Still basking in the spring bluebird glow of my first ever trip to Europe for skiing. Skied the Austrian Alps in the Tirol region with my brothers Feb 14-18. Some general impressions first then some specifics on where we skied.
General Impressions
If you get the travel correct (I didn't! Miles flights with too many connections and a Dallas control tower fire ended up making for a 26 hour travel time, ugh) I think Austria, from the East Coast US at least, is worth a really hard look. Next time I do it (and there absolutely will be a next time) I'll fly direct to MUC and train to Innsbruck or nearby.
Europe, and Austria - totally different vibe from US/NorthAmerica skiing. The old villages, towns and cities are right there, the infrastructure is unmatched and just about everyone, literally, skis! Free ski bus to 9 main Olympia Skiworld areas from Innsbruck. Trains or buses to others. And boy are there others. Best local weather ski app is "Bergfex" and it lists - get this - 378 ski areas in Austria, 121 in the Tyrol alone! We barely scratched the surface on the scratch of the surface . . . met a dude from Boston, MA at the in town ski shop Die Borse who was there for three months - at 1/3 of the cost of Western USA. They had a 3 month in town apartment rental and car. Something to consider . . .
Accommodations: sweet Euro apartment very close to center city. 3 bedrooms, full kitchen, secure, quiet, was $820 all in on Airbnb. Block and 1/2 to the in-town J line ski bus to the Nordkette (didn't go, ski conditions not good) or local hill Patscherkofel (our 2nd favorite over all). 7 min walk to the main train station Innsbruck Hbf for trains to other ski areas like Seefeld (#1 favorite of the trip) or St. Anton, et cetera. 10 minute walk to the main free ski bus depot to all the other hills like Axamer Lizum, Kuhtai or the Stubai Glacier. Didn't shop really, but going out for après and dinner was awesome and very close by.
It's cheap! Food and beverage are superb, I love Tirolean food - heavy German influence, duh, beer is delicious and cheap. I think the most expensive dinner we managed to ring up was 70 Euro at a hip Nepalese place in the city with 2 rounds of drinks, appetizer, entrees for all.
Lift Tickets: Most we paid for a lift ticket was at the Glacier, think the after 11 AM ticket was 47.50 Euro. Next was 43 at Seefeld, Lizum was close to that, Patscherkofel 38.50?
Thoughts on Innsbruck:
Amazing. The Nordkette looms majestic (yes it's cliche but the Alps earn it) over the city all the time. We had great spring weather so that was nice, except for it made for some spring like ski conditions. Had to work to find some soft snow here and there.
Edit: still working on photo img links - Google no worky . . .
General Impressions
If you get the travel correct (I didn't! Miles flights with too many connections and a Dallas control tower fire ended up making for a 26 hour travel time, ugh) I think Austria, from the East Coast US at least, is worth a really hard look. Next time I do it (and there absolutely will be a next time) I'll fly direct to MUC and train to Innsbruck or nearby.
Europe, and Austria - totally different vibe from US/NorthAmerica skiing. The old villages, towns and cities are right there, the infrastructure is unmatched and just about everyone, literally, skis! Free ski bus to 9 main Olympia Skiworld areas from Innsbruck. Trains or buses to others. And boy are there others. Best local weather ski app is "Bergfex" and it lists - get this - 378 ski areas in Austria, 121 in the Tyrol alone! We barely scratched the surface on the scratch of the surface . . . met a dude from Boston, MA at the in town ski shop Die Borse who was there for three months - at 1/3 of the cost of Western USA. They had a 3 month in town apartment rental and car. Something to consider . . .
Accommodations: sweet Euro apartment very close to center city. 3 bedrooms, full kitchen, secure, quiet, was $820 all in on Airbnb. Block and 1/2 to the in-town J line ski bus to the Nordkette (didn't go, ski conditions not good) or local hill Patscherkofel (our 2nd favorite over all). 7 min walk to the main train station Innsbruck Hbf for trains to other ski areas like Seefeld (#1 favorite of the trip) or St. Anton, et cetera. 10 minute walk to the main free ski bus depot to all the other hills like Axamer Lizum, Kuhtai or the Stubai Glacier. Didn't shop really, but going out for après and dinner was awesome and very close by.
It's cheap! Food and beverage are superb, I love Tirolean food - heavy German influence, duh, beer is delicious and cheap. I think the most expensive dinner we managed to ring up was 70 Euro at a hip Nepalese place in the city with 2 rounds of drinks, appetizer, entrees for all.
Lift Tickets: Most we paid for a lift ticket was at the Glacier, think the after 11 AM ticket was 47.50 Euro. Next was 43 at Seefeld, Lizum was close to that, Patscherkofel 38.50?
Thoughts on Innsbruck:
Amazing. The Nordkette looms majestic (yes it's cliche but the Alps earn it) over the city all the time. We had great spring weather so that was nice, except for it made for some spring like ski conditions. Had to work to find some soft snow here and there.
Edit: still working on photo img links - Google no worky . . .
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