Talk to me about skiing and (as I have said many times) I will tell you I am not the biggest skiing fan in the World. I take little pleasure from hurtling down vertiginous mountainsides on glorified planks of wood, not helped by the fact that I am definitely one of the world’s clumsiest people, and also have a bit of a secret fear of heights (especially when runs are super steep and seem to veer off to a sheer drop on one side)… Having said that, I absolutely love everything else that goes with skiing – being up in the mountains, the snow, crisp fresh air, alpine scenery, the apres ski (although in our case it’s much much tamer nowadays), plus I really enjoy seeing how much the rest of my family love hurtling down mountainsides on planks of wood – as long as they don’t always expect me to do it with them (Mr R is now over the moon that both small people can more than keep up with him – two down, one to go!), and obviously living here, we have quite a lot of mountains to hurtle down directly on our doorstep.
Last Ski Week (it’s actually called that here) we ventured further afield to gorgeous Swiss Andermatt, but this year we chose to go a little closer to home to Kitzbuhel. Even if you aren’t/weren’t addicted to Ski Sunday you should have heard of Kitzbuhel in Austria. It’s famous for quite a few crazy races, is covered with gorgeous “Heidi houses”, has masses of runs for all abilities, and has plenty of resorts dotted about the place. We lucked in when we found a little spot slightly above Mittersill, a few kilometres outside of colourful Kitzbuhel itself…
Karneval Time – Kitzbuhel
So, how do you make the most of a skiing holiday if you are not planning on doing much of that exact thing? Don’t let your other half book for a start! Mr R would be happy sleeping in a shed halfway up a mountain if it meant decent skiing, a preferable option perhaps given the state of some of the places he has booked in the past… If I am going to spend sufficient time in the mountains, I want somewhere to stay that’s nice to look at AND truly relaxing, as I will be the one spending the most time in it, and I can safely say that Apartment Top 20 ticked all boxes. It’s spacious, beautifully furnished, above a Gastof so you don’t even have to cook (although the Kitchen is lovely), plus the cable car is a stones throw from the door – great if you are planning on doing a lot of trips to the top to meet up for lunch, and best of all it’s lovely and quiet…
Sometimes, when the baby and I were up (very early) of a morning – before the breakfast chaos and the clambering for ski stuff began (even more hectic this year as we went with friends!), I would open the door out to the balcony, and listen to absolute alpine nothingness, which to me is pure heaven…
Slightly wobbly thanks to a baby on my hip… #mountains #kitzbühel #alpine
A video posted by Emma (@bavariansojourn) on
The week passed by in a flurry of skiing adventures (for everyone else!), no major accidents (apart from one on the very last day when our friend’s tiny son actually fell asleep on his skis a few metres from home, and managed to plough straight into his brother – who had gotten down before him and had collapsed in an exhausted heap on the floor!), meeting up for lunches and apres skis, sledging, relaxing and plenty of late dinners with conversations lasting late into the night (after a few of which I was definitely glad I wasn’t skiing the next day!)…
So I do think it’s worth experiencing a week’s non-skiing somewhere like Kitzbuhel! Along with the medieval town to explore, the mountain scenery to admire, and all that relaxation, it would have been hard not to enjoy it! And whilst the rest of the gang were out carving up Kitzbuhel’s 170 kms of slopes, before we set out to do some exploration/photography missions, the baby and I would make the most of the peace and quiet. Before any plans were made for the day, when the baby had his mid-morning nap I could be found in here for half an hour or so… Pure bliss.
- Do book accommodation well in advance, especially in peak weeks;
- Likewise, book lessons well in advance if you need them – we particularly liked Snow Experts for super friendly instructors;
- If you are skiing with young children, invest in a few walkie talkies if your group is splitting up for the day (just choose a less popular frequency), it’s useful to find out how people are getting on in lessons for example and where to meet up should something go wrong – plus it’s cheaper than entrusting Small People with mobile phones they are likely to lose…
Ah, my husband has been there! It was one of his “boys holiday” things when we first started dating and i got left behind. I was so miffed as i would so love to go skiing and haven’t been ever!
Make him take you again – this place is perfect! :D
Having now tried skiing for the first time, I think I would prefer to do a morning’s gentle skiing followed by relaxing, sightseeing and hot tub. All these years not skiing has meant I have missed out on this fabulous winter scenery.
Kitzbuhl looks gorgeous and so does that apartment. I drooled when I saw it on Facebook.
The scenery really is worth it all isn’t it? So glad you had fun Trish! :) x
That is hysterical that a kid actually FELL ASLEEP on skis! Kids never cease to amaze me. Lucky he skied into his brother and not over a cliff! I love skiing and I also love all that goes with a ski holiday. But for me nowadays I’m a fair weather skier and love nothing more than taking my boots off at the end of the day! I don’t have the stamina nor fitness to ski all day every day anymore so I’m happy to combine skiing and all the other things.
He really was lucky! You totally sound like you have the same attitude to me when it comes to skiing, although nowadays I love the days when I don’t have to put on the boots at all! :D
Having just come home from an amazing week of skiing in Les Carroz in the French Alps, I’m definitely going to look into walkie talkies. The snow was incredible, but the visibility was terrible at times and made skiing with children rather nerve-wracking – especially given that one of them has diabetes!! These would be a godsend.
Did your apartment actually have a sauna? That would have been incredible – I was craving a hot tub, but a sauna would definitely do the trick after a day on the slopes.
They were great to have Helen, except for when one of them called in to have a moan! :D Yes, it did have a sauna and it was amazing. I have scratched off swimming pool in my imaginary dream house and put in a sauna! :D
Kitzubul was my first ever ski holiday – holds a very special place in heart.
Beautiful isn’t it? Thanks Alice! :)
I’m with you, skiing seems too much like hard work for a holiday not to mention I’d be a complete liability on skis, but everything else sounds lovely.
Thank you Cat :)
I’m not sure that I fancy skiiing but I do love the idea of curling up with a book while everyone else skis – especially somewhere like this! ;-)
It was a perfect place to curl up with a book. Thanks Cass! :)
You made me laugh saying not to let your husband book the travel! I do ski, but I also enjoy a day off and the accommodation really makes a difference. x
He’s definitely not booking it by himself again! :D Thanks Susanna x
I don’t fancy skiing at all but I love snow and that place looks lovely, that bed so inviting!
Such a beautiful apartment! Thanks Sonia! :)
You will never ever get me skiing, I hate snow, but the one thing I do appreciate is just how stunning everything looks covered in the white stuff x
So beautiful isn’t it? And so quiet too! :D Thanks Rachel! :)
With everyone enjoying hurtling down mountains on planks of glorified wood you have a bunch of adventurers on your hand there! I’d be with you in the sauna… Chilling out!! The tip about walkie talkies is very useful for this kind of holiday, I enjoyed this post.
Thanks Nadine! :)
Wow this looks amazing. I’d love to go skiing one year, need to start saving the pennies though first
Thanks Kizzy. You don’t have to spend stacks – if you drive down not fly, borrow the gear and book somewhere far in advance it can work out a lot cheaper! :)
I love skiing but haven’t been for years. I cannot imagine taking a baby but sounds like you had a fab time nonetheless – I fancy the peace and quiet
I think we found the right balance. Maybe next year he will be on his own skis! ;D
It does look beautiful but like you I’m not into skiing and nor is my husband so it just would never work out for us. Mich x
In that case you need to find a hotel that takes the kids out so you can both just relax! :D Thanks Mich x
I did love Kitzbuhel when I went there on holiday. No snow in September though!
I think you missed it by weeks Ness! Thank you :)
Oh yes, totally know what you mean about that crisp snowy silence! Would actually quite like a ski holiday… just not quite as much as a bit of sun ;)
I know what you mean Steph! :D Thank you…
I’m not a big skiing fan either, but I do love staying in the mountains, especially in a gorgeous lodge. :-)
It’s the best part for me! Thanks Krista! (:
Sounds heavenly!
I hope your son is having a great time! :D
So lovely to read this, I’ve been on holiday in Kitzbuhel albeit a long time ago now. Sounds like you had a brilliant time and the photos are fabulous as always x
Thanks so much Charly! A big compliment coming from you! :)
I love the idea of a week’s non-skiing as I’m fairly accident prone. Thanks for sharing your top tips x
Thanks very much Izzie! :)
I think I’d like your sort of skiing holiday without the actual skiiing. About the walkie talkies – why can’t you use your phones?
Thanks Rachel! I have amended that section slightly as I should have originally pointed out that the walkie talkies were given to the Small People when we sent them out with an instructor. That way we could keep in touch and they could let us know how they were getting on, and no phones were injured! :D
Ah I see. Good idea.
He’s not just a pretty face that husband of mine! :D