Do you mean a company for just the appartment or as part of the package?

without travel http://www.interhome.co.uk have some listed (search under Winter Mountains/ Austria/ Salzburgland). I've no experience of the company, I only found the site last week looking for something else!

the local tourist office has some on their list with direct boooking contacts, http://www.saalbach.com/782.0.html?R5=02&HT=10&R1=0&R3=0&submit=List&AR=1&AM=1&CX=5&LG=1&L=1&FL=2

I think interhome are just a booking agency so all theirs may well be on the other list as well.

Never been to Saalbach Hinterglemm but I go to Austria most winters.
Been to numerous resorts and I've always found the best place to find accomodation is via the local tourism web site of the resort in question.

Hi everybody,

My son has just booked with a group of friends to go skiing here in the middle of February. What's it like there at that time of year? Hopefully there'll be enough slow on the lower slopes? It will be his first skiing holiday and he's just fallen in with the plans of his mates, hence no research on his part. I'm assuming the organiser has done his research as he is an experienced skier and has been numerous times.

Has anybody any hints and tips for a novice such as my son? Also, any recommendations for insurance companies for ski holidays please? Thanks

It's a well known ski resort Shirley. It's a while since I skied there, but I do remember great ski-ing, good choice of runs and lots of bars for apres ski. I believe they also now have floodlit skiing.

Your son should take some lessons, I know he will be tempted to just hit the slopes especially if his friends can already ski, but unless one of them can take the time to teach him properly he will be a danger to himself and others. I'm sure though he will have a great time.

Can't give any advice about insurance, but many companies will do a normal insurance with the addition of winter sports..

Can't say whether there will be snow, February is usually good (high season)but who knows these days. After a late start the Alps are finally getting snow and more is forecasted. I used to have a ski holiday every February and can't ever remember there being a time when we didn't have snow of some sort.

Thanks for such a quick reply Judith. You've reassured him after I read out a previous post that it's not a very high resort- he wasn't sure whether there'd be snow in February

3 out of the group of 8 are non skiers whilst the other 5 are experienced. I suggested the novices take a few lessons as we have an artificial slope just a 10 min drive away but a couple of the others have said that they'd just teach them on the slopes as an artificial slope isn't the same thing. I wold imagine I can convince my son to have a couple of lessons if only to get a grasp on the basics such as stopping safely.

Judith, I know your hubby is/was an instructor- I wonder if you have any idea on the extra costs for a skiing holiday as they've just booked the basic flight and accomodation. How much would he need (roughly) for a ski pass and boot and ski hire for a week and are there any other basic costs involved?

Thanks

Shirley
I was the instructor, not OH though he still skis. His type of ski-ing though is the more extreme stuff where you climb the mountains and ski off piste. He doesn't use the lifts, stays overnight in mountain huts etc.,

Firstly it's not going to be a cheap holiday, skiing is an expensive sport these days especially if you have to hire your equipment. I've done a bit of research and have found the following: A lift pass costs €43.50 per day, it gets cheaper if you get one for more days, a six day one will cost €212. If your son does decide to take lessons he will probably not be using the lifts on the first day as he will be just learning the basics on the beginners slopes, though it still may work out cheaper to buy a lift pass for the full six days.
Daily lessons cost around €55 per day. Ski Hire (incl. boots and poles) is around €25-40 per day or for 6 days €120 up to over €200. Depends a lot on the make of the skies hired.
He may decide to hire a helmet which will cost approx another €4 per day..
So the cheapest price I can find for hire of equipment is €120 and a 6 day lift pass is €212. The lower equipment charge may not be very accurate as most hire shops are charging more.
He will need some decent sunglasses, good gloves and a warm hat.

Judith

Saalbach area cameras are at http://www.saalbach.com/en/winter/weathersnow/live-cams.html and show how much snow there is. The snapshots shown are recent (if the camera is working) - click on them to enlarge. There are links to more Saalback info at the top of the page. The tiny picture to the left is actually live video, hover the mouse over it and click the fullscreen tab. Don't forget the time difference means it will be dark there when it's still light here - really annoying my niece who wants to check the Mayrhofen cameras but by the time she leaves school it's dark there!

You said they've only book flight and accomodation, dare I ask what they are doing about transfers?

Thanks Judith - I did tell him I thought it would be about £300 + for everything he needed. He's already bought the gloves and hat and will no doubt spend a fortune on other things too. Marlou and her hubby have all the gear so I'm sure he'll be able to borrow anything he decides he won't get use of. I'll show him your post tomorrow as he's on his works Christmas dinner now.

Sagres, they've booked a package so transfers are included- I meant that they haven't booked any 'skiing' extras.

Shirley!

On Monday you mixed Judith up with Lassi - now you've mixed me with Sagres!!!

Have you started on the christmas egg nog already????

Sorry, my head must be in the clouds! Too many things on my mind in the run up to Christmas. I will try harder with names!

A big thank you to Judith and Steve My son has taken note of your helpful advice.