Saalbach for Christmas

techguy

Hey,

I'm heading to Saalbach for Christmas to go skiing.. We're thinking of staying in the Alpinresort hotel in Saalbach..

Does anybody have any tips on the place?? Anyone been to this hotel? Oh and whats the story with rental..can you only rent Ski's or can you rent those big ski boots too or do you have to buy them?

I've read that there are a nice few schools in Saalbach, any opinions on which one is best??

Thanks,
Techguy

watna

I'll also be in Saalbach for Christmas!

I'm not sure where the alpinresort hotel is? Is it in the town centre? There's lots of places to rent around the town. Where I stay is a bit outside the town iteself so if people need it, we rent and take lessons from there. it's a bit cheaper there but obviously only worth it if you're staying outside the town. You can rent skis/boots/poles/snowboards everything. As far as I remember is costs about 80 - 90 for the week. I've my own skis though so it's a while since I rented. The prices should be online. There's a big ski school located in the centre of town next to the main gondola. I've heard that's good. Check out www.saalbach.com. There's lists of schools etc under the skicircus tab.

Going out in Saalbach is great. I reccommend the spitz bar which is outside but covered in with fires/ it has great apres-ski music and atmosphere and hot waitresses (or so I was told about by my male friendds!). It's got a yellow and white awning all around it and is up by the main nursery slopes where beginners ski after a day or two. Also, Bobby' s pub in the town centre is really popular and is a good late bar. it cooks burgers inside too. My friends and I went out there one night last January and we're still talking about how good the burgers were. They're amazing! It also has alpin bowling ans cheesy apres-ski music!

Also, on the 23rd December they're having a Christmas market in Saalbach. German/Austrian Christmas markets are great, very Christmassy and you can get nice fruit punch and German sausages. it's great for the Christmas atmosphere. I think it's on in the square in the centre of Saalbach.

Christmas eve is the Austrian Christmas day and supermarkets etc aren't open. This is only a problem if you're self catering though. The skiing and restaurants etc aren't interupted by Christmas. They make the most of it as it's a short season!

P.s. Have you seen the snow on the webcams? It's fabulous, they've even opened some of the lifts early!

EDIT: Ok, I think the ski school friends of ours used when staying with us was the furstauer ski school. It's third down on the list of ski schools on the Saalbach website.

Imposter

We used Schischule Hinterholzer last year and it was great. Very flexible too as we weren't able to ski on the Sunday. The also had a package thing with a ski hire shop which saved a little for those who needed to hire skis and boots (and you could leave the skis and boots there overnight which was great - also meant you could head down in the morning in shoes - the luxury of it all ).

I always like Bauer for the Apres ski. It's right at the bottom of the beginner slopes. The place watna mentions is across the road from it.

@watna: What's the place just above the beginner Schlepplift? There's usually live music and it's a good laugh but very kitschy. Usually packed from 3pm-7pm too! Coming down the last bit of slope in the dark when pissed is always hilarious too

watna

@imposter. Is it the hinterhagalm? All the places become blurred in to one!

I also reccomend the hexen hause (sp?) in Hinterglemm. It's worth getting the ski bus down their to ski and then stay on the for the apres ski there. They do deals like 1 bottle of bacardi and two litres of coke! Madness! Thank god you don't get hangovers when you're skiing... it's like magic!

Imposter

watna wrote: »

@imposter. Is it the hinterhagalm? All the places become blurred in to one!

Now you made me go and look it up on a map! Going by the map it seems to be that one alright.

foamcutter

Techguy.

Hope the trip went well. What was the alpinresort like? Were heading their on Saturday, stayed at the Eva village last year.
Sounds like it has 2 parts a new and older part (reiterhof)
It's also confusing as there is a Alpenhotel in the village too.

techguy

foamcutter wrote: »

Techguy.

Hope the trip went well. What was the alpinresort like? Were heading their on Saturday, stayed at the Eva village last year.
Sounds like it has 2 parts a new and older part (reiterhof)
It's also confusing as there is a Alpenhotel in the village too.

Hey Foamcutter,
The trip went really well, thanks. The snow was unbelievable then and prob still is. The Alpinresort is really good,supposed to be one of the best in the resort. The food is amazing there. They do a great apres ski snack from 4-5 which is the biz! Also complimentary minerals/tea/coffee/hot choc(to die for) all day long which is nice too..less than 1 minute walk(no exaggeration!) to the ski rental and lessons area..

Regarding the name and two parts. I am still unsure about this. I stayed in the main block, where reception was. It was called reiterhof all over the place but it is known as the alpinresort to everyone. I wasnt in the block across the way but I think it's just an extension for more rooms.

Techguy

P.S. Can I squeeze into your case?I want to go back!:D

foamcutter

The Alpinresort is really good,supposed to be one of the best in the resort. The food is amazing there. They do a great apres ski snack from 4-5 which is the biz! Also complimentary minerals/tea/coffee/hot choc(to die for) all day long which is nice too..less than 1 minute walk(no exaggeration!) to the ski rental and lessons area..

Techguy, thanks for the info.............. we heard good things about it last year and that you could nearly fall out of bed and your were at the ski school.

As for

P.S. Can I squeeze into your case?I want to go back!

no problem once you Transformer into something the size of ipod.