J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by Dave Mac

We found all the Whistler eating places to be of a good standard. We were there three weeks the first time, and did not go to too many places twice. So, all good.

I dislike the Canadian 15% expected tip, sometimes to the extent of having this added to your bill, for you to remove. Which I firmly did. I tipped according to service, not to an expectation.

It is really good at Whistler, and Blackcomb Glacier is outstanding.

Ski well.

I like to meet with local people, hence I always ask at the accommodation which is the best bar to meet locals. I have returned to the same places in St Anton, Scheffau, Söll, Zermatt apart from my regular villages, and locals will just turn and shake your hand.

It has become difficult in my regular village because there are dozens of places that I must visit. There is only so much cocoa that a man can take....
Our group considered the Moosewirt quite boring,although my late departed ski buddy Mel, had a bad record of skiing off the roof and down the steps.He was such a steady skier, our Mel....

Good web page, pistepanther. I agree with your thoughts on accomodation costs. I just found b&b in a pension for €20,and ensuite for €22!

Might catch up with you in Söll. I usually drive over from the Wildschönau for the odd day in Jan/Feb.

When the first single chairlift in Niederau was replaced by a double chair, (where the gondela is now), it had a second life,being repositioned on the Lanerkopfl. Came the year when it was no longer licenced, there was a mad scramble in the village to get one of these historic items. Our good friend at the Auhof managed to get one or two. You can sit on one in Blachfelders, when trying on boots.

Why use the word historic? Well the single lift was the first mountain lift in Austria. It was built by Ingineur Sepp Hochmuth, who I skied with.

Hochmuth took the gearbox out of an abandoned tank left at Worgl Rail station, and used it to drive the rope.

Shellski, are you sure about the cost of a local pass for £50 cheaper?
The standard 6 day pass costs €227, or €216 in January,and this covers Sallbach, Hinterglemm and Leogang.

The Kitsbuhel Allstar pass would have been another option, and worth considering, should you be managing a 2nd/3rd week in Western Tirol.

TonyP,
Assuming that you think you have a good deal on flights, then try an email to the tourist boards. I did this for 6 of us, and had an offer of €45 per night HB, Scheffau, which we took. Train from Munich, the hotel collected us from the station.

There are always ways....

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Hi Sm4sh,
If you want some really good practical advice, give us your best flight options from where you live. Do you have good access to budget flights to Munich,Innsbruck, Salzburg, Geneva, etc. The flight cost is the big variable, £70 return, or £300 return. Do you have any flying points?

Transfer is the next comparison variable, ie, how close and convenient to a resort would your air route get you? This could be £10 or £50.

B&b is the most predictable. You should be able to get this for €30 a night in most places.

Add dinner at €12 in Austria, and twice that in France.

That is the process I use.

I arrived back from Zermatt, one Sunday. The next day, I just said to my OH, I NEED to go and get the last 4 days skiing in Austria. Next day I was on the plane. Easyjet, train, hitched a ride up the mountain road, then €26 b&b. You can make it happen.