Austria is what skiing is supposed to be about, but can you get there for a minibreak? We all head to France from London for our minibreaks because it is easy to get to. And you can’t deny the scope of the ski areas: Chamonix and Portes du Soleil, with their crisscrossing panoply of runs and lifts. But skiing, like life, is more than just ticking off the runs. Isn’t it? What about the beauty, the culture, and the spirit? The problem is that we all go to Portes du Soleil for the skiing, and kind of accept a little of that French 1970s industrial skiing ugliness. Have you seen Avoriaz? Then you know what I mean. Blocks and blocks of hideous concrete. And the bars and restaurants, equally canteen-like and industrial.
So when you are so over Avoriaz, with its motorway like runs, and want to “ski pretty” – but, as always with the scope of this website, you are planning a minibreak – where do you go?
In January, we decided to test Austria out as a minibreak destination. And rather than oen of the bigger-name resorts, we deliberately headed to one of the Austrian jewel resorts, said to offer good runs, but with a great small town atmosphere.
We went to Schruns, which is in the Montafon valley in the Bludenz district which is one of Australi’s most western districts – the closest to the UK.
The nation, which has always rung to the sounds of Julie Andrews for Brits, has a long Anglo ski connection, and is a favourite for UK families. But that is when you have a week to spare, and you can pack the kids off from school in half-term and easyjet it out at eyewatering cost for a “family” ski trip.
So can you do it for a couple of days? As ever, our problem was the logistics – just getting there. Where do you fly to? We looked at direct flights to Austria. Innsbruck is right in the heart of the ski region, and perfect for connections. But have you seen the cost of the flight? In many cases, the cheapest return we could get was more than £300. You could fly to Munich in southern journey, but then you have a transfer that can be u to four hours – never going to work.
As ever, therefore, it seemed as if the airports of Switzerland, with their competitive routes, would be the answer. Swiss air offered returns from London to Zurich for around £100 for most of the ski season, if booked a few months in advance.
Next, the transfer. Buses from Zurich to Schruns do not exist, certainly not in the way they do from Geneva to Morzine. There are trains to Bludenz, whichis about half way that you need to go, but they take upwards of three hours, and then you need to make the final transfer by bus or taxi.
The only option therefore seemed to be a hire car, and hertz provided a Ford Focus for less than £100 for fours days.
But the transfer time was still more than two hours, and when you got there, the skiing was limited. (See our full previous review on Schrunz in the archive section).
