 Poster: A snowHead
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Hello
I have just found this forum, so I hope this is the right place to ask this.
I’m trying to book our first family ski holiday. I’ve been a few times so pretty competent but it will be my (nearly when we go) 7 year old son’s first time apart from an hour’s lesson in Finland this year. My husband is a non skier due to injury.
I don’t want to spend a fortune in case my son hates it, but equally I don’t want it to be so low budget that my husband hates it. I think I’ve narrowed it down to Austria or Italy as prices seem about right. It’s for February 2019 half term. In Austria I’m tempted by Seefeld and Niederau, and in Italy the Milky Way resorts. I’ve been to Sauze before so know I’d be ok, but for my son in ski school I keep reading the beginner slopes are a bit steep? Sestriere is looking a bit pricey.
In Austria I’m edging towards Niederau as the transfer time is short (from Innsbruck), ski school looks good and accommodation is well priced, but as a reasonable intermediate (ok on reds, bit iffy on black), is there enough for a week? I presume I could get the ski bus to neighbouring resorts if I needed more variety? My husband will be happy enough catching up on box sets so don’t need loads of activities but it would be nice for him and our son to do something non-skiing in the afternoons.
Please help, I’m going mad overanalysing it! I find somewhere that’s ok then get put off by TripAdvisor so I’m struggling to make a decision! thanks in advance and apologies for the lengthy first post! 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Not much in Niederau itself for a week.
10/15 minutes by bus to Auffach so simple to spend the day in rest of Skijuwel, but you'd struggle to get back for lunch with your son.
How about somewhere in Skiwelt or Zillertal ?
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Why not St Vigilio/kronplatz ...Its in Italy but they all speak German enough skiing for a week or so even if you don't go out to the rest of the Dolomitisuperski
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| DaveD wrote: |
| Why not St Vigilio/kronplatz ...Its in Italy but they all speak German enough skiing for a week or so even if you don't go out to the rest of the Dolomitisuperski |
As I keep saying, I am a huge fan of Kronplatz but it isn't for everyone. You can get a package tour there now but it seemed pricey to me. Sankt Vigilio is a good place to learn. several good ski schools, English speaking instructors and excellent beginner pistes. Plenty of good ski hire etc available. If you want to ski locally so as to be back to see your son after ski school (my granddaughter had morning lessons with the option of supervised lunch as well to give us a bit of extra time before we had to be back to collect her) then there is enough to keep you interested. If your husband was to meet your son after ski school then there are other areas to explore using the ski bus or train, but we find a hire car best to go to other areas as it increases flexibility and minimises the risk of missing the last bus and getting an expensive taxi.
Eating out can be cheap (compared to better known French, Swiss and even some Austrian and Italian resorts) with a pizza a dessert and a beer at "La Bronta" costing about €12 - €15 or so, and plenty of choices of places to eat, some cheaper, some dearer.
Because of this we tend to self-cater and it is easy and not too costly to have a croissant (local bakery in town centre is good) or roll with cheese and ham or a bowl of cereal and then eat in some nights, out others.
Quality of accommodation we think is generally high. The Kronplatz website www.kronplatz.com or the tourist information (just phone them - English spoken - and give them a date when you want to go and they will post you a brochure with map so you can see the location of accommodation, plus available places and prices) will give you plenty of choices for accommodation and a range of prices. The village of Sankt Vigilio is large enough to have quite a few hotels, decent sized (not mega-huge) Spar Supermarket and a few other shops but not too large and is well served by free ski bus.
If you consider it, I strongly suggest that if you have no car, then stay in Sankt Vigilio itself.
We are going next half term. Self catering. Some of us are staying in Sankt Vigilio at www.mareo.it but I think Frau Valentin is now full that week. I mention it to give a comparison. Ciasa Valentin is within 50 yards of a lift. You can ski back almost to the accommodation. Quality is good. Within 5 minute walk of shops / bakery / eating places. €270 per person per week self catering this year in high season. Others in our group are going to stay self catering in Mantena about a mile away. Good quality accommodation, no shops in town. There is a ski bus but really use of a hired car is best (there is an indoor garage with the accommodation). €170 per person per week in high season.
Bad points : if your husband has no transport available, there is a limited amount to do in Sankt Vigilio. Snow shoe trips etc available. Leisure centre (Kron4) is very good with the usual 3 or 4 pools, sauna etc but is a 15 minute drive away at Reischach. Getting there can be interesting. Best option for us is flight to Innsbruck and hire a car (1.5 - 2 hour easy drive). Other airports are longer drives (Munich / Verona / Milan / Venice). Train is possible to Bruneck / Brunico but then probably taxi.
Go for it. Hire a car for the week from Innsbruck. Makes it easy to go to Leisure Centre for your husband, gives you easy access to Corvara (35 minute drive) for Sella Ronda etc
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Does it have to be half term ?
Might have some better options if you do April holidays - your non-skiing husband might prefer spring warmth rather than winter cold.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Sankt Johann in Tirol. Hotel Fischer and Park hotels are showing good prices at the moment and you can ski bus to Steinplatte and excursion of to Kitzbuhel, where there's plenty for hubby and sonny to do while you hit the Streiff! 
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+1 for Easter hols if you possibly can.
I haven't skiied the Milky Way, but I'd second the view that Niederau might not be the best option. Of the two choices you gave us, I'd probably go for Italy.
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I’d be a bit worried about the snow by next Easter, isn’t it later next year? Also it’s bad enough I’ve got to wait til February, I can’t wait any longer!!
He will literally be happy watching a box set for a week. Ideally there would be a gym, but I can guarantee he won’t do any sightseeing. His ears pricked up when I mentioned the casino in Seefeld Thanks for replies so far. I will keep looking!
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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#RWDLYN I really like the look of hotel Fischer, thanks. Planning to book tomorrow! Less than 11 months to wait 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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It went up by £250 overnight so I booked the hotel park instead which looked pretty similar. I am at least now booked, hooray!
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| Lozza1uk wrote: |
| It went up by £250 overnight so I booked the hotel park instead which looked pretty similar. I am at least now booked, hooray! |
Park's good. Great farmers buffet and very close to the lift.
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For the future (since you’ve now booked), Neiderau is great for beginners/early learners. Gentle slopes, excellent ski school, good quality hotels. However, it is low, so something to think about if you were going late in the season.
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You know it makes sense.
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Cortina.
Kitzbuehel.
Ischgl.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Kitzbuhel, Hotel Edelwiess. Plenty to see and do in the town and locally. The Hotel owners will give you all the advice and more on what your hubby can do on a daily basis. The Hotel has great food, and a very homely relaxed atmoshpere and is close to the Hahnenkahm Gondola, dont let the railway line put you off you cant hear it. The ski area is great
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Poster: A snowHead
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I would not recommend Neiderau, There are just nursery slopes for the absolute beginners but apart from that the other runs are a bit tough for the timid, apart from one section of chair lift and a short t-bar tow.
The apres ski is pretty dismal too.
We made the mistake of going there a couple of years ago.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Thanks all. I’ve now booked St. Johann in Tyrol - posts on here had put me off Niederau! I may get the train to Kitzbühel a couple of times or we’ll visit at night for a change of scene.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Will do!
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