If one were to ask Americans, Canadians or Brits what they think of when they hear “Austria”, chances are, they will say “skiing”.

Austria has marketed the concept of cozy Alpine villages and trails winding through forested mountains so well that many people imagine perpetual snow whenever they hear the name. Reality is as enchanting as the marketing images. For skiers, Austria is a wonderful mix of old-world, chalet-studded villages; lift-linked ski areas; lively mountain huts; rustic wood-paneled restaurants and exceptional nightlife and après-ski.
For Americans making their first trip to Europe and finding their way into an Austrian village, there is a sense of déjà-vu. When Americans and Canadians want to create the perfect ski resort, they send experts to study Austria. And when they build, they mimic Austria. Look at the town of Vail in Colorado, the Austrian-style condos throughout New England and the massive wooden chalet hotels constructed in Sun Valley. Though others may try to copy the Austrian style, the essence of Austria cannot be canned or crated and taken to a new mountain. It needs to steep in deep valleys and evolve over centuries in hidden villages.
As important as atmosphere, mountains, chalets and skiing may be, Austria has another secret ingredient. This is a country where sincere hospitality is deemed as important as great skiing. Austrians seem to go out of their way to make visitors feel at home. From the ski instructors to the hotel managers to the restaurant owners, they seem to take genuine pleasure in knowing that you have enjoyed yourself in their country. Their word for this feeling of warmth and congeniality, Gemütlichkeit, sums up what they strive for as hosts.

Switzerland is more efficient; France is more sophisticated and Italy has a greater flair for food, but Austria is down-home friendly.

After countless visits to ski resorts around the world, every contributor to this ski guide can attest that no one knows how to have fun like the Austrians. In our après-ski sections, we outline the traditions of schnapps on the slopes, tea time after skiing and late night partying.
Although Austria is one of the skiing capitals of the world, it is very affordable; this, with the hospitality you’ll encounter, will help to insure a fond memory of your trip.

Austria’s Alps
The Austrian Alps have three major chains—the Northern Limestone Alps, the High Alps and the Southern Limestone Alps. The Northern Limestone Alps have many natural valleys and are home of resorts such as Lech, St. Anton, Ischgl and Kitzbühl. The High Alps are anchored by the Oetztal resorts of Sölden and Obergurgl and stretch to Innsbruck, Zell am See and Kaprun. These High Alps have few easy passes across them. Passes like the Brenner Pass and the Grossglockner are famous for their road, tunnel and bridge engineering which allows traffic to move north and south. The Southern Limestone Alps form the border with Italy and Slovenia.

The mountain elevation in Austria is lower than that found in Switzerland, France or Western Italy. But Austria gets plenty of snow since the winters get colder the further east one travels in the Alps. However, in the early winter and spring seasons, make sure to check the snow cover before planning a major skiing vacation.

Home of the Alberg Method
Austria’s name has forever been linked with the development of modern skiing. It was in the Arlberg that a unified system of skiing was devised. Previously, skiers used a form of telemarking, but Hannes Schneider based his ski technique on the snowplow which allowed skiers to maintain control in all phases of skiing.

His methods were popularized through movies, and he set up the first organized ski race, the Arlberg-Kandahar. Later Hannes Schneider would travel to the United States, after being released from Nazi prison for banking concessions, and start the first ski school in the Mt. Washingt
The Austrian highway system has a program of highway toll stickers somewhat similar to that used in Switzerland, but more flexible. Anyone driving on the Autobahn must purchase this sticker. Drivers of automobiles can purchase the toll sticker at automobile associations before arriving in Austria or at a gas station near the border. Once inside Austria, additional stickers can be purchased for periods from one week to one year at post offices, tobacco shops and most gas stations throughout the country.

Most rental car companies have decided that they will be passing along the tolls to customers renting cars in Austria. For more information on rental cars and the Autobahn toll, go to our Getting Around Europe section on our Travel Tips page.

When is high season?
High season: Christmas to New Year’s, February through late March.

Low season: Before Christmas, January after New Year, and from late March through April closing.

For the exact high/low season weeks outside of holiday periods, check with the individual resorts. Their dates may vary because of local school holidays.

Telephone country code for Austria is 0043.

Canada
Austrian National Tourist Office
Travel Information Center
2 Bloor Street East, Suite 3330
Toronto, Ontario M4W 1A8
Phone: +1 (416) 967-3381  
Fax: +1 (416) 967-4101
e-mail: anto-tor@sympatico.ca

United Kingdom
Austrian National Tourist Office
PO Box 2363
London W1A 2QB
Phone: +44 (0)20-7629 0461
Fax: +44 (0)20-7499 6038
e-mail: info@anto.co.uk

United States
Austrian National Tourist Office
120 West 45th St. 9th Floor
New York, NY 10036
Phone: +1 (212) 575-7723  
Fax: +1 (212) 730-4568
e-mail: travel@austria.info
Internet: www.austria.info/us or www.austria-toursim.biz/us