22 to 23 reasons to have a winter / ski holiday in Kaprun, Zell am See in Austria.

20, 22 and now 23 reasons, to have a winter / Skiing holiday in Zell am See / Kaprun area. It is one of those lists which will go on and on, there is the obvious skiing and snowboarding.  A trip to Salzburg by train is less obvious, and a ride down to the Gastein valley to enjoy the hot thermal waters, or a day out skiing in Sallbach and Hinterglemm, or shopping in Innsbruck. Anyway it is a list for starters and others may want to contribute ideas and suggestions of their own.

So 20+ reasons to holiday in the Europa Ski area of Zell am See and Kaprun here goes:-

1.Quick transfer times from the nearest local airport of Salzburg which is just over 1 hour away,  just over the German border is Munich airport at just over 2 hours away, Innsbruck airport is a little closer, making the holiday area easy to get to and from.
2.Plenty of flights out to and back from Austria from a wide range of airports.
3.Skiing in three distinctive areas of Schmittenhohe above Zell am See, the Maiskogel where you can ski direct down into the village centre of Kaprun, and the Kitzsteinhorn where at a height of 3204 metres the snow is guaranteed, and the glacier allows for all year round skiing. For a ski map on the area and further ski info click on the link, it is worth looking on the map and identifying the 3 lifts with the heated seats!
4.Skiing for all abilities, a mix of slopes and varied terrain to cater for beginners, intermediate, and expert making it an excellent family ski area.
5. Lovely Austrian village of Kaprun and the ancient lakeside market town (Fridays) of Zell am See.
6. Walking, skating, horse riding or curling on the frozen lake (see) at Zell, which normally freezes in the middle of winter.
7.Walking across the frozen lake to Thumersbach for a coffee and cake.
8.Having a hot chocolate or mocha in the Grand Hotel at Zell am See.
9.Three acclaimed snow parks up on the Kitzsteinhorn for you to show off your snowboarding stuff.
10.Marked walking paths, tree lined slopes to help you find your way about.
11.Marked and maintained cross country skiing trails.
12.For something a little different why not try snow shoeing?
13.Two toboggan runs one for Kaprun and another for Zell am See.
14.Try curling on the frozen lake or outside a hostelry!
15.Swimming or having a sauna in Zell am See, or at the new 85 million Euro Tauern Spa Kaprun or take in the thermal waters of the  the two spas in the Gastein valley only a short ride by train, car or taxi.
16.Go and watch a ice hockey match in Zell am See, very competitive and great fun.
17.Walk the 7 miles around the lake, stopping for a mulled wine.
18.Enjoy the alpine apres Ski activities, the Austrians know how to enjoy themselves.
19.Go up on the cable cars and enjoy a meal and take in the views.
20.Glacier skiing your guarantee of snow.
21.Shopping in the market in Zell am See, every Friday, and Christmas markets as well.
22.Relax you are on holiday and enjoy yourself.
23.Enjoy the Austrian scenery and winter sun you will not be disappointed.

Another item to embellish on is spa-world-kaprun, which at a 83 million Euro investment, covering an area 18,600 metres square and with a water area of 2060 metres square, it promises to be quite an all year round attraction, in a stunning location, making the area even more of a all season resort. To see further information on this blog about Tauren Spa World Kaprun please click on the link or here.

• The final link is of a video from the Kitzsteinhorn glacier enjoy it for yourself, at your own pace.

• For 30+ reasons to visit Kaprun and Zell am See in the summer, or for that matter in the spring or autumn please click on the reasons to visit link.

Looking for somewhere to stay? then please consider staying at Austria Holiday Apartment in Kaprun it sleeps from 3 - 9 persons in comfort, and has the added benefit of 3 bath / shower rooms as well.

Convenient location close to Supermarket, Ski bus stop and Kaprun center

Who visits Zell am See and Kaprun?

Kitzsteinhorn glacier ( note the snow!)  where it is possible to ski  throughout the year.

 Kaprun and Zell am See are popular tourist destinations within Austria.  With the opening of Tauern Spa Kaprun, the Kitzsteinhorn glacier, a 36 hole championship golf course,  winter sports,  cycling and the lake at Zell am Zee the area is seen very much as an all season all destination what ever the time of the year you visit.
Around 2 million visitors  holiday in the area in each,  with slightly more than half of these visiting in the November through to April ski season.

A great place to visit

 Winter Visitors

For this six month period taking advantage of the winter sports and the extended ski season with the glacier on the Kitzsteinhorn, around a quarter of visitors are from Germany, followed closely at arpound 15% of the total being Dutch guests, after that around 10% are Austrian and another 10% visitors from the United Kingdom, closely and in more recent years an increasing number of Polish and Rumanian visitors, followed by Scandinavian visitors.  English is widely spoken across Austria, and Austrians are famous for their hospitality.

Visitors come for the winter sports, Christmas markets, wellness breaks, culinary experiences and just to relax unwind and to soak up the scenery


Summer Visitors

In the months from  May through to October around 900,000 take advantage of the area in and around Kaprun and Zell am See booking accommodation.  Again unsurprisingly German visitors are most popular about a third of the overall total. Next most popular at about 1/8th  of visitors is the home market for Austria, with the British taking up around 10%  with the Dutch taking in excess of 7% of the accommodation.

Krimml waterfalls awe inspiring

Over the last few years there has been an increase in the number of visitors to the area. With the new spa complex opening in Kaprun in November 2010, at a cost in excess of 85 million, and the extended ski season allowed by the Kitzsteinhorn glacier, it  it is expected as a driver to confirm Zell am See and Kaprun as an all year resort.

The area has been marketed as the Europa Sports Region, and the name sums up the abundance of sporting activities which includes :-wild water rafting, canyoning, golf, cycling, walking  and numerous water sports on the lake at Zell am See, and summer skiing also a possibility on the glacier

If you are looking for somewhere to stay in the area  for 3-9 people? With the benefit of three bedrooms and three bath / shower rooms. Please consider staying at  www.austria-holiday-apartment.com ?

Austria blog & 30 reasons to Visit Austria!

Not really sure where to start with a blog, or what really a blog is? some type of public diary is the best description I can come up with I think?

The purpose is two fold really one to learn bit more about computers, and the other is to link articles from the blog with the website at www.austria-holiday-apartment.com

In time a link will be put in from that website, but a first until I find my feet and have a fair few articles written about holidays / vacation in Austria. With perhaps a few pictures to enhance the articles and a few links to add that extra interest the blog will be low key at first, but who knows what the future holds?

I have lots of ideas re articles, winter, summer holidays, ski, skiing, Innsbruck, Salzburg, food, mountains, wine, winter sport, adventure holiday, family holidays, Austrian history are just a few initial thoughts.

In time I will welcome comments, or I might lose a bit of interest. The other thought is that people staying in the Salzburgerland area might use the blog, to get holiday ideas of their own, and submit their own suggestions for others to consider.

So that is it really, a website for Austrian holidays in Kaprun, Zell am See and around the surrounding Salzburg region area, with perhaps an occasional sojourn to some of the other regions the Innsbruck in the Tyrol is a definite one.

Just started a Google Picasa web Album entitled "Austrian Views" as pictures get put on this blog, they will be stored on the Picasa website, for you and others to enjoy. Some of the photographs are original others have been copied from other sites and referred back to the linking article where possible.

So I will sign off now, until next time.

Derek - Austria

P.S. Please have a look at the article below, on 30 reasons why to visit Zell am See and Kaprun, I would welcome your suggestions.