What’s new this winter, in the Austrian Tirol?
NEW ACCESSIBILITY
British Airways, easyJet and Laudamotion introduce more flights to Innsbruck, ready for the ski season
Travelling to the Austrian Tirol will now be even easier with British Airways, easyJet and Laudamotion increasing the number of flights to Innsbruck ready for the ski season. From 9 December 2018, British Airways will run flights from London Heathrow to Innsbruck every day of the week, bar Wednesday, as well as twice a day on weekends. A return flight, from London Heathrow to Innsbruck, with British Airways, costs from £66 pp. Additionally, easyJet is introducing a new flight from Manchester to Innsbruck, to be run every Sunday from December 2018 to March 2019. A return flight, from Manchester to Innsbruck, with easyJet, costs from £58 pp. Laudamotion (owned by Ryanair since March 2018) has also launched two new flights, one from London to Stansted to Innsbruck (every Sunday) and the other from Dublin to Innsbruck (every Saturday) – both new flights will be operating during the ski season (prices to be confirmed). Known as the Capital of the Alps, Innsbruck is close to a number of the Austrian Tirol’s best resorts such as St. Anton am Arlberg, Stubai and Mayrhofen.
For more information visit www.britishairways.com, www.easyjet.com or www.ryanair.com/la/en/.
NEW INFRASTRUCTURE
Ischgl invests €25 million into ski infrastructure
Ischgl is calling time on the Gampenbahn era and replacing the 30-year-old chairlift with a new six-person version, capable of carrying 2,800 people per hour, called the Gampen E4. Each seat is 52 cm wide, heated and ergonomically shaped to be as comfortable as possible. The improved lift service has led to two new restaurants being built in the area that will be completed in time for the start of the ski season. Aside from the comfort and efficiency of the new service, the 900 m height increase between the start and end of the lift has set a new record for the greatest elevation difference of any six-seat chairlift in the world.
A six-day lift pass, in Ischgl, costs from €229 / £205 per adult and €152.50 / £137 per child.
For more information, visit: www.ischgl.com/en
Kitzbühel launches two new lifts and expands its snow-making facilities
Kitzbühel’s two new lifts are both characterised by faster travel up the mountain and state-of-the-art comfort. The 6SB Brunelle chairlift features heated seats made from real leather, plus covers and mechanical safety bars. It also has special wind stabilisers to keep wind sensitivity to a minimum. The Comfortline S 10EUB Raintal gondola takes 10 passengers and reduces travel time from 11.7 minutes to 3.6 minutes. The stations have been designed to blend in with the natural environment and are made from shingle, concrete and glass. Kitzbühel has also expanded its snow-making facilities to make sure the Kitzbüheler Horn remains covered throughout the winter. The resort is also making sure its new lifts will be properly catered for, with snow, during the ski season.
A six-day lift pass, in Kitzbühel, costs from €221.50 / £199 per adult and €110 / £99 per child.
For more information, visit: www.kitzbuehel.com/en
Mayrhofen invests €18 million into a new 10-person gondola
Mayrhofen has invested €18 million into a new 10-person gondola, the Möslbahn, on “Action” Mountain Penken. The new lift will transport circa 2,000 mountain users from the village of Mösl up to Mount Penken at a speed of six metres per second over 1.5 km. An additional €2.7 / £2.4 million is set to be invested in a new slope area providing 1.2 km of additional piste across six hectares.
A six-day lift pass, in Mayrhofen, costs from € 256.50 / £230 per adult and €115.50 / £104 per child.
For more information, visit: www.mayrhofen.at/en/
Other new lift developments in the Austrian Tirol
Other renovations include the new ‘Larmach’ six-seater chairlift, which is set to open in the Zillertal Arena in December 2018. The Larmach has a cover, heated seats and the capacity to carry up to 2,800 people per hour. The second section of the Kirchenkarbahn is currently under construction by the Hochgurgl lift company; once complete, it will carry circa 2,400 people an hour at a speed of five metres per second. The Glungezerbahn ends its fifty-year service in Tufles to be replaced by a new 10-person gondola that can carry as many as 1,000 people per hour. The Jochbahn at Rosshütte in Seefeld will be rebuilt to improve both capacity and frequency and is scheduled to reopen on 23 December 2018.
For more information, visit: www.visittirol.co.uk
Skiers and snowboarders can now explore Pitztal on a single-lift pass
Starting this winter, Pitztal will introduce a new single lift pass that covers the 76 pistes, 121.5 km of pistes and six ski areas that make up the Pitz Valley: Pitztal Glacier, Rifflsee, Hochzeiger Bergbahnen, Imster Bergbahnen, Fendels and Kaundertal Glacier.
A six-day lift pass, in Pitztal, costs from €245 / £220 per adults and €149 / £134 per child.
For more information, visit: www.pitztal.com/en/winter/prices/glacier-park-card-winter
NEW ACCOMMODATION
The Seehotel Einwaller hotel, in Pertisau, offers guests lake-side luxury
Persitau’s new four-star Seehotel Einwaller opened in July 2018 and gives a contemporary take on classic Austrian chalet design. The Achen Lake, just steps from the hotel, provides tranquil scenery for guests and offers the cornerstone to Seehotel Einwaller’s ‘Panorama Spa’, located on site. Home-made, locally-sourced ingredients make up the menu at both the hotel’s café and restaurant, which adds international inspiration to traditional Austrian cuisine.
A night’s stay, at Seehotel Einwaller, costs from €119 / £106 pp (two sharing). Price includes a double room on a half-board basis plus access to the panorama spa, healthy nibbles and use of bathrobes and bathing slippers.
For more information, visit: www.einwaller.at/de
Hotel Kontor accents historic architecture with modern decadence in Hall’s town square
The wonderfully-located Hotel Kontor, set in the lower Town Square of Hall in Tirol offers four-star boutique accommodation. Set to open in November 2018, it features eight rooms and suites, each furnished individually with custom made items and a modern bathroom. Hotel Kontor seamlessly combines the building’s rich history with couture luxury; the grand entrance hall is complimented by gothic pillars and a winding staircase.
A night’s stay, at Hotel Kontor, costs from €60 pp (two sharing) including breakfast and local tax. Each room comes with a minibar, Nespresso coffee machine, flat-screen television, writing desk and Wi-Fi.
For more information, visit: www.hotel-kontor.at
EVENTS
Seefeld will host the historic Nordic World Ski Championships in early 2019
2019 sees the momentous return of the Nordic World Ski Championships to Seefeld from 19 February to 3 March 2019. It is the second time Seefeld has hosted the event (the first being back in 1985) and preparations are underway already with the construction of two new stadiums, as well as the renovation of existing infrastructure. Athletes will compete across a variety of events, including Nordic Combined, Cross-Country and Ski Jumping, with world champions crowned in each.
Day ticket prices start from €30 / £27 per adult and €15 / £13 per child (up to the age of 18).
For more information, visit: www.seefeld.com/en/seefeld2019
TOUR OPERATORS
Inghams adds Sölden, in the Austrian Tirol, to its 18/19 winter programme
Inghams has added Sölden, comprising 254 km of high-altitude skiing and snowboarding, facilitated by an extensive lift system, to its extensive portfolio. The region showcases two glaciers, so skiers can enjoy an extended season and guaranteed snow. Visitors also benefit from access to Obergurgl with their ski pass and, with Inghams’ popular ‘Meet The Piste’ service, guests can experience all of the world-class skiing the area has to offer. Skiing aside, the town enjoys some of Austria’s best après ski as well as being the setting for the 2015 James Bond film ‘Spectre’. Building on this, a new cinematic attraction called ‘007 Elements’ situated at the summit of Gaislachkogl, offers an exciting addition to the ski holiday.
Tickets for 007 Elements cost from €22 / £20 per adult and €12 / £11 per child.
A six-day lift pass, for Sölden, costs from €293.50 per adults and €161.50 per child.
A seven-night stay, at the three-star superior Hotel Sölderhof, with Inghams, costs from £839 pp (two sharing). Price includes return flights and airport transfers.
Visit www.inghams.co.uk/ski for more details.
For more information, visit: www.soelden.com/en
Crystal Ski Holidays adds Serfaus, in the Austrian Tirol, to its 18/19 winter programme
Crystal Ski Holidays has added Serfaus to its portfolio. With its 198 km of pistes spread over a series of sunny, open bowls and connections with the ski areas of Fiss and Ladis, it is ideal for all skiers and snowboarders. Serfaus is a wonderful family-favourite due to its dedicated children’s areas, family-friendly restaurants and almost traffic-free village. The resort also offers many off-slope activities, which can be enjoyed by everyone who fancies a break from the pistes. Plus, the Dorfbahn, is an underground railway that shuttles people from the village car park to the gondola, it is unique because it floats on air, has no track, no platforms and no vibration (and well worth a ride).
A six-day lift pass, for Serfaus, costs from €152 per adult and €104 per child.
A seven-night stay, at 3* Hotel Komperdell, with Crystal Ski Holidays, costs from £639 pp (two sharing) on a half-board basis. Price includes return flights and transfers. Trip departs 5 January 2019.
Visit www.crystalholidays.co.uk for more details.
For more information, visit: www.serfaus-fiss-ladis.at/en/winter
Ski Solutions adds Interalpen Hotel Tyrol, in Seefeld to its winter accommodation
Residing at a height of 1,300 m, Interalpen Hotel Tyrol delivers five-star comfort in the heart of the Austrian Tirol. The dark wood and open stone that makes up the interior design is reminiscent of traditional-alpine architecture whilst offering contemporary decadence. Guests looking to enjoy the exceptional ski facilities have a choice of two areas that cater well for beginners and families, as well as access to the shuttle service, which transports confident skiers to more-challenging runs. Exclusive on-site spa facilities, with an indoor pool, saunas, hot tubs and treatment rooms, provide an enticing welcome for those returning from a day exploring the Austrian Alps.
A six-day lift pass, for Seefeld, costs from €232 per adult and €139 per child.
A seven-night stay, at Interalpen Hotel Tyrol, with Ski Solutions, costs from £1,890 pp (two sharing) on a half-board basis. Price includes return flights and transfers.
Visit www.skisolutions.com for more details.
For more information, visit: www.seefeld.com/en/
For more information about the Tirol region, visit www.visittirol.co.uk. Alternatively, keep up to date on Facebook www.facebook.com/visittirol or Twitter @VisitTirol
