Obertauern - Great Snow, Great runs, Lack of atmosphere (Obertauern)

Member Name: dove3066

Product:	Obertauern
Date:	26/02/09 (45 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Really well organised runs, don't have to keep doing the same ones

Disadvantages: Purpose built, lacks atmosphere

We have just come back from a skiing holiday in Obertauern and we will certainly be going back!!

This is a fantastic place to ski if you are a beginner or intermediate skier (or snowboarder). There aren't too many black runs so the advanced skiers may find it a little less challenging. Also if you have as much snow as we had there are loads of off-piste runs (I am advised that even when it doesn't snow as heavily as it did when we were there that the off-piste runs are good).

This is a snow-sure resort so hopefully if you go in season there should be plenty of snow. The great thing about this resort is the "Taurenrunde". This means that it is possible to travel all the way round the resort via runs and chairlifts, this means that you don't have to keep going up the same chairlift and doing the same run all day unless you want to. This allows you to see lots more of the village from various points along the route. This route can be completed either clockwise or anti clockwise so you can do it twice and not go over the same route.

The other good thing about this resort is the way that the runs are laid out. Often the Blue (easy) runs and the Red (intermediate) runs start and finish together but take a slightly different route down. This means that if you are in agroup of mixed abilities you can all still be together - the quicker ones may have to wait a little bit - but generally this makes it a more pleasurable experience.

We found that even going at half term there were very few long queues for the lifts and that generally the slopes were fairly quiet. Also there are a number of ways back into the village - so you don't end up with evryone coming down the same run at the end of the day - which can soemtimes be a nightmare.

Now unfortunately for the bad bits - this isn't a quaint little austrian village - everything is purpose built and so does have a bit of a theme pub atmosphere in some of the bars and the hotels tend to look a little like Lego houses. There didn't seem to be a lot of Apres-Ski entertainment - but I'm usually too tired to be bothered anyway so not a big problem for me.

This is a great place if you can put aside the lack of atmosphere - and to be honest I go for the skiiing more than anything. I would highly recommend this place - make sure you book early as it is very popular, especially for half term - we booked in July and already lots of hotels were fully booked

Summary: A great ski resort for Beginners and intemediates