as they are for snow.

eek. no. I've got chains ready for when I need them but no winter tyres. I reckon if i have a GB badge on I'll prob be ok as far as the law is concerned....

Driving a VW anyway, I'm propping up their economy, they can't risk pulling me over.

I am making a similar trip am am also tossing up whether to get winter tyres. I made it there and back last year without them but admittedly it got hairy there for a while.

I thought you had to have winter tyres to drive in Austria? Going to St Anton after Xmas and was put off driving by the cost (£500) of buying them. Flying is much cheaper but driving would be better as we're there for a while so could take more gear in the car...does anyone know the legals of it?

Vin

benny12345 wrote:eek. no. I've got chains ready for when I need them but no winter tyres. I reckon if i have a GB badge on I'll prob be ok as far as the law is concerned....

Driving a VW anyway, I'm propping up their economy, they can't risk pulling me over.

I drive every year to the alps and only take chains