Best resort in Austria for beginners & apres ski.

TheTwiz

Myself and a few friends who have never been skiing are looking to head to Austria in the year. We are looking for a good place for beginners but also a good resort for apres ski, we're all in our mid twenties so we want a lively spot when we're not on the slopes! Thanks in advance

Fattes

Cheap as Chips - Skiwelt (Not its biggest fan) But big cheap and livley! Soll and Ellmau are the two big spots

Middle - Mayrhofen - Banging night life 3 great ski schools and reasonably cheap for everything form Lift passes to beer & food (If you do go here get back to me can sort you for cheap rentals etc). Bars hopping from 2 pm - 6 am. Especially livley during Snowbombing festival. With a glacier as a back up on your pass

Saalbach as above but a little more pricey amazing lift access no quing and a big area by Austrian standards. Some seriously lively boozers. Is low enough so can be hit and miss but great snowmaking

Pricey - LECH/ZURS cracking night life serious party towns but PRICEY!! Fairly snow sure full of Germans and Russians and featured in Bridget Jones 2!

Other options- St Anton super party town but a little pricey and not overly suited to Beginners

Schladming very lively especially if you time it with the night slalom race it will be a once in a life time experience! Pletny of good schools and snow record

Happy shopping

flikflak

In most places in Austria you will find at least one bar where the apres is lively!

I would second the Ski Welt as its a large area that has some good beginner confidence building runs. Soll would be the most lively with Scheffau probably being the quietest. I always liked Westendorf too and this has a few good apres spots.

Zell am See is also another place I would recommend as this too has a glacier option as back up should the snow not be too great. Loads of lively bars here - Crazy Daisy and the Diele bar being my faves!

Have a look at some websites of the various ski operators to get an idea of the reosrts. Also you might want to consider booking a learn to ski package with them as this then cuts out all the messing around in resort - you just get told where to be when and where to pick up your gear.

anymore

flikflak wrote: »

In most places in Austria you will find at least one bar where the apres is lively!

I would second the Ski Welt as its a large area that has some good beginner confidence building runs. Soll would be the most lively with Scheffau probably being the quietest. I always liked Westendorf too and this has a few good apres spots.

Zell am See is also another place I would recommend as this too has a glacier option as back up should the snow not be too great. Loads of lively bars here - Crazy Daisy and the Diele bar being my faves!

Have a look at some websites of the various ski operators to get an idea of the reosrts. Also you might want to consider booking a learn to ski package with them as this then cuts out all the messing around in resort - you just get told where to be when and where to pick up your gear.

I agree with your comments regarding taking ski packages for beginners. That takes some of the stree out of learning to ski - let someone elese has the hassle of organising things, especially booking equipment schools and ski lift tickets.

Fattes

I agree with your comments regarding taking ski packages for beginners. That takes some of the stree out of learning to ski - let someone elese has the hassle of organising things, especially booking equipment schools and ski lift tickets.

You will save about 20% if you organize your own ski packages, and lessons! Ski rental shops make more money when you book direct and give you a better price and better kit. Very easy log on to local tourist office website look up Rental shops and Ski Schools and mail problem solved.


Lift Passes are the same price no matter where you buy them! Unless you have an ISIA stamp on an instructor card you probably are not getting a cheaper pass in Austria nearly every major rental shop has lift passes as will your hotel.

olaola

I'm always gonna say Saalbach, I'm just back from a summer hiking holiday there and they're replacing the Kohlmeis lift, so it's going to be cracking for this season. Wish I could persuade the gang to go back! It's such a 'ticks all the boxes' resort. And +1 on the 'DIY', as long as you get a cheap flight - you're laughin.

olaola

olaola wrote: »

I'm always gonna say Saalbach, I'm just back from a summer hiking holiday there and they're replacing the Kohlmeis lift, so it's going to be cracking for this season. Wish I could persuade the gang to go back! It's such a 'ticks all the boxes' resort. And +1 on the 'DIY', as long as you get a cheap flight - you're laughin.

Sorry, not the Kohlmeis, the Bernkogel.