How to Have the Perfect Winter Holiday in Austria

Winter Holiday in Austria

The Austrian Alps have for a long time presented some of the most luxurious skiing and snowboarding opportunities in Europe. The country's mountain resorts have catered to thousands upon thousands of satisfied holidaymakers, without compromising their traditional beauty and charm. But how do you make sure you get the best holiday for your group, and all at a price that will be pleasantly surprising?

Steep thrills or beginner's paradise?

There's a wide variety of resorts to choose from in Austria, and you're sure to find the ideal place for you; whether you're booking a holiday for a family of beginners, a pack of daredevils or a group with a wide range of abilities, Austria's resorts will be able to provide. For beginner skiers and boarders, Obergurgl and Lech are a couple of the finest resorts to go for at this level. Set in a small traditional village, Obergurgl is the quieter of the two resorts, but it is almost guaranteed to have good snow. You are unlikely to meet any big crowds or queues in the resort, and with the easy level of the pistes it makes for an excellent place to learn. Lech is a larger and busier resort, and more suitable for groups of varying abilities as there is a lot of off piste on offer and a snow park and half-pipe for boarders. While some of the slopes back to the centre are a little steep for beginners, there is nothing too challenging.

For those who want something to get the adrenaline pumping, St Anton is a great place to go. Situated in the western end of the Tirol region, the resort offers a wide area of mountain to explore as the ski pass allows you to venture into Lech and Zürs as well. Like Lech and Obergurgl, St Anton experiences a lot of snowfall, so it's unlikely that you'll be stuck scraping your skis across the rocks. While it can get a bit crowded, cars are not permitted in the village centre so it still feels like the picturesque Alpine town you want it to be. It's got good après ski opportunities too, as does Saalbach. Saalbach is one of the four resorts that make up the "Ski Circus" – a ski area of over 200km of marked piste. Saalbach has something for everyone, with a selection of easy slopes and ski schools for beginners, as well as a variety of harder runs and some fantastic off piste for skiers and boarders alike. There are a number of snow parks and half-pipes to enjoy too, giving large groups a great range of mountain activities to keep them occupied.

In February, Saalbach hosted the legendary Ästhetiker Winter MÄSH, an exciting three-day snowboarding festival that saw some of the world's best snowboarders entertaining the eager crowds. MASH stands for 'Music, Art and Snowboard Happening', and perfectly sums up the type of event that it is. There were team snowboarding contests galore, adding a little something special to everyone's ski and boarding holidays.

Booking the holiday

Getting to a resort can often be difficult and a complicated process to organize for yourself. Booking a package deal will eliminate any problems, however, as the company will arrange everything for you to ensure a hassle-free holiday. There are plenty of cheap ski holidays on offer, whether you're booking for a large family group or with a small group of friends. There will be an option of catered or self-catered accommodation for you to choose from, so you can choose the one that best suits you. 

The catered chalets on offer provide food that is cooked to a high standard, and saves you from having to find a supermarket in the mountains or cooking at the end of a tiring day on the slopes. Austria does, however, have an excellent range of mountain restaurants to choose from, so whether you're dining out every night of just once throughout your stay, you're sure to find something to suit you.

Whether you're looking for a quick weekend getaway for two or an exciting winter holiday with family or friends, Austria's resorts will be able to cater to your needs. With an excellent snowfall record and plenty of exciting mountain activities on offer, they certainly won't let you down.

Written by:  Jennifer Beckman, 25/3/2013

Quoth the Raven: Gesundheit!

Sure, we love our culture, hence the unsubtle title of this post. But a number of people travel to Austria to look at the local wildlife, and we thought we’d look at what there is to see.

There are a lot of places that cater to wildlife holidays, from isolated apartments and huts in the mountains to hotels that act as a base for nature lovers to explore. Here is a quick rundown of what you’ll hopefully see in Austria.

Mammals

Mammals are abundant in Austria, and some unusual varieties exist in the relatively isolated alpine regions. Wildlife holidays often take you to the mountains to see these animals.

Deer

The abundance of deer in Austria occasionally leads to a large 500-pound animal plowing through the windscreen, so be careful on those rural roads. In the mountainous areas, fallow and roe deer run, whereas in the lowlands, red deer are more common. You’ll often find you return from your wildlife trip to be greeted with a plate of venison, such is the love of hunting and managing wildlife in Austria.

Chamois

The alpine chamois is what you’d get if you mixed up badger and goat DNA and bred the result. This goat-like creature is a source of chamois leather, and it is apparently very tasty. If you want to get close to the animal, they usually look for danger below them and ignore anything above them.

Alpine Ibex

The alpine ibex is a goat with comedy horns. Big curly horns. They’re normally found halfway up mountains or climbing up dams. We’re not even kidding about the dams. What looks like a photoshopped image of goats on the side of a dam is actually real.
Birds

In the valleys, particularly around the lakes, are numerous bird species. Seewinkel and the Great Hungarian Plain are great areas for a wildlife holiday.

Wryneck

This unusual member of the woodpecker family looks like an oversized sparrow or thrush with a Mohawk. It’s not exactly a proper woodpecker because of its tail feathers, but it pecks at wood to get at ants and it lays its eggs in a hole in a tree, so to us it’s close enough. Like an owl, it can turn its head nearly 180 degrees, which looks weird but cool.

Black Redstart

This species is best described as a flycatcher with a red . . . behind. Absolutely lovely as they dash around catching the local annoying insects, their aerobatic displays are a joy to behold.

White Storks

If your hotel owner curses as he or she lights a fire and the chimney is blocked, it might be because a white stork has nested in the chimney. As you’re travelling along, look up, and you might see the giant nests that they like to make.
Anyway, these are just a few of the species that you will see out and about in Austria. Keep your eyes open, have a good pair of binoculars, and ask your local hotel for advice on the best spots to go for your wildlife holiday.

Oh, and if you’re hoping to see a black eagle, which is on the Austrian coat of arms, you’ll need to head to Central Asia!