Obergurgl

Obergurgl: reviews

• kevin (15 February 2010)

  Only our second family ski holiday (mum, dad and 8 year old son) but fortunate enough to stick a pin in the brochure at Obergurgl. not the cheapest place, but I believe you get what you pay for.

  I agree with the last review that the Edelweiss is great for location but we stayed at the Bellevue and only had a couple of minutes walk to a slope that took us down to the lifts. The hotel made us feel very welcome and the food was superb. My son gives a big thumbs up for the Nederhutte on a Thursday, we had a blast in there!

  Everyone we met seemed to be on their third, fourth, fifth even 15th visit. we will definitely be back later this year.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• skiclub.co.uk visitor (08 February 2010)

  Basically this is an awesome resort if: 1) you are not on a budget 2) you don't need endless runs of testing blacks and bumpy stuff 3) you have a family 4) some or all of your party are novices. 5) you like your food. Many of the hotels are of a very high standard and knocks the spots off the type of accommodation you get elsewhere in Europe. No lift queues. No "pants-round-their-knees" boarders with their newly found West coast American accents! Altitude and short transfer- they don't tend to go together! Edelweiss and Gurgl is the best hotel - the other similarly starred hotels are great too- but this one has the advantages of being brilliantly positioned at the very foot of the slope next to the two lifts.( like 20 feet away).

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Rob Ward (19 March 2009)

  We went to Obergurgl 14-21 February 2009 and had a fantastic time. Plenty of powder and we took full advantage of it. The resort has invested in new lifts and queues are negligible – even in half term week. No seriously steep runs, but the off piste made up for it. The runs are not particularly well marked, so you may get temporarily lost, but as there are only 115km you won’t go far wrong. In the past, I have skied in the big French resorts and had been drawn into that British obsession of skiing as much as possible without skiing the same run twice. I have now come to the conclusion that you can indeed ski the same run more than once and it does not affect your holiday enjoyment. I skied with the SCGB rep, Sue Fishwick on two days and she showed us some excellent off-piste, transceivers and shovels included. This was well worth the cost of joining SCGB in itself. Choose your days as the rep takes people of different abilities on different days. We stayed at the perfectly located Crystal Sportiv with Inghams. This hotel is linked by a walkway over the road to the Hotel Crystal and all the spa facilities are shared. The Sportiv is right next to the Festkogl lift, there are never any queues here and it gets you directly to the centre of the ski area. It is not in the centre of the village, but then there isn’t much centre to speak of. The staff are polite rather than friendly. The accommodation is a league above some of the places we have tolerated in France. Your lift pass includes one day at Solden, if you pay an extra 10 euros, but you must get this at the beginning of your holiday. The free bus takes 15 minutes. The lifts from Solden village up the mountain had half hour queues and this was in complete contrast to Obergurgl. Solden has a big resort feel about it – the third language on the menus is Russian. The jump park and half pipe – always a laugh on skis - were still being constructed when we were there. Obergurgl is not cheap, but the overall experience is a very positive one. Some may say that the skiing is limited, but a couple of days with the family, a couple with the SCGB rep, one in Solden and one white-out meant we did not get bored. Good points – snowsure, ski in/ski out, no queues, SCGB rep, good off-piste, quick transfer, minimal snowboarders Bad points – only 115km of runs, no night life (if you like that kind of thing)

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Ian Grant (15 March 2009)

  Just returned from a lovely week in Obergurgl. The revamped Crystal provided wonderful accommodation - the new wing is just great. Cool and contemporary with fab restaurant. Town, connections, local people and tourists were very friendly. Ski show on the evening was great too. Reg Favell the rep provided sterling service and we enjoyed several days out with him on the slopes - thanks Reg! The only problem to look out for was the lifts closing due to wind. On Friday the sun was shining for much of the time, the snow was in fantastic condition - yet there were only about 6 lifts open in the whole resort. The lift pass is quite expensive for a relatively small ski area - it makes it even more expensive when most of the resort is closed when it seems unnecessary. It was equally frustrating on the Wednesday afternoon, when everything closed early. Surely it would have been possible to at least keep the lower part of the Gaisberg gondola lift going? Overall we had a great holiday in Obergurgl, but found the closure of lifts to be very frustrating. This would make us think seriously about not returning again.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Jon Webster (11 February 2009)

  Just back from a week in Obergurgl staying at the Alpenland. In summary if you want snow with no lift queues this is the place to go! First time in Austria for me and we had a great week made even better by meeting up with the Ski Club Rep - Sue Fishwick and making some good new skiing buddies (ok and drinking buddies as well!). Like most people, having spent the best part of 2 grand (2 of us) for week half board with lift passes etc you're always a bit tentative when you read other reviews and you wonder whether it will be worth it. The majority of people we met were on return trips to Obergurgl and I can see why. Yes it does cost a bit but some of that is down to the failing pound, 4.8 euros for a beer (0.5l) must be quite comparable to anywhere else in Europe at the moment? We had snow and sun - when the snow stopped we maxed out the lifts and covered the whole resort(s). I can see where Finlay is coming from with his comments below but my advice would be to ski on and discover the tighter areas and through the Ski Club Rep, venture off piste for some snow fun and plenty of smiles. (I personally have never skied on the moon but if that is moon skiing then maybe when all the snow melts we will be on ski holidays to the moon one day - bring it on!) I am bemused by the way the Austrians just number the runs - why not give them names like the rest of Europe? "Blue 5" just does not have the same ring as "The Face" etc. The Nederhutte is a must for apres-ski (see other reviews) - say no more - I wonder if the Ski Club will host the photos??? The Alpenland was spot on, food and hospitality were excellent with its location right next to the piste - only gripe is that people still smoke everywhere in Obergurgl (except most of the restaurants) so go prepared to do some lung damage if you want to sit in the bar areas. Will we return? Why not? There were certainly runs that we didn't do due to losing some time when winds closed the higher lifts plus I would like to discover the backcountry with a ski guide. We made some good friends and talk is on of a trip back there next year, yeah bring it on!

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Finlay MacArthur (31 January 2009)

  Not long returned from Obergurgl, stayed at the excellent and reasonably priced Hotel Lohmann, situated directly in between the Gaisbergbahn and Festkoglbahn lifts. It serves great food and free wine, beer and soft drinks with your evening meal, and it’s unlimited (for some strange reason, I didn't abuse this). It also offers free internet access within the small bar area and a wellness centre with sauna and whirlpools. The skiing itself is pretty good, I found the Hohe Mut (Hohe Mut Alm restaurant has got to be the best ski cabin in the ski world) and the tree line Steinmann (Davids Skihutte another great place to eat) area to be of most interest to me, I found it to be a lot more fun skiing here than any other area of this resort. The other area reached by the Festkoglbahn and Robkarbahn I found to be absolutely dire. This area is moon skiing at it’s worst with extremely poorly marked piste’s and down right dangerous when the visibility becomes poor. The piste grading is also pretty poor, I didn’t really see any difference between a blue, red or black run within this area. On the other hand, the Hochgurgl area is another fun area to ski in with long, wide motor-way type pistes that everyone should enjoy, especially on a sunny day. If you take a trip up to the top mountain star don’t bother to go down the blue runs, it’s far easier to do the black (or maybe red) from the top. On the whole I did enjoy my week in Obergurgl. The friendliness and civility of the people I encountered within the resort was absolutely first class. It was nice to visit the resort, but I wouldn't return, it lacked something I can’t quite put my finger on.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Paul Hewitt (23 January 2009)

  Recently returned from a weeks skiing in Obergurgl and in a nutshell I cant praise the place enough, suffice to say I am already booked to go again next year. Stayed at the Edelweiss and Gurgl hotel which is in a central location right next to the two main ski lifts in Obergurgl itself.
  
  The hotel is immaculate with very helpful, friendly staff. The spa area and pools are well worth a visit, even a dip in the outdoor pool. The food is superb with plenty of choice, however wine at the dinner table is pricey! The lounge area is for some serious relaxation on a leather armchair by the log fire, just what you need after a hard day on the piste.
  
  The village itself is small and quaint, very picturesque and is convenient for the local Spa and within walking distance of other hotels/bars. I think I may have just found my annual ski resort at last. It’s very comfortable and relaxed. This is not a fast-paced, lively resort but all in all, I found plenty to do in the evenings with the Nederhutte being the place to be on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays are great fun but get there before 3pm if you want to get a table - it does get rather packed but you will know why once you've been there! The best part is the ski back down after when you have had a few drinks and its gone dark, but what a great view of the village. However, don’t worry if you don’t feel up to this as the Nederhutte provide a ski-mobile taxi to get you back to your hotel safely.
  
  On other evenings of the week, apres ski can be found at the Edelweiss and Gurgl's Schirm Bar with plenty of hot Gluhwein to keep warm under the 'big umbrella'. There is a ski shop located in the Edelweiss and Gurgl and I can say for a fact that the equipment available to rent is first class, all new gear and top quality stuff.
  
  OK, the skiing. It's not the most demanding skiing in the world, but there is a good red run down from the Hohe Mut and if you are up to it an unmarked mogul run that runs off to the right as you ski down. The one thing I will say is that I found the piste markings to be rather poor and on occasion found myself off the piste I was meant to be on and skiing down onto a black. This could be made worse if there is poor visibility. Tip here is to get to know the piste and if available take a ski guide with a local ski instructor. (I did this with Inghams and it was well worth it). All in all however, the pistes are wide open and mainly blues with some decent reds and the blacks I would more so classify as red, being more open with plenty of room to ski.
  
  Beginners and upcoming intermediates will find they can’t go wrong over in Hochgurgl with what’s best described as a wide open bowl with uncrowded pistes to ski and beautiful scenery. A visit to the Top Mountain Star is a must to take in the views - you can see the Austrian/Italian border and view the Dolomites from this awesome vantage point. It can be skied down from also with a nice blue run or a black/red for the more advanced skier. (Or boarder, can’t forget you guys, although there is not an abundance of boarders in this resort).
  
  There is a ski show put on by the ski school on Tuesday evenings with night skiing also. The show is great and worth a visit, it is reached by the Festkogel gondola and you can ski down from here on the 'family run' and back up until the show starts at 9pm until 10pm and then there is a firework display on the mountain top afterwards. The Josl Keller located in the basement of the Josl hotel is a good place to visit in the evenings also with lively music and a DJ. I’m sure I could write more, but I was well impressed with Obergurgl/Hochgurgl hence my booking for next year already. I can’t wait to return, a small, intimate and uncrowded village with good skiing and plenty to do once the lifts close. I will also add, that I met more people here than at any other resort I have been to and they were all very friendly and some of the best people I could ever wish to meet. Roll on January 2010. Thanks also to Alistair Ross of Ski Club.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Ivan Lloyd (18 January 2009)

  Returned from Obergurgl on the 10th of January after a week of fantastic skiing. Four of us went all of different abilities; from beginner through to strong intermediate, but the one thing in common was that we all really enjoyed the holiday. As the only skier not having lessons, my thanks really go to Alistair the ski club rep for leading me on a week of great skiing. I have never skied with a ski club rep before, but if they are all of Alistair’s standard I can’t recommend the experience enough. As previous visitors have said; a visit to the Nederhutte on a Monday, Wednesday or Friday afternoon is a must - this is après-ski at it's very best and if you want to get a table you need to turn up way before the 4pm start. Be prepared for an adventurous ski back home afterwards! Also worth attending is the evening ski show at the top of the mountain from where you are able to ski by floodlights all the way back to town. We stayed in the Edelweiss and Gurgl which was very comfortable and ideally located by the main lifts and ski school. I would definitely recommend a visit to Obergurgl for skiers of almost any standard; only experts may be a little short of activity although if the snow is good there looks to be plenty of off-piste opportunity.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• skiclub.co.uk visitor (23 December 2008)

  We just returned from a weeks skiing in Obergurgl and had a fantastic time. The snow was perfect and the town is a lovely old fashioned traditional resort which is popular with families. A visit to the nederhutte is a must for some apres ski. We stayed at the Alpenland and it was lovely to be able to ski back to the hotel every night. The food was also really good, which was a nice surprise. Because the resort is high up, I think bad weather can be common and we had two days of quite heavy snow which made conditions challenging! I think the resort is best suited to people with a little experience or intermediates. I think beginners can find some of the blue slopes challenging, but experienced skiiers may not have enough to do. All in all a great place to visit and it is not surprising why people keep going back year after year.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Paul Derbyshire (20 April 2008)

  Just returned from a last minute booking to Obergurgl. The snow was really very good with three days of fresh powder and only one day with poor visibility. There are some new gondolas which were an added bonus this year. I did however think the runs could have been better marked. This was a nice last minute resort but not hard to ski in 3 days.

  The town is very small and not what we are used too in Austria. The Spar shop was our lifesaver as was the one small cake shop. Our hotel was the Alpenblume and was more like a cheap pension – very old inside and looking rather tired. Breakfast was a bit pathetic with all crockery badly chipped. Our room was tiny, and the bathroom left much to be desired. Main meals were in the Edelweiss and Gurgl and simply not cooked enough for us, with the meat and fish almost raw. We have been to Austria 12 times and will not be going back to Obergurgl again. There is much better places to go.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Frances Cameron (14 April 2008)

  Just back from a week in Obergurgl 5- 2 April. We booked independently getting a flight only deal through Inghams and then organised direct with the resort. This was very easy to do and resulted in a saving of around three hundred per family of three (we were a party of six).

  Having been to Obergurgl twice before we knew a bit about the resort layout. We chose the Hotel Alpenland (booking easily via email) in the hope that we could ski to it more easily and this was a great decision. There is very direct access from the slopes which made the start and end of the day very pleasant. The hotel was fantastic - the food was superb, staff very friendly and rooms spacious and nice.

  The weather was mixed with some sunny days and some low cloud and snow. As intermediate skiers these were good testing conditions that brought on our skiing ability. We went to the ski school and thought that the instructors were great. We also went skiing with friends who were complete beginners; they found the combination of the weather and the run into the village quite tough but are still enthused to dip their toes in the water a second time. The new gondola in place of the original two man chair was great and the new red run down from Hohe Mut now accessed by the gondola was a good addition to the resort.

  We had a private taxi transfer with taxi Lenz (€360 return which for six) again arranged very efficiently via email which was a big improvement on waiting in the coach for all the various flights to arrive. We would definitely book direct again as you get better rooms, a better price and better transfers, leaving you free to enjoy the skiing.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• skiclub.co.uk visitor (20 February 2008)

  Just back from week in Obergurgl - clear blue sky for entire week, good quality snow after last fall on Feb 7th. Obergurgl is a good ski but limited ski area - myself and my 14-year-old (intermediate skiers but he's now better than me) had skied virtually the entire area by the 3rd day. Ideal terrain for intermediates for us, but expert skiers might find the pistes a bit boring - the blacks (apart from one on the Hochgurgl side below the "drag lift of death") are really own reds and a lot of the reds are really blues and skiable by all but the most nervous.
  

  Queues almost non-existent even in hafl-term week - apart from 9.45-10.00 and 1.45-2.00 at the Gaisberg lifts in the centre of town when the ski schools are getting under way. To avoid the Gaisberg ski school lift queues, best to use the Festkogl gondola at the entrance to Obergurgl - never any queues any time of day.
  

  Best skiing on the Hochgurgl side - and the red run through the trees from Hochgurgl down to Untergurgl is really good. Only other tree-line skiing is in Obergurgl but it's gets pretty busy with the ski schools as it's the closest to the vilage.
  

  Stayed in Hotel Deutschmann beside Festkogl gondola - virtually ski in-ski out - decor pretty chintzy, rooms pretty basic for a 4-star but food very good and plentiful. Staff very nice and helpful apart from a pretty dozy barman who wouldn't last two minutes in a Dublin bar!
  

  All in all, best for families, beginners-lower intermediates. Probably will go somewhere next year with more mileage to ski.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• skiclub.co.uk visitor (20 February 2008)

  Fantastic weeks skiing in Obergurgl. Hardly any queues except when the ski school starts, breaks up for lunch and finishes.
  
  We stayed at Astes Hochegg which was very good. Eating out the food was good Hotel Madeline and the Wiesenstal were the best. Runs through the trees in the Gaisberg section of obergurgl were fantastic with lots of variations and off-piste bits to do with a very quick 6 man at the bottom.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• skiclub.co.uk visitor (26 March 2007)

  Just spent a week in the Hotel Austria,in Obergurgl. Best hotel ,best skiing and the best holiday we have had ,Colin, Mary, John and Lyne.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• skiclub.co.uk visitor (23 March 2007)

  What a difference the weather makes on ANY holiday! This has got to be one of the best week's skiing that we've had over the years coming back home with lovely tanned faces some with laughable 'google' tans as they forgot their sunglasses, remember this Nicola Tait!!! We stayed at the Hotel Madeleine which was only a short 5 min walk to the two lifts in the small villiage. This hotel was lovely. Rooms were very well maintained & very nice indeed. The food was very. As previous visitors have said, this isn't a lively resort but it's whatever floats your boat as I say, make your holiday how YOU want it not others. It was also very warm when we were there touching 17degrees on some days in the villiage & only -2 at night. All in all I would say this area would suit beginner/intermeadiate levels but not 1st timers. Resort is quiet but the action starts at the 'huts' on the pistes especially the 'Nedderhutte'. Jimmy & Nicola 10-17th March 2007.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• skiclub.co.uk visitor (18 March 2007)

  Just got back last night from a week in Obergurgl, and to be honest i was a bit disapointed with this resort. The snow was quite good and kept in a lovely condition, but it was 14 degrees some days and very mushy in the village. The resort is a little smaller than we are used to and there is only one SPAR shop in the village. The runs are quite wide in places but narrow over bridges etc and I do not consider this a very good resort for learners at all. I was told Hochgurgyl was a better area but not the powder bowl i was expecting. In fact we were all a bit bored after 3 days skiing. Our rep Steve Short from First Choice was great. All in all we were disapointed with this resort and have been to many better in Austria so we will not be back again.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• skiclub.co.uk visitor (13 March 2007)

  Have been going to Obergurgl for 22 years now having been to a lot of other resorts. The view from the Eidelweiss Hot tub at the end of the day after a few jager tee did it for me. No queues, great ski school, no idiots on the pistes, lovely ambience in the hotels and superb hotels with excellent food. It's one of the highest resorts and so the snow is always great and you are only an hour and half from Innsbruck. I now have four children and they have all learnt to ski here. We have just spent half term at the Hotel Alpenland. The location is superb as its ski in and ski out just above the ski school meeting place. The food was outstanding and the service was excellent. Rooms are spotless and very comfy beds. The hotel is family run and Mr and Mrs Fender are always about. There is a bowling alley in the basement which our kids loved to play at. We normally stay at the Hochfirst which has the best pool in the resort which is indoor-outdoor which is superb for children at the end of the day. It also has an amazing spa for relaxing in. All in all this is a superb resort and I can't wait to go back every year. The only drawback is that Austria is still smoke friendly and this can be unpleasant in the bar are of small hotels.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• skiclub.co.uk visitor (12 March 2007)

  Still a little magical piece of Austria. Fabulous snow and nice long runs. I recommend Hotel Alpina which is perfect and run by a charming family.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Kirsty Baxter (11 March 2007)

  Spent half term week (17th Feb) in Obergurgl, where we stayed at the Hotel Bellevue. Had a fantastic time, although as some of us in the party were beginners, the conditions weren't the best for us. I wouldn't say it's the best resort for beginners, but our ski instructor, Heinrich, was fantastic. My 10 year old son's ski school was great, he was skiing reds by mid-week. The hotel was first class, would definitely recommend it - the food was excellent, service efficient and rooms very clean. The spa was great at the end of the day's skiing!

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• skiclub.co.uk visitor (25 February 2007)

  Got back from Obergurgl last night (24/2) after a week's stay at Hotel Hochfirst. Fantastic 4* hotel, with indoor and outdoor (31 degrees Centigrade water temperature) pool. Whole week we saw clouds only on Friday. The runs are mainly topped up by the artificial snow, but the people who look after the slopes are doing a fantastic job to keep us all enjoying skiing. Obergurgl must be a dream resort in an average season when it was so good now.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• skiclub.co.uk visitor (21 February 2007)

  We went to Obergurgl for one week, from 10/2/07. This was our first time skiing as a whole family, we have three kids, 16, 14 and 8. We stayed in the Edelweiss and Gurgl hotel which was fantastic, with great food friendly staff, and excellent facilities - also truly ski in/ski out. The ski school was brilliant for all of us, and our instructor exceptional, he was Anton aged 77.

  The hotel was central and close to all amenities, and also the skiing in Hochgurgl close by was great, with very wide slopes. We had a ball, with great apres ski, especially drinking the Dooleys at the nearby Fassl Bar. We will be returning at Easter.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Caroline Morris-Hills (19 February 2007)

  Spent a week in Obergurgl from 3rd February. Lovely resort, quiet and charming. We stayed in the Hotel Bellvue. Great hotel if youve got kids, but not ideal if your a couple hoping for a quiet, romantic getaway. Hotel was practically ski to door(2 minute walk) which was great. The skiing was quite demanding, some of the blue runs were scary, especially the one back to the hotel. Really enjoyed blue run number 6 and red number 16. Didn't need to use a single drag lift all week! Food at David's Hutte and nederhutte was excellent. Found the higher runs at Hochgurgl really icy. Overall, we really liked Obergurgl as a resort and would definately return, but wouldn't stay at the Bellvue.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• skiclub.co.uk visitor (15 February 2007)

  Visited the resort from the 3rd of Feb 2007 and can recommend it to anyone looking for a quiet and friendly resort.

  We ski every year with a group of 10 and were joined this year by two novices, who thanks to the excellent ski school came on in leaps and bounds. We were, as I would imagine everyone visiting Europe this year, a little concerend about the snow (or lack of it) conditions but must say the resort have managed to keep their slopes in excellent condition. We stayed in the Hotel Austia and have to say that it proved to be one of the best hotels we have stayed in.

  We will most definitley be returning in the years to come.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• skiclub.co.uk visitor (14 February 2007)

  We have just arrived back from Obergurgl after a week staying at the Crystal Hotel at the beginning of February 2007.

  We all had a great time in spite of the fact that the resort was short of snow. The village was bare of snow on the roads and pavements but the pistes were fine only rather icy.

  Our hotel was at the beginning of the village, about 600 metres from the ski school meeting place, but we could either get there by going up the Festkogl Gondola and ski-ing down the long blue runs, or by catching the free ski bus which comes every 10 minutes and picks up from the Gondola almost opposite the Crystal Hotel.

  The ski school was excellent, and the hotel was fantastic. This is a good resort for families.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• skiclub.co.uk visitor (12 February 2007)

  Stayed at the Hotel Deutschmann 3-10th Feb, hotel needs an upgrade. Obergurgl itself fantastic resort, no queues at all, runs well maintained even though snow fall was desperately needed (worse season in 36 years apparently) partner who was on his 2nd weeks ski-ing found it a brilliant resort to improve in, especially sunny Hochgurgl. Would recommend the more central hotels as the ski/kids school meet place is at least a 15 minutes walk from the Festkogel area and not an ideal ski down for more nervous skiers early in the week, not a massive resort but would definately recommend as a high snow sure resort, good lunch with drink on slopes circa 15 euro, good value I thought for what was quite a classy resort, and the best bit hardly any boarders !!

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• skiclub.co.uk visitor (09 February 2007)

  Visited for the first time 20th January - fantastic. Stayed at Hotel Alpina, truly first class hotel, fab food, pristine, superb service, great for families. You can ski out and nearly ski back!

  Our second time skiing, loved the resort, yes some of the blue slopes are challenging, but with superb tuition from Helen at ski school, even the most nervous can cope!

  If you want a resort that is charming, very friendly and NO queues, with wonderful hotels to thoroughly spoil you at the end of the day, go to Obergurgl. We loved it so much we're going back in March!

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• skiclub.co.uk visitor (18 January 2007)

  I have just returned from Obergurgl where I taught my wife to ski. I am a military ski instructor and picked the resort becuase it gets a good rating for beginers. I have to say I would not agree with that. The beginners area is well away from the other areas and once you have been on the 'pay as you go' T bar, you only have the Gaisberg chair to progress to which is blue and too steep. Skiing down the mountain is beyond most people until right at the end of the week. The only lift up the hill which is possible to progress to is another T bar which is marked black but you can take a long way round to get a good pitch for a basic swing run. I thought Obergurgl was great for a skier but I would not advise learning to ski there.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• skiclub.co.uk visitor (29 December 2006)

  Returned from my first visit to Obergurgl on 23 Dec and can't wait to get back!

  As a poor skier I would have to agree with the previous comment that Obergurgl is more difficult for beginners than reports lead you to believe. For sure the run down the village was much tougher than expected and as a barman said to me "almost a red - but you can't have a red as your only run back to the village can you"!

  Despite that slight gripe the other Obergurgl runs are very good if likely to get a big icy at times due lack of sun but the Hoghgurgl runs are simply great - so wide there is plenty of room for even the most nervous of skiers.

  Also used the skibus system which was very efficient and ran on time even when the snow was falling. Excellent lift system throughout and no queues at all when I was there.

  Like many others I stayed at the Edelweiss & Gurgl and it was just brilliant - great staff, great food, great room, wonderful pool complex and exceptional spa. Very highly recommended.

  Roll on next year!

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• skiclub.co.uk visitor (19 December 2006)

  Just come back from a week in Obergurgl 16/12/06. While the rest of europe was still awaiting the first serious dump of snow of the year the snow in both Obergurgl and Hochgurgl was fantastic. The high altitude ensures that the slopes are open from mid Nov. until May and while we were there it was sunshine and blue skies everyday, perfect. One myth I would like to dispell about Obergurgl is that the resort is NOT that great for beginners. The beginners areas of Bruggenboden and Gaisberg both suffer from icey conditions as they are permantley in the shade and the journey back to the resort is a hairy one as it involves descending a fairly steep slope right at the end of the run.

  We stayed at the Edelweiss and Gurgl hotel which was fantastic with very attentive staff, a great location which was truely ski to the door, great indoor and outdoor pool a lovely whirlpool which looks out onto the slopes and great food.

  A short ski bus ride to Hochgurgl presents you with a great choice of terrain which is best suited to the confident intermediate. Most of the runs are fairly wide blues and the scenery is spectacular which is what you would expect at 3000 mtrs. If you go to the new Top Mountain Star restaurant you can even see the Italian Dolomites.

  My holiday was a bit of a disaster as my wife managed to damage her cruciate knee ligament on day 4 so I didn't manage to get as much skiing in as I would have liked. On the plus side the emergency services were great and my wife was well looked after for the remainder of the holiday.

  I hope to return Obergurgl in the not too distant future and I would definately stay in the Edelweiss and Gurgl again, but then it all depends if my other half, who is at best a nervous skiier, regains her confidence. Only time will tell.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• skiclub.co.uk visitor (11 December 2006)

  We had an early season ski week at the Burghotel and enjoyed fantastic hospitality and great skiing back to the door! Spotless rooms and a wonderfully warm welcome from Tyrolean Seppl and his English wife Rosemarie.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Hazel Hodge (24 April 2006)

  I booked a last minute trip to Obergurgl (first time) and found your rep, Laurie Palmer on my first day. He, and the existing members, who were regular visitors to this resort, made the week fantastic for me. Laurie was first class and lots of fun both on piste, off piste and at the apres ski! This will go down as one of my best ski hols since I started skiing some 15 years ago. Thanks Laurie.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Trevor Smith (10 April 2006)

  1st visit to Obergurgl w/c 25th Mch - great conditions in a resort ideally suited to family skiing. Ski School was outstanding and was reflected in the progress made by our 2 daughters (10 & 12) for whom this was the first trip to the slopes. We stayed in the Bellevue which was great and really felt like a home-from-home by the end of the week. Particularly liked the Hochgurgl area for some good cruising blues and some great views down the valley. Will be back next year.....

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• David Bracey (26 March 2006)

  Just back from the best week ever! As others have said, its all about ambience in Austria. We checked out lots of the hotels while we were there and without exception all looked cosy and inviting. We were at the Olympia which was really nice - family run, spotless, comfortable, panoramic views, great food and easy slide on to the pistes. Abit further coming back but very conveinient. The Nederhutte is an institution - we have at last discovered apres-ski!! Herr Gamper rocks! Sliding back down the gentle run into the village at the end of the session under the stars is an experience in itself. John Hearne was the Club rep and put on some great trips - I hope he'll be back in the resort when we return!

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Louise Parker (17 March 2006)

  We went to Obergurgl Feb 06 Half Term with our 7 year old and 15 year old. Had one of the best ski holidays ever - great snow, lovely resort, clean and efficient. Stayed with Esprit at Chalet Verwall which we would recommend but used the Hotel Edelweiss & Gurgle for pre-dinner drinks which was fab and we'll definately stay there next time. One to avoid - the Hochfirst Hotel - substandard brandy, warm champagne, bar staff with attitude - very strange attitude - several other 4* hotels to pick so avoid this one. Ski School excellent. The resort is worth the extra and I personally gained a lot of confidence and moved my skiing forward!

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Frances Cameron (06 March 2006)

  This was our second year at the Hotel Madeliene in Obergurgl. Went as complete snow novices in April 2005 and enjoyed it so much that we booked to go back in February this year. Again we had a wonderful time. Preferred the snow conditions in February; as novice skiers the softer slushier snow in April made the ski back to the village harder. The ski school was fantastic both years and we feel that our skiing has definitely improved. Accomodation pristine, food was excellent and staff very pleasant. Very good english was spoken everywhere, putting us to shame as usual. Nightlife was quiet and so I would not imagine that this resort would appeal to party animals, but we would certainly go back again. Feedback from fellow holiday makers seemed to be that all the hotels in the resort were great. we considered the Edelweiss& Gurgl due to its great location right next to the lift for the second year as we hadn't realised as novices how far a three minute walk could be with your skis and boots, but when we saw the price difference we decided to stay at the Madeleine again and do the short walk!!!

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Frances Cameron (06 March 2006)

  This was our second year at the Hotel Madeliene in Obergurgl. Went as complete snow novices in April 2005 and enjoyed it so much that we booked to go back in February this year. Again we had a wonderful time. Preferred the snow conditions in February; as novice skiers the softer slushier snow in April made the ski back to the village harder. The ski school was fantastic both years and we feel that our skiing has definitely improved. Accomodation pristine, food was excellent and staff very pleasant. Very good english was spoken everywhere, putting us to shame as usual. Nightlife was quiet and so I would not imagine that this resort would appeal to party animals, but we would certainly go back again. Feedback from fellow holiday makers seemed to be that all the hotels in the resort were great. we considered the Edelweiss& Gurgl due to its great location right next to the lift for the second year as we hadn't realised as novices how far a three minute walk could be with your skis and boots, but when we saw the price difference we decided to stay at the Madeleine again and do the short walk!!!

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• ollie in ireland (09 February 2006)

  Just back from brilliant week in Obergurgl.Skiing conditions were perfect ,with new snow a few times in the week it was our best ski holiday yet. Runs are well mixed with easy cruising to very good reds. Advanced skiers will find it very limited execpt for some excellent off piste runs which were breathtaking after new snow. A resort for middle aged to older skiers who like their comforts as all accommodation is top quality hotels that spoil there guests.Indeed there is a marked contrast in manners and friendly service of all people who work in this resort, to the rude and badly mannered French we have experienced in the last five years. The food here is excellent and apres-ski matches anywhere,but younger set will find nightlife very disappointing. A really top quality resort ..

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Eddie (06 February 2006)

  Lovely resort for up and coming intermediates, nothing is really too challenging in good weather conditions. Ski school to be recommended, very patient and understanding. Nederhutte is a blast but beware of drinking and skiing.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Steve Weaver (06 February 2006)

  Took family (incl. kids aged 5 and 7) in Jan 06. Probably the best ski school for the kids we have experienced anywhere in the Alps - particularly the dedicated "bobo land" for beginners. Very friendly resort. Great being able to switch between Obergurgl and Hofgurgl depending on the time of day/ conditions. Highly recommended.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Andrew Warin (29 January 2006)

  Just back from my first visit to Obergurgl. I wish that I had discovered it before! Wonderful resort and hotel Eidelweiss and Gurgl is fantastic! The spa is superb. Had great week skiing with Jane Billington. Great skier and guide and lots of fun. Yes, including dancing on the tables in ski boots at the Nederhut!!! A wonderful week with excellent snow, and day on the glaciers at Solden was memorable. Andrew Warin

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Steve (29 January 2006)

  Just back from a great weeks skiing. Stayed at the Edelweiss & Gurgl - can't rate it high enough - the superior rooms were warm and spacious - the food was fab and the staff are brill.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Rebecca Chesworth (20 January 2006)

  Great for an eay, confidence-building holiday. Very friendly, good convenience, no queues, but runs limited - worth taking the bus to Solden for a day of more varied pistes.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Ian Wisbey (12 December 2005)

  I've just returned from a 4 day trip, stayed at the Bergwelt as they offer childcare facilities which we were advised were free, only to find out that under 3's charged at 18 euro an hour...my children are 1 & 4. This restricted the skiing somewhat....Anyway great to get some skiing in so early, high resort & you do pay a premium for that luxury here...not for the small wallet. Conditions were good but cold -15, icy in places...I would recommend Hochgurgl for the better pistes. Minimal queue's due to good lifts also there are few boarders.75% of runs open, I suspect all will be open in next week or 2. Plenty of snow cannons. Good resort for beginners if you can afford the tuition & ski passes, intermediares will have bagged the pistes in 4 days & Advanced will find limited challenges. They do accomodate well for children over 3...still plenty of time to get a few more trips arranged in the season though.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Graham Gibson (17 December 2004)

  Just got back from a "white week" break in Obergurgl. The week was very white, however this was mainly due to artificial snow, although this should be put right this weekend with heavy snow forecast. What a fantastic resort, with ski runs to suit all grades of skier. Not too many runs for the advanced skier, but that didn't bother me as I am at the other end of the scale. Plenty of wide blue runs in Hochgurgl which is only a mile down the road (use the free ski bus or the top express gondola which links Hochgurgl with Obergurgl). The resort is very quiet with a few bars (check out the Josel keller immediately after ski school closes) and a few sport shops (if you don't like skiing then stay away from Obergurgl as Oxford street it definately is not!). Stayed in the Hotel Bellevue which is linked too the Austria hotel via a underground corridor, what a fantastic hotel, extremely friendly staff and owners, exceptional food and facilities (we were picked up on our last day at 06.30 for the transfer back to the airport and the owners sent off with a packed lunch because we missed breakfast). The Austria hotel has a nightclub below which can be accessed from the Bellevue via the tunnel. All in all a fantastic week that was only marred by the fact the tour operator decided that the chartered flight to Innsbruck needed to be cancelled therefore we were put on a scheduled flight from Gatwick to Munich which mean't we lost of the first day travelling. As a final note if you do nothing else while you stay in Obergurgl, make sure that you catch the Festkogel bahn to the top station on tuesday evenings no later than 20.30 where you can warm yourself with a glass of gluwein and watch a spectular show laid on by the Obergurgl ski school instructors followed by some fantastic fireworks, but remember WRAP UP WARM at around 3000m at that time of night, it is pretty chilly. Thanks Obergurgl for a truly brilliant week, see you again next year!

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Trevor Clark (06 October 2004)

  Obergurgl is certainly the most charming up market ski resort in Austria. We have stayed at a number of hotels in the village, but return again and again to the Bellevue. A family run hotel with great views and superb food. With the attractions of an indoor pool, sauna, jacuzzi, steam room and the most wonderful food, getting a days skiing in, which is virtually doorstep, can prove very challenging ! Oh, and the Austriakeller nightclub under the hotel is great fun for the evening without having to go out into the cold night air.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Raymond Edge (25 April 2004)

  It is an outstanding resort. Our favourite hotel is the Edelweiss & Gurgl, and it is truly ski in - lift out. The hotel is Austrian owned but you would be hard pushed to find non English speaking staff or guests. Most originate from UK, Ireland or Benelux countries with a few German families who are pleasantly bemused to find themselves in such an Anglo - Saxon environment. The family owners are welcoming and friendly but firmly Austrian in their manners and greetings, which makes this hotel so special. Obergurgl ski school taught my wife, a timid learner to be a proficient and keen skier. She was taught firstly by an extremely patient and excellent ski instructor, when she returned the following year with inhibitions about skiing, she was placed into what I called a 'special needs' class which nutured her on easy blue slopes. From this shakey beginning and with help from the Obergurgl ski school she is now proficient and confident on red ski routes, and will attempt blacks in good conditions. On a recent easter ski club holiday (in France) achieved the club grade red/silver for on -piste and red for off - piste. She is really pleased with this grade (so am I) and we both believe that the solid and dedicated teaching of the ski school helped my wife achieve this level of proficiency. The resort is small but after skiing there for 6 years I still find new patches of previously unskied areas. It is the lack of lift queues, the certainty of snow, the excellent mountain restaurants the excellent and such convienient hotel, plus the efficient ski school which continues to attract us each year to return to Obergurgl every christmas.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Theresa Wride (11 February 2004)

  Our second pre-Christmas visit to Obergurl accompanied by 13 and 14 year old children. Early snow, no queues, excellent instructors, hotels full of alpine charm. Must be good the same people return every year! If you're looking for shops go somewhere else.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Donall O'Connor (09 February 2004)

  Just back from Obergrurgl with young family - superb week - I commend the ski-school particularly for their excellent handling of children - Very much an ideal family choice (as an advanced skier & boarder, my wife and I found skiing very limited - However, because of young children this is still an excellent choice.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Bozena Hillyer (26 January 2004)

  I disagree with your comments on the ski school. My children have skied from age 3 and we have used schools in France and the USA and the instructors in Obergurgl are the best by far, committed, fun and very cool! I suppose I should be glad because your comments probably put lots of people off coming and that leaves more space for us.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Suzanne Steel (20 January 2004)

  One word describes Obergurgl and Hochgurgl perfectly- BRILLIANT!!!

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Simon Graham (13 December 2003)

  I love this place! It may not be a destination for the budget skier however the hotels are first rate, especially for traditional Austrian cuisine. In Obergurgl there is also a very relaxed atmosphere and almost no wait for lifts. The only downside was that by the end of the week there were no challenging runs left to ski but aside from this it is brilliant!

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Robert Burwood (17 September 2003)

  If you want great snow, fast efficient lifts, quality Hotels and wide really wide open pistes then this is the place.Not the best for nightlife better suited to the more mature skier of family but the quality shines through.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Louis Gaigher (08 June 2003)

  Went to obergurgl from 03/01/03 for 7days. fantastic, perfect skiing holiday!! great scenery, friendly locals and super hotel(hotel muhle). Yes- not the best place for double black diamonds, but we went one day to Solden were there is loads of more testing runs. i would recommend it without hesitation to anybody looking for a super relaxing skiing holiday in a superb setting.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Greg Capper (06 April 2003)

  Perfect conditions, Obergurgl is the best resort I have skied in. Ski School instructors are fantastic and the Nederhutte is unbeatable (who is that Alice anyway!). We meet the same people there year on year. Please don't go there as I want it for myself!

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Doug Sammons (08 January 2003)

  I have been to Obergurgl several times over the last 12 years. Most hotels are 4* plus. The resort is aimed at up-market skiers,so do not expect to many boarders. I know of families who leave their skis in the hotel until the next year!Skiing is good for intermediates with litle scope for experts. Beginners might find the runs a little challenging at first.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Michael Saffan (30 December 2002)

  RE Ski School. My daghter and I were in Obergurgle 14th-21st Dec. Very good ski lessons. Goog English spoken and courtesy offered. Half Day Private or for 2 people, Really exellent.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Ian Aitchison (03 December 2002)

  One of the great features of Obergurgl is the almost complete absence of waiting time on the lifts. In sixteen years I have never waited for more than five minutes to get on a lift and last year over a two week period only twice did I have to wait at all! The hotels are expensive but the Pensions are superb and reasonable, the ambiance is without parallel and sleep is not disturbed by drunks, traffic or loud music. One downer this year however is the inability to enjoy the delightful restaurants and the mountain huts for dining in the evening. This been denied by a certain Tour Operator making the pensions that do B&B, requiring the visitor to go elsewhere for an evening meal, only do half board.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Matt Bennett (26 November 2002)

  Obergurgl is a fantstic place to ski. A little boring for the advanced skier? Maybe, but I dont believe that Obergurgl is that kind of resort. It is aimed at families and couples who just want to have fun. The food is fantastic - Dave's hut serves the best food and everyone seems to know it because the wait for a table can be quite long. Couples and families keep on coming back to Obergurgl every year because of its friendly, welcoming atomosphere. Testament to the fact that Obergurgl really is a great place ski.

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.
• Jon Davies (01 November 2002)

  I just love Obergurgl! The skiing is somewhat limited, the resort is expensive, it's a long journey, BUT the place has masses of genuine alpine charm. One of these days I'm going to take my family there for Christmas. (Not one for beginners, not one for serious black-runners & definitely not one for a budget holiday).

  This is the opinion of a skiclub.co.uk visitor, not the Ski Club of Great Britain.

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