Zell Am See is a long-established year-round resort town set between a large lake and a mountain. The bustling town centre has a charming pedestrianised ‘old-town’ with a large collection of shops, restaurants, bars and hotels. A gondola goes from the edge of town up the local Schmittenhoehe mountain, which is the southern arm of a horseshoe shaped mountain. There are three further lifts up the Schmittental, in the centre of the horseshoe, where almost 80km of ski slopes open up. The skiing is a mixture of blue, red and black pistes, so there is something for everyone, whether beginners, intermediates or advanced, including a 7km red piste all the way down to the valley floor at Schuettdorf.



Included on the liftpass and just a short (free) bus ride away are the local slopes at Kaprun and the Kitzsteinhorn glacier with year-round skiing on almost 60km of pistes. Off-piste opportunities abound, and at the top of the glacier is a panorama restaurant with spectacular views of the surrounding region.



Just up the valley is the popular resort of Saalbach-Hinterglemm, which is close enough for a day’s skiing and can be reached by car or bus.

For non-skiers, there is a toboggan run at Zell Am See, and winter walking trails on the Schmittenhoehe make it possible for skiers and non-skiers to meet for lunch. Zell Am See has a leisure centre with swimming pool and ice rink, and some of the bigger hotels have spa facilities which can be used by non-guests. Salzburg, with all its cultural diversions, is just an hour’s train ride away, and makes a fascinating day trip, and Kitzbuehel is also feasible by train or car.

For further information, visit the Zell Am See tourist information site, click here www.zellamsee.com . Alternatively, please feel free to drop us an email with any specific queries about your holiday plans, as we are happy to offer our advice.

We also find lots of friendly skiing advice on www.snowheads.com and www.j2ski.com

If you decide not to visit Zell Am See this year, we have friends from www.snowheads.com with ski apartments in many other resorts. Please click on the links below to view their websites:

AUSTRIA
www.apartment-gastein.com Bad Gastein

BULGARIA
www.christopherchalets.co.uk Bansko

FRANCE
www.chaletlaforet.com Chamonix, Les Praz
www.kandmchalets.com Grand Massif, Les Carroz
web.mac.com/rob.rees/Les_Arcs/Home.html Les Arcs, Arc 1800
www.2stay2alpes.com Les 2 Alpes
www.snowandtrek.co.uk Portes du Soleil, Morzine
www.chamoissiere.co.uk Serre Chevalier
www.skimottaret.com The Three Valleys, Meribel-Mottaret

SWITZERLAND
www.ski-laax.com Flims/Laax/Falera, Laax Murschetg
www.grimentz-zinal.net Val d'Anniviers, Grimentz

NON-SKIING
Fancy a golfing break in Spain? Try www.murciagolfapartment.com