Hi Scarlet
Only seeing your post now. I doubt if the Competition fines have made a significant impact yet so prices may still be very high. Have a look at Mietski.com. They are based in Pettneu which is a few kms east of the town. They can be significantly cheaper and it might be worth considering getting a couple of taxis over there to rent (you could take the bus but that would be a bit of a pain).
Consider using ski lockers. Depending on where you are staying, it can be a bit of trudge to/from the lifts. If you hire in the town, the hire company will usually offer storage at a discounted price.
Skiing - the central ski slopes can be very crowded even in off-peak weeks - St Anton is pretty much full every week so the crowds don't vary that much. So the trick is to get out to the edges as quickly as you can. Stuben is well worth the trip. There are only a few runs up there and they are short but nice. The runs down to the valley are long and good. Make sure you get over to Lech and Warth. It will take a little time but is worth it. The skiing is more extensive but tends to be quieter. The White Ring circuit starting from Zurs is worth doing. It does include a reasonable long "skiroute" but the time I did it, it was no more difficult than an average Red - they do bash it now and then so it does depend on conditions. The valley runs in the evening can be a bit hectic and can be icy in places depending on conditions. Technically, they are Blues but are actually really Red level and can be decidedly tricky with lots of beginners struggling on them :twisted: . It is probably best to get off the mountain either early or stay as late as possible until the worst of the crowds have passed :lol: .
Apres Ski starts early on the mountain with the Krazy Kangarou and the Mooserwirt being the 2 most famous. Worth stopping for one or two but if you stay too long, you will be skiing the last section in the dark :shock: . Also their prices are pretty steamy :evil: . Plenty of places down in the town, several of them with live music and most would have a slightly older crowd. Underground on the Piste would probably be my favourite but it is somewhat eccentric and they will throw you out at about 7.30pm as they change the focus to food :roll: .
If you have a look at the older posts, you will find a fairly detailed report from me on a previous trip.
