|
|
| Ski Chalets in Austria |
"Nowhere is more beautiful than Austria in winter" says veteran ski guide Peter Habeler. "Sometimes when I wake up in the morning after a fresh snowfall, the view from my ski chalet window takes my breath away."
His passion for his native Mayrhofen and other chocolate-box villages of Austria is shared by generations of British skiers. The rolling pastureland of the Tyrol forms a beginner and intermediate playground. So if you are looking to hire a ski chalet this winter, look no further.
The Arlberg and Suvretta region (St. Anton and Ischgl) hogs the most challenging terrain, and has the most sophisticated – and most expensive – resorts. But equally, scenic skiing can be found elsewhere in the provinces of Salzburgerland (Saalbach, Bad Gastein, and Flachau) and in Carinthia (Nassfeld, Badkleinkirchheim).
The British love affair with Austria is largely based upon the warm welcome and the reliability of its mid-winter snow cover, and its beautifully appointed ski chalets, hotels and apartments.
The best areas for beginners would be Alpbach, Niederau, Soll, Westerndorf, and Mayrhofen.
Alpbach has hosted generations of British families in Ski Chalets for the past 40 years. The two village inns date back to the 13th century and new buildings have been kept to an absolute minimum. The lift map fails to do justice to a surprisingly challenging area with good nursery slopes. Alpbach-Inneralpbach Ski School and Alpbach Aktiv Ski School (www.alpbach-aktiv.com) are old hands at teaching beginners.
The best areas for intermediates would be Lech, Bad Gastein, Nassfeld, Obergurgl, and Ischgl.
The growing resort of Nassfeld, Carinthia, is still virtually unknown to British skiers but has 100km of undulating intermediate pistes. Lech was Princess Diana’s favourite and, together with neighbouring Zurs, it remains the most exclusive winter playground in Austria with the largest and grandest Ski Chalets Austria has to offer.
The best areas for experts would be St. Anton, Saalbach, Hinterglemm, Zurs, and Kitzbuhel.
St Anton, the steep and often heavily-mogulled slopes of Austria’s famous resort do not take prisoners! However, if you ski red runs with confidence, you will be hard put to find more fun elsewhere. Kitzbuhel is the venue for the Hahnenkamm (January 22nd), the toughest downhill race, and the biggest party on the World Cup circuit.
So if you are looking to hire a ski chalet or apartment this winter, try looking at what Austria has to offer.
View Ski Chalets for rent
|
|
