If you’re looking for an affordable character-filled village for your first snow holiday, look no further than Westendorf. This pretty little village has been a favourite among South Africans for decades. For many of us the love of skiing and snow holidays started on the excellent ‘nursery’ slopes of this laid back, friendly and traditional town in Austria.
We think it is the perfect destination for first time skiers, groups travelling together who have mixed skiing ability and even holidaying with folk who won’t be skiing at all!
1. Wide, gentle and learner-friendly slopes
Although there’s plenty of quality skiing for the more advanced athletes out there, Westendorf really comes into its own for beginners and intermediate skiers. The nursery or beginner slopes at the base of the Schneeberg Gondola are sunny, wide, gentle, well-groomed, generally uncrowded and just about perfect for those taking their first lessons and tentative turns on snow.
2. Something for Everyone
More adventurous beginners and early intermediate skiers are well catered for on the slopes below the Alpenrosenbahn 1 & 2 cableways. And for those looking to stretch their skills even further, the larger SkiWelt Area is accessible via the SkiWeltbahn and Gondelbahn Hochbrixen Gondolas (through the traditional village Brixen im Thale).
The network of gondolas means that family and friends who choose not to ski are able to join everyone for lunch or drinks on the mountain in a number of locations. Consequently, many of our clients over the years have been small family groups often comprising three generations.
3. Everything Made Easy
Being a small town just about everything one needs is close by! The morning commute from your lodgings to ski school, the slopes or one of the lift stations, shouldn’t take more than 5 to 10 mins at a leisurely pace. And you won’t even have to carry skis, boards, boots or poles as those are stored overnight in heated lockers at the base of the slopes.
Similarly, much of the Après Ski action is close enough to roll home if required…
4. Gourmet Delight
What the local restaurant scene lacks in quantity is more than made up for in quality, and some of the nicest spots are in hotels around town. The Wastlhof, Klingler’s, Berggasthaus Stimmlach (a short taxi ride away) and an array of options in Kitzbuhel (20 mins up the road) are all worth considering.
Don’t come home without trying “Tiroler Gröstl” served with a fried egg over cheese dumplings in hearty beef broth, Saftgulasch (a juicy stew also known as the Austrian Goulash), Wiener Schnitzel and Sauerkraut… and of course an Apfelstrudel (apple strudel)!
5. Adventures Nearby
Unlike many other villages or resorts in the Alps, Westendorf is ideally located for fun day excursions to historic and beautiful towns and cities like Kitzbühel (20min), Innsbruck (60min) and Salzburg – The City of Mozart (90min).
On occasion clients have even travelled into Vienna (4½ to 5 hrs) for a day of exploring, an evening of music and an overnight stay before hoping on the train back to the village.
All in all, we rate Westendorf top choice for first time skiers and multiple generation family holidays. Have a look at our great value for money packages in Westendorf or give us a call to find out more.
Let’s go skiing!
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