 Poster: A snowHead
|
Good morning all,
I am planning our first family ski holiday for the end of March this year and am looking for some advice to make sure I'm not making a big mistake!! We are looking at staying at the Hotel Unterschwarzachhof in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, arriving Saturday 28th March for 1 x week.
I will be travelling with my husband and three children (ages 9, 7 and 4) who will all be going into ski school as this is the first time they have skied. My husband and I are good skiers but haven't been for 10 years (pre kids!).
I wanted to ask about the snow conditions this time of year, are we too late in the season?! Will the snow be slush? What is the resort like first week of April, will everything still be open? Will the ski schools have any snow to ski on? I have read very mixed reviews about late season, so would love any knowledge based on current snow and recent years. The hotel has a big pool and other activities on for the children, so we're happy to be busy in the late afternoons non skiing.
Thanks so much for any help! I want to just make sure we're not making a mistake visiting Saalbach at that time of year.
Lucy 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
@LucyFerbs, That late in the season can be hit and miss to be honest. If I remember rightly they closed the resort at the end of March last year. We went at Easter a few years ago and for the first 3 days we were only able to ski in the morning and spent the afternoon sun bathing around the hotel pool in 25 degree sunshine but by Wednesday we were skiing in thigh high powder, it was crazy. What you need to be aware of is they may close all of the lifts on the right hand side of the vally and the skiing area is vastly reduced. There's enough to keep you entertained for a day or 2 but it gets a bit monotonous after a while. That being daid the kids will be fine if they're in ski school. There's always an option to take the bus to the Zell am See Express and head over there for the day which is worth the trip or if your feeling adventurous and time allows the glacier at Kaprun is an option.The town will be pretty quiet but given you're in a hotel and the age of your children you won't be looking for wild apres ski!! If you're committed to the hoilday, i.e. paid and no option of a refund, then go and make the most of it but if you've only booked your flights I'd be looking at Obertauern as an alternative and go to Saalbach earlier in the season. The lifts there are open until May and it should be a lot more snowsure. Saalbach Hinterglemm is an amazing resort, we've been going for the last 15 years, but to get the most out of it you want to make sure it's fully open. That's my view but other people will have their thoughts.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
@RedorDead Thanks so much for this, what you've said is kind of what I am panicking about, things closing early and us being in a half open resort, wishing we had gone higher!!
We've booked the hotel but can easily cancel for a full refund, so I am going to look into other resorts today as a comparison. Could you recommend a similar family friendly hotel in Obertauern with a pool, ski in / out, good location?
Huge thanks
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
@RedorDead, Thanks so much for this, what you've said is kind of what I am panicking about, things closing early and us being in a half open resort, wishing we had gone higher!!
We've booked the hotel but can easily cancel for a full refund, so I am going to look into other resorts today as a comparison. Could you recommend a similar family friendly hotel in Obertauern with a pool, ski in / out, good location?
Huge thanks Smile
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
@LucyFerbs, I don't know Obertauern at all I'm afraid but if you do a search in the resort reviews and trip reports forum you'll find lot of information there. Good luck!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
@LucyFerbs, you could get lucky, we went a couple of years back and arrived to heavy rain and a lot of brown slopes... it did then snow again a day or two later but a gamble definitely. Given you have complete begginers I really wouldn't recommend it as the begginers area is low and conditions could well be extremely marginal.
It's a great place but given your group and needs I wouldn't recommend for that time of year. There's another thread about Obertauern at the moment which is higher and seems highly rated for children. Another Austrian option is Serfaus, has a much higher beginners area and is great for families. It's not cheap but then neither is Saalbach!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@RedorDead, wrote, “ @LucyFerbs, That late in the season can be hit and miss to be honest. If I remember rightly they closed the resort at the end of March last year. ”
Whilst I don’t disagree with the gist of your comments, I thought I should point out that the last lifts in the Glemm valley closed on 11th April last year, and the Leogang sector of the Ski Circus remained open for a further week.
I live in Saalbach and ski exclusively in its ski area throughout every season, with occasional sorties to Zell am See and Kaprun (although I tend to use the Kitzsteinhorn glacier at Kaprun during April, after the Ski Circus closes - which is normally around the second week of April).
One of my favourite times to ski in Saalbach has historically been the first week of April, when we often get a cold snap, fresh snow, and empty pistes. Obviously the weather and conditions are bound to be unpredictable in the very late season (late March/early April), but it’s surprising how often the gamble has paid off for holidaymakers of my acquaintance.
It’s certainly correct that the ski area is closed in stages, and to some extent the timings will vary from season to season, depending on when Easter falls, and obviously the weather/conditions. Last season was unusually mild, with an early Spring right across the Alps (El Niño?); this season has been significantly colder, so it’s a case of wait and see.
The Tourist Information Office is very helpful and will give up to date information.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A big thanks again to everyone for replying, we have cancelled our trip to Saalbach-Hinterglemm and rebooked Obertauern! Feeling MUCH more confident and so looking forward to the trip
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
