Austria - Best Resort Recommendations

[CeliaCo]

Hello

Newbie poster :-)

Planning skiing in December, ideally on the 13th (hubbie can't take half term off). Background - I am a rubbish skier (like terrible!!!) so only ski for a couple of hours with a private instructor. Really want my kids to enjoy and be good at it so keeping with it. They are 6+8, we have skied 2 years ago in France but I think Austria would suit us perfectly (specifically the instructors I have heard are brill).

Which resorts would you recommend? I have noted down Schruns, Gashurn, Zell am see from other postings. Ideal scenario - hotel near lifts/ski school. Lots of green + blues and a snow sure resort. Realise its early in the season. Easter next year is the end of March and this year it was so slushy (feedback from Friends).

Any help would be greatly appreciated. THANK YOU!!!

[DaisyFitz]

Austria doesn't have green runs! I can highly recommend Obergurgl - and Esprit. You'll get great deals that week, and it's a snowsure resort.
Edelweiss is THE hotel to stay at but it'll cost you. Ski school is as good as any in Austria - the Esprit kids teachers prob being better (as they're English). Skiing is awesome for rubbish skiers (I'm one).

Thing to watch with smaller Austrian resorts is that ski school might not feature many brits. In Lech, English was the third language on the list - it made getting instruciton hard.

That said, I was blown away by Soldeu this year. For price, ski school, organisation of the lift in the morning. I can't recommend staying at the Sport Hotel enough. We liked it so much, we're going back this year. We'll prob do Obergurgl 13th Dec and Andorra week before half-term.

Cx

[TheRedQueen]

If you speak German or Dutch then Serfaus is great, including in the early season.

Agree with Soldeu - it's where I learned to ski! Can also second Esprit. We haven't used them but a number of friends are regular customers and very impressed.

[CeliaCo]

Thanks.

German is non existent afraid (Spanish + French fine though!!).

Esprit have sold out Obergurgl already. Edelweiss is 3000 including ski pass but need to add on flights/tranfers + rentals (direct from hotel). Will end up being around 4.5 ? 5k I guess. What d you think of that price?

Will look up Soldeu….Thanks!!

[DaisyFitz]

Celia - if you're rich and can afford it... then it's utterly reasonable! :) I don't think we can go (2 ad , 1 x 6yo) on a skiing holiday and it cost much less than 2.5k (accom, flights, lift passes, ski hire, lessons).

Defo try the Sport Hotel in Soldeu. Don't be lulled into the Sport Village or Hermitage - the Sport is best!

[CeliaCo]

Hi…is Soldeu ok for beginners and nervous have tried many times people….

[ladydepp]

I keep being told Obergurgl is fab, unfortunately it appears to be completely full the week I want to go (new year)

[CeliaCo]

Oops didn't mean to send that….didnt mean to write people. lol!

[DaisyFitz]

Celia - Soldeu is FAB for beginners. Lovely big wide slopes. Much easier skiing than in Austria. It's not the most difficult skiing for really good skiers, but my DH was more than happy. My DD was 5 and we skied with her most afternoons.

Did I mention you can drink Tattinger champagne... 35 Euros for a bottle? There's an ice hotel you can ski to - 6 Euros for a glass of Cava. Yum. We paid 5euros for half a lager in Les Deux Alpes. :o

We'd have lunch of pizza slices, pasta, beer and it'd cost 20Euros for all three ofus. Not fancy restaurants, but fine.