Worldwide Ski Resorts • Austria • Ellmau
Overview
By Austrian standards this is a cheaper area to visit and is part of the Ski Welt based at the north eastern corner. Well suited for family groups with slopes to suit all ages and abilities. The buildings are in the attractive chalet style and the centre is neat and friendly. Despite being more developed each season the traditional look is still there with a pretty church, welcoming bars and a good selection of shops.
Profile
Investment has been made in snowmaking which compensates for the low altitude and all that brings. As with most resorts weekends are busy as the locals come to enjoy the sport and leisure. Classed as a fairly quiet base it has goods places to eat, value hotels and self catering. Regarded as child friendly, here is the ideal location for the new generation to get skiing. Tuition for children is highly rated guaranteeing a good time for all with the bonus of language deciding which group to join. There is even a mini train to take the little ones to the slopes and they have their own fun park and areas to play.
Mountain Information
The largest mountain circuit is the Ski Welt so not surprising there about 90 lifts. There is 43% Blue Runs, 49% Red Runs and 9% Black Runs so a good selection for all the family. Near the Kaiserexpress Ellmau now has a park with rails and kickers. For the experts not too much of challenge here unless going off piste but there are some steep plunges. The intermediates will think this is perfect with plenty of Blue Runs and easy cruising. Those new to the game will find the schools are encouraging and have a good rapport with the students.
With good snowmaking the holiday here is not disrupted by the weather and in Ellmau the slopes are well groomed. As the local slopes are quite easy this area is recommended to learn snow-boarding and if the snow is good the cross country trails are long and challenging. With the ongoing improvement of lifts queues are unusual and getting to the slopes they are crowd-free. Good selection of mountain places to eat from the small hut to self service restaurant with value for money menus on offer. Children are well catered for with plenty of fun and games and this is well known to be very child-friendly.
Apres Ski
Plenty of excursions to Salzburg and Vitipeno or a visit to the local leisure centre if you want a change of scenery. The town itself has plenty of hotels providing excellent cuisine and plenty of coffee and cakes in the cafes to keep the energy levels up. There are lively bars, some with the internet, some with Karaoke nights. The holiday reps organise runs on toboggans and sleigh rides. Buying a guest card allows use of the Leisure Centre and discounts in several outlets. There are plenty of buses which provide the opportunity to explore the local area. For those self-catering the local supermarket has all you need, and the apartments have a pool, sauna and steam room. The night life here is generally easy going but for the lively set there are a few bars where a good time is had by all with live music and dancing.
Austrian Resort Guide
Resort Information • Ellmau
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Resort Height | 820m |
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Top Station | 1829m |
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Bottom Station | 820m |
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Vertical Descent | 109m |
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Drag Lifts | 15 |
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Chair Lifts | 4 |
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High Capacity | 1 |
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Opening Dates | Dec - April |
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Rating Expert | 2 |
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Rating Intermediate | 8 |
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Rating Beginner | 8 |
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Apres Ski Rating | 6 |
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Snow Reliability | 4 |
