Short Ski Trip in St Anton

Catherine Fetherston on 19 March 2019
For many years I have been really looking to skiing in the Alberg ski region, it has always been a top seller for experienced skiers and one that I was keen to explore myself. I travelled with friends from Belfast City via Heathrow to Zurich and then we took the train to St. Anton. It took 2 hours and was a very comfortable and relaxing way to travel. (The closest airport to the resort is Innsbruck Airport and the transfer time by road is approx. 75 mins).

This Austrian village in the Tyrolean Alps is known as a gateway to the Arlberg ski region and is often called the “cradle of alpine skiing” for its role in inventing the sport. We stayed on a B&B basis in the Hotel Kristall in the heart of the pedestrianised centre, the hotels offer a restaurant and bar, popular among the locals and guests alike! The rooms were comfy and spacious, each morning we enjoyed a delicious breakfast buffet with extremely friendly service from this family-run hotel. It is approximately a 5-minute walk from the train station and to the Galzigbahn Cable Car, as guests of the Hotel Kristall we could store our skis here overnight free of charge which was a great perk!

We had 4 days of skiing with mixed weather, fabulous snow and lots of skiing. St. Anton is part of the giant Arlberg ski region (340km), the biggest connected ski area in the country, with links to Lech-Zuers, St. Christoph and Warth. We were impressed with a fast, modern lift system. The resort is best suited for advanced skiers as there are plenty of challenging pistes as well as a huge number of exhilarating steep, ungroomed off-piste itineraries - many of which are located on the wide valluga bowl. After fresh snow it is advised to hire a guide to find the best powder spots as competition is high.

The après-ski scene is legendary largely thanks to the Mooserwirt and Krazy Kanguruh bars where dancing on tables in your ski boots is the norm! So, if you enjoy a lively après-ski scene, you will not be disappointed here!

The only downside to this resort is that tentative beginners may find the terrain a little limiting as the blue runs here are more challenging than most resorts. Otherwise I have no hesitation in recommending this resort to fellow skiers. If I can help you plan your next ski adventure please give me a call - whether it is a group of friends, family trip, corporate incentive or a romantic break for two - I would be delighted to hear from you.