Ski Holidays in Telfes, Austria

Slope Direction
Very Easy Runs	1
Easy Runs	3
Medium Runs	4
Difficult Runs	1
Toughest Run Name
Skiable Vertical	1260m
Number Of Lifts	10
Top Lift Height	2260m
Night Skiing	N
Snowboarding Parks	1
Half Pipes	0
Swimming Pools	1
Night Clubs	0
Mountain Restaurants	7

Innsbruck:	0 minutes
:	0 minutes

On the one hand Telfes offers a lovely environment for a first week in the mountains, with low pressure and high quality tuition.

On the other hand it is a hassle to get the ski bus to the slopes and then a gondola up the hill to Froneben at Schlick 2000, where most beginner classes take place, compared to, for instance, staying at an altitude resort in France where the ski slopes are a few steps from your door, even if the resort itself is rather characterless.

If you ignore the lack of doorstep skiing, Telfes offers a great choice of skiing with four good areas within a 20-30 minute bus ride away, and another four included in the Innsbruck regional pass which provides transport around the wider area.

You can opt to spend a day in one of the Olympic resorts such as Igls and Axamer Lizum, the latter home to the women's downhill slopes.

Schlick 2000 has 20km (13 miles) of piste and this may be enough for those in their second or third week of skiing, so they could opt for a local-slopes-only, cheaper ticket.

However the full area pass remains one of the more affordable for a giant ski area of its size. The biggest ski area nearby is the Stubai glacier with 120km (75 miles) of runs.

The Stubai offers a 100% snow guarantee from October to June, but can get busy when snow is poor elsewhere in the area, and everyone else is bussed there.

It also boasts the official Tyrolean seal of approval for the quality of its piste maintenance, and offers some of the world's longest descents, up to ten kilometres (seven miles) and 2,200 vertical metres back down to the valley.

One of the four ski areas in the Stubai Valley with an infamous 10km (7 mile) long off-piste descent, 'Wilden Grub'n' - which has a 1,500m vertical drop – attracts expert skiers from across the world on pilgrimage.

Ski touring is also widely enjoyed in the valley with the Serles lifts above Mieders, across the valley, offering the ideal starting point for numerous ski tours to the Jöchl, Blaser and the Kalbnjoch.

All of the local ski areas around Telfes have good facilities for snowboarders. At the closest, Schlick 2000, there's a terrain park with a quarter pipe amongst its attractions and for carvers a deep snow / freeride area.

There's a second park in the area, on the Stubai Glacier, which has built a world class reputation, thanks in part to the fact that it is open nearly nine months of the season, usually opening in September.

Telfes is home to an excellent indoor sports facility with swimming pool – the Aquarena Leisure Centre and tennis courts, there's also a small museum of local heritage.

At Schlick 2000 there's an ice rink and curling alley as well as 5km long toboggan run which descends from the Schlicker Alm at 1643m down to the base station at Froneben at 937m. You can also take a horse-drawn sleigh ride, go shoeshoeing or hike along 23km of cleared winter paths.

Telfes has a very small selection of just a handful of bars and restaurants. The Gasthof Leitgeb is one of the Stubai's last authentic village inns, serving hearty and affordable Tirolean food in rustic and cozy ambience.

In the afternoons the inn serves mulled wine, jagatee, coffee, cakes or ice-cream. The Cafe-Restaurant Oberhofer is one of the best in the area, with advance booking required for evening meals.

Close to the sports centre the Tennis Café is famed for its wholesome food. For more choice it's easy to get to one of the larger local villages like Fulpmes or even go for a night out in the city at Innsbruck.

Ronny's Kinderland is an excellent facility for children three years and older on Schlick 2000, it is an enclosed area with three magic carpet conveyor lifts and a wide choice of fun learning aids.

Again there is the downside of having to get a bus to get there, but the kids may well enjoy that!

On the upside, lift ticket prices for families are amongst the lowest in the world, with children not paying at all (when accompanied by an adult) until age 10.