The 9 best family ski resorts in Austria

A checklist

Attractive specials and offers can be found in every winter sports region. But what are the highlights of the resorts and accommodations that appeal to families? We take a look at the quality factors that characterise a children's ski area in Austria and which family-friendly services are on offer:

• Ski passes for kids, discounted family ski tickets or family packages
• Child-friendly ski schools with their own beginners' area close to the valley or right at the valley station
• Dedicated lifts for kids or child-friendly access
• Magic carpets for transporting the little ones
• Separate areas for children with wave track, adventure course, Kinderland or winter playgrounds
• Offers for child and baby care
• Suitable infrastructure at the huts such as children's toilets and nappy-changing facilities
• Short, safe routes to the attractions
• Child-friendly additional offers (adventure hikes, tobogganing, animal parks)

The weighting of the individual offers varies from ski area to ski area, but has nothing to do with a lack of quality awareness. In the narrow Alpine valleys, for example, the topography determines what is possible on and off the slopes. Where certain offers are simply not feasible, the resorts often focus all the more on family-friendly programmes elsewhere and thus create a well-rounded holiday experience in their own way.

Tip: When planning your holiday, it helps to draw up a rough weekly schedule. The services offered by many ski resorts are usually so extensive that you won't be able to try out everything in one winter holiday without neglecting the skiing itself. So don't be tempted by the sheer number of options, but think carefully about what you can do with your family.

Despite the many criteria that simplify the search, choosing a family-friendly ski resort is often difficult. After all, everyone should feel comfortable on holiday together – so every step of the planning process needs to be carefully considered.

Our RENTertainers have answered the most important questions in this context so that you and your family can move into the ideal accommodation.

• Spacious ski resorts: Would you prefer a large area with many kilometres of slopes, numerous lifts and several ski schools, children's areas and the like?
• Small ski resorts: Or something smaller, clearer and with a less comprehensive offer for the youngest guests, but with an absolute guarantee of satisfaction?

If you go purely by size, you can quickly lose track. Think in advance about what type of skier you are and which slopes and offers appeal to you. In most cases, you can only realise a fraction of what you have planned.

Whether by car, bus or train - the journey is part of the holiday and storage space and comfort play an important role. Here too, not every accommodation is equally easy to get to.

A look at the criteria reveals what it's all about:

• Is the ski resort quick and easy to reach by train?
• How is the journey from the platform to the accommodation organised?
• Are snow chains necessary if travelling by car?
• Are there any mountain pass roads involved in the journey?

Accommodation in central locations is usually in high demand and therefore booked up early. This leaves hotels and flats that are located outside the city centre. But are they automatically worse? Our RENTertainers take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of peripheral locations for families:

The land of mountains is made for skiing holidays - fascinating ski resorts and cosy winter tourism from Vorarlberg to Tyrol to Salzburg and beyond. Now the only question is: Which regions are best for a family holiday? Our RENTertainers present an overview of Austria's top family ski resorts.

The Zillertal Arena offers large areas for beginners, special kids’ restaurants and numerous children's ski schools to ensure that kids are well looked after during their skiing holiday. In addition to first-class easy slopes, practice lifts and large practice areas, there are also many programmes that provide the necessary variety. Trained ski instructors look after the little ones in the ski kindergartens and ski schools and the Zillertal Arena mascot Funty ensures a great atmosphere on site.

Highlights in the family ski area

The ski resort of Sölden is located in the heart of the Ötztal valley and is famous for being featured in one of the James Bond films. Thanks to the Superskipass, you have around 360 kilometres of slopes at your disposal and you can let off steam with your family in six ski areas. There are also other offers for the whole family. For example, the many snow playgrounds provide plenty of variety. And if the weather isn't cooperating, head to the indoor pool.

Highlights in the family ski area

The Silvretta Montafon ski area in Vorarlberg also has plenty to offer the youngest skiers. Thanks to the "Kids on Ski" programme, small children up to a certain age can use many services on and off the slopes free of charge. To top it off, there are countless activities to keep young and old entertained. Whether skiing, winter hiking or tobogganing, boredom is never an option on the Vorarlberg peaks.

Highlights in the family ski area

In the region around the towns of Saalbach, Leogang, Fieberbrunn and Hinterglemm, you are spoilt for choice: the Skicircus offers you an area with 408 kilometres of slopes. If you want to make the most of everything on offer, you'll definitely be busy for longer here. But it's not just fun on the slopes that is catered for, as in addition to snowshoe hikes and toboggan runs, there are freshly groomed trails for cross-country skiers. Furthermore, there are countless activities on and off the slopes for the youngest winter sports enthusiasts.

Highlights in the family ski area

Many ski resorts in Austria offer skiing holidays for the whole family. In the Tyrolean resorts of Serfaus, Fiss and Ladis, for example, kids have access to a total area of 125,000 square metres, which only includes children's offers such as the Kinderschneealm. But in the other federal states, for example in Salzburg, you will also find attractive offers in the Almenwelt Lofer or Schmittenhöhe ski areas that include family ski passes and/or winter hikes. However, which ski resort you choose depends on several factors:

• Difficulties of the slope
• Alternative offers to skiing
• Discounts for families
• Childcare options on site

Depending on how you want to organise your skiing holiday with the whole family, the choice of ski resorts can also vary. While some resorts may have many blue slopes, others may offer better alternatives such as tobogganing or winter hikes. Ultimately, the decision about the family holiday is made together.

The prices of ski passes for children vary depending on the age of the ski resort. Generally speaking, however, children up to a certain age pay less than adults. Infants up to the age of 3 sometimes ski for free, while children aged 3-6 often receive heavily discounted or free tickets. For 6-14-year-olds, the price is around 50-60% of the adult rate (approx. €25-45 per day), while teenagers pay around 75-80% (approx. €35-55 per day). Some ski resorts also offer special family rates.

It's best to enquire about current prices and discounts directly at the ski resort of your choice.

In many ski resorts in Austria, it is possible to get discounts for the whole family. In addition, the type of accommodation, such as self-catering flats and the costs for alternative programmes or the type of travel (train, plane, car) also play an important role. Those who inform themselves early can also benefit from early booking discounts for train tickets or accommodation.

You can also rent equipment on site. Not only do you save on buying equipment, but you can also travel with less luggage. What's more, you can always benefit from the latest gear and the associated service.

The decision about when to go on a skiing holiday depends on several factors. As a family, you are often tied to the children's holiday periods. Generally speaking, however, most ski resorts are open from the end of November to the end of April and even beyond.

There is also the factor of guaranteed snow: January and February are considered the months with the most guaranteed snow, although you should also keep an eye on the location of the ski resort.