Top 10 Reasons to Ski Austria
Great
weather, unbelievable vertical drops, excellent resorts and much more ...
check out the top 10 reasons to go...
It's More Affordable than you Think
The Weather is Better
Unbelievable Vertical Drops
Excellent Resorts
Awesome Instructors
Perfect Snow
Convenient, Safe Trail Marking System
There's More to Do
It's Austria
It's The Real Deal!
It’s More Affordable than You Might Think
A number of key elements determine the cost of a winter vacation:
transportation (usually air plus a ground transfer), accommodation, meals,
lift ticket, local taxes and tips, and, for many skiers, equipment rental
and ski instruction. It takes careful unwrapping of the package to find that
an American package just doesn't contain the same things a European package
does.
For someone on or close to the East Coast, a trip to an Austrian ski resort
could be between US$ 100 and US$ 300 less than a trip in a Western ski
resort. With lift tickets, transfers, food, taxes and tips factored in, a
skier who lives on the West Coast will find that a one-week ski vacation in
Austria costs about the same as an equivalent ski trip to a resort in the
Rockies.
Temperature and Climate
Europeans listen with great curiosity to tales of sub-zero,
wild-wind-chill skiing in North America, because the experience is strange
and exotic to them. Daytime temperatures in the Alps average in the low to
middle 20s (Fahrenheit) above zero even in January. Strong winds don’t last
long; they are usually harbingers of a major snowfall. If you want proof of
the mild weather, look at the sleek European ski fashions that do without
all the thick insulation. For detailed information check our on-line snow
report.
Vertical Drop
What matters to a skier is vertical drop, the difference in altitude
between the highest lift-served point and the end of the ski run, in Austria
usually the village. Big verticals mean long runs and uncrowded lifts. A few
figures say it best:
Innsbruck:
Elevation of Resort: 1,897 ft./575 m
Highest Liftserved Point: 7,444 ft/2255 m Vertical Drop: 5,547 ft./1680 m
St. Anton:
Elevation of Resort: 4,303 ft./1304 m
Highest Liftserved Point: 9,273 ft./2811 m Vertical Drop: 4,970 ft/1507 m
Sölden:
Elevation of Resort: 4,544 ft./1,376 m
Highest Liftserved Point: 10,725 ft./3,250 m
Vertical Drop: 6,181 ft./1,874 m
Austrian Resorts
Austrian mountain resorts not only meet the best standards in the U.S.,
but often exceed them in value and service. Most of the four- or five-star
hotels in Austria have their own indoor swimming pools, saunas or
whirlpools. Phones and televisions are a fixture in each room, and you will
usually be able to pick up CNN and/or other English language stations. As is
the Austrian way, service and gratuities are always included. You can ski
right into the village, and the lifts are usually within easy walking
distance to your hotel. Beautiful, picturesque hotels, with fluffy down
comforters and cozy rooms, await you. Along with a hot spicy 'Gluehwein' or
'Schnaps,' of course!
Austrian Ski Instruction
Besides its ski resorts, Austria is world famous for its ski-schools and
instructors like the legendary Hannes Schneider. He and others have founded
ski-schools at home as well as in the United States and in Canada. Ski
lessons in English are available from some of Austria's most talented ski
instructors. Creating runs for every level skier and making sure that
visitors can navigate through the terrain they want to ski is top priority
in Austria. That means extreme skiers and beginners alike will find their
place on all mountains, with a variety runs to help everyone reach their
peak.
Perfect Snow
The Austrian Alps are blessed with a long and lavish snow season. The
snow on the ground is generally powdery and fluffy well into spring. Packed
powder prevails on the groomed runs, deep powder off-piste. The Austria Snow
Report gives you the latest snow conditions at the top ski resorts in
Austria, seven days a week, from mid-December to late April.
Ski Run Marking System
Austrian ski resorts are typically nestled in valleys. The surrounding
mountain tops are artfully carved with long open runs that begin above the
timberline and feed into the resorts below. Generally, there are mid-run
markers on all Austrian ski slopes above timberline. The color of these
markers, 1 foot-diameter disks on poles, lets you know whether you are on an
easy (blue), medium (red) or difficult (black) run. Edge markers, large
plastic globes on high poles, tell you whether you are inside (green), on
the edge (green/red) or outside (red) the run. In addition you will find
orientation maps at the lift stations, numbered run designation, danger
signs, rope barriers, safety nets and much more.
More than just skiing...
For non-skiers, there's plenty to do and see. Sleigh rides, snowshoe
adventures through snowy alpine trails or ice skating are all available at
most resorts. Spice up your winter vacation experience with some European
flavor: check out the local sights, shop in uniquely Austrian boutiques,
take excursions to some of the beautiful surrounding areas and meet the
international crowds that love to gather in the outdoor cafes.
Austria, the ultimate difference
Austrian ski resorts are built around villages that have been there
since the Middle Ages, where the architecture and traditions of the region
are integral to the daily life of the community and its visitors. Welcoming
friendly faces, delicious restaurants, a sense of history and tradition are
at every turn. When you slip into your skis in Austria, you are stepping
into another place, another time, another culture. You can't repeat the
experience anywhere else. The value of your experience is thus doubled when
you ski Austria.
The Real Deal
If you're planning a winter sport vacation, do it right and make it the
experience of a lifetime. Go to the birthplace of downhill skiing, where
skiing was conceived and is rooted in the awesome Alpine landscape and
climate and is indelible from the heart of the people. Be a part of the real
experience, and take it with you.
austria.info
All Rights Reserved