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Resort Guide

Suitability	Resort height: 800m
Families:		[Yes]
Glacier:		[No]
Beginners:		[3]
Intermediates:		[5]
Advanced:		[4]
Snowboarding:		[4]

One of the world’s most famous resorts, popular year round, Kitzbuhel is located in the middle of the Tyrolean Alps – a short and easy journey from Salzburg (80km/50 miles), Innsbruck (100km/63 miles) and Munich (120km/75 miles). The town was one of the first in the world to introduce skiing when local man Franz Reisch ordered a pair of skis from Norway in 1893. He had become obsessed with the sport after reading a book about a ski crossing of Greenland by explorer Fridjof Nansen. Reisch climbed the local Kitzbuheler Horn on skis in 1893 and can therefore claim to be the first man to ski in the Alps.

Despite its long history as a ski resort and its global fame, Kitzbuhel has limited its expansion to maintain its traditional Tyrolean charm. Established for over 700 years, a traditional farming community before Nansen bought his skis, it has around 6,000 guest beds – a quarter or less of the total for many other well known ski areas and, even more unusually, less than the number of permanent inhabitants. Although Brits outnumber all other nations in the summer, making up a third of visitor numbers, we’re knocked down to third in the winter behind the Germans and native Austrians who together make up 50% of the market.

The local ski area has been the subject of global warming scare stories in recent years as it is low by modern standards. However there is extensive snow making and in 2007-8 the record confounded critics with its earliest ever opening in 70 years of operation, opening six-weeks ahead of schedule in early November because of huge early snowfalls.

Snow sports fans have a choice of three main ski areas. The famous local ski circus has about 168km (105 miles) of lift-linked runs. Then the Ki-West pass links this area to that of the neighbouring SkiWelt. A few short bus trips are involved but most of the 400km (250 miles) of runs are again linked together. The third option is the giant Kitzbuhel Alpen Pass which adds a further 300km (190 miles) or so by including in the Schneewinkel area around another neighbouring area, St Johann in Tyrol, and a few others, a short bus ride away.

Beginners

There are some lovely nursery slopes at the bottom of the Hahnenkamm, providing a delightful place to learn as well as the inspiration of making your first turns beneath the run where the world’s fastest ski racers compete each season. If there is no snow at resort level a gondola can take you easily up to more beginner friendly terrain at the top of the mountain. We can offer learn to ski packages which include tuition and rentals at a saving on buying these separately in resort. You will need to buy a lift ticket separately on some of these packages but you may not need one for the first few days.

Intermediates

With 25 red runs in the local area alone intermediates will find themselves spoiled for choice even without opting for one of the larger area passes available. The ski circus – a circular loop of runs and lifts around the resort is particularly satisfying and enjoyable. It has recently become possible to complete the circuit in both directions thanks to the installation of some spectacular gondolas that have completed links previously thought too tricky to complete. One of these is the spectacular 3S gondola that links the Hahnenkamm with Jochberg and has the longest span of a lift between towers (2.5km, 1.5 miles) and the highest point above a valley (400m/13900 feet) of any lift in the Alps.

Advanced

Advanced skiers are of course well looked after too in one of the world’s ski racing Meccas. All must pay homage top the legendary Streif run where the Hahnenkamm race, Austria’s biggest sporting event, is staged each January. Mountain guides can take you to all of the best powder spots and, if you prefer steep mogul runs, check out the Ehrenbachhohe.

Snowboarding

The Kitzbühel Horn area is home to the resort’s terrain park which normally features two half pipes, a quarter pipe, a large table jump and a sprint slalom course. Boarders can also enjoy the ski safari route and the large number of high speed chairs and gondolas makes getting around the big ski area both quick and easy.

Other Activities and Facilities

A large proportion of Kitzbuhel’s guests are non-skiers so there’s a lot to do off the slopes. Facilities include a selection of luxurious spas, the excellent ‘Aquarena’ swimming pool complex, museums, an artificial ice rink and curling hall, bowling, indoor tennis, fitness studios, a casino, cinema and a local theatre. There is quite extensive shopping with some lovely fashion boutiques, jewellers and souvenir stores.

Activities include the illuminated Gaisberg toboggan run, snowshoeing, 120km (75 miles) of prepared cross country trails in the area, 65km (41 miles) of cleared walking paths with free guided tours offered, balloon rides, hang gliding, paragliding, horse riding, sleigh rides and helicopter sight seeing tours. Day trips to Salzburg and Innsbruck are also organised.

Après Ski and Dining Out

Kitzbuhel can offer après ski to suit all tastes but common themes are ‘lively’ or ‘cosmopolitan’. In the former category, there’s normally live music whatever night of the week it is in the Londoner bar. Other popular choices are Flannigans or Highways. There are 40 bars in total to choose from and four night clubs to continue on to.

Diners have an even greater choice with 80 restaurants which range from pizza to gourmet. Traditional Tyrolean cuisine served up in large portions of wholesome meat or cheese based dishes is the norm however.

Families

Kitzbuhel is a traditional ski resort and a busy, original village rather than one purpose built for families, so it is important to check that all the facilities you will need for a family holiday are convenient to your lodging location. You are unlikely to have a very quiet and relaxed family holiday here in the way you might in a tiny relatively unknown village, or find the slopeside convenience of some of the purpose built resorts. The resort does not offer any non-ski daycare although several individual hotels offer daytime or evening childcare. Ski schools accept children for special ski kindergarten classes from age three. Off the slopes the excellent family-friendly facilities and restaurants make Kitzbuhel a good base for most families.

Piste Map for Kitzbuhel

Accommodation in Kitzbuhel

• Bruggerhof - 3 star, half board
• Club Hotel Hofer - 3 star, catered
• Club Hotel Hofer - 3 star, catered
• Club Hotel Hofer - 3 star, catered
• Edelweiss - 3 star, half board
• Edelweiss - 3 star, half board
• Edelweiss - 3 star, half board
• Erika - 4 star, half board
• Erika - 4 star, half board
• Garden-hotel Erika - 4 star, half board
• Hahnenhof - 4 star, half board
• Hotel Astoria - 3 star, half board
• Hotel Astoria - 4 star, half board
• Hotel Bruggerhof - 4 star, half board
• Hotel Haselsberger - 3 star, bed & breakfast
• Hotel Jagerwirt - 4 star, half board
• Hotel Kitzhof - 4 star, half board
• Hotel Resch - 3 star, bed & breakfast
• Hotel Schwarzer Adler - 4 star, half board
• Hotel Schwarzer Adler - 4 star, half board
• Hotel Schweizerhof - 4 star, half board
• Hotel Strasshofer - 3 star, half board
• Hotel Tiefenbrunner - 4 star, half board
• Hotel Tirolerhof - 4 star, half board
• Hotel Tyrol - 3 star, half board
• Hotel Tyrol - 3 star, half board
• Hotel Tyrol - 3 star, half board
• Hotel Tyrol - 3 star, half board
• Hotel Weisses Rossl - 5 star, half board
• Jagerwirt - 4 star, half board
• Jagerwirt - 4 star, half board
• Kaiserhof - 4 star, half board
• Karlberger - 2 star, catered
• Karlberger - 3 star, catered
• Karlberger - 3 star, catered
• Kitzhof - 4 star, half board
• Kitzhof - 4 star, half board
• Maria Theresa - 3 star, half board
• Maria Theresia - 4 star, half board
• Pension Muhlbergerhof - 2 star, bed & breakfast
• Schellenberg - 4 star, half board
• Schwarzer Adler - 4 star, half board
• Schwarzer Adler - 4 star, half board
• Sport Reisch - 4 star, half board
• Sport Reisch - 4 star, half board
• Sport Reisch - 4 star, half board
• Sporthotel Reisch - 4 star, half board
• Strasshofer - 3 star, half board
• Strasshofer - 3 star, half board
• Strasshofer - 3 star, half board
• Tiefenbrunner - 4 star, half board
• Tiefenbrunner - 4 star, half board
• Tirolerhof - 4 star, half board
• Tirolerhof - 4 star, half board
• Tirolerhof - 4 star, half board

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