A feeling of pure happiness fires through my synapses as I fly down the slopes. I let myself be enchanted by the magic of the snow-white mountain panorama.
Skiing is a way of life and freedom on two boards – boards that mean the world to me at the moment.
The winter season at TUI BLUE has begun – plunge into pristine powder on perfectly groomed slopes for fast or relaxed descents.
From exuberant skiing and snowboarding to freeriding and cross-country skiing, to leisurely snowshoeing and fun dog sledding – there’s a wide menu of winter sports activities available.
Whether in Schladming, Schruns-Tschagguns, or Saalbach Hinterglemm – experience a dreamy winter holiday in Austria.
I’ll introduce you to the three TUI BLUE hotels in Austria and make the ultimate winter holiday comparison: Which hotel will win in these categories: best ski area in Austria, the widest selection of winter sports activities, or the most varied off-piste programme?
Meet Austria’s three TUI BLUE hotels
Where you previously only had the opportunity to spend a winter holiday in Austria in the beautiful TUI BLUE Schladming, you now have the choice between three TUI BLUE hotels.
The TUI BLUE Fieberbrunn in the Saalbach Hinterglemm region has been added to the hotel portfolio in Austria this year. The former Austria Trend Alpine Resort Fieberbrunn was converted into a TUI BLUE hotel and impresses with its location in the middle of the magnificent mountains of the Kitzbüheler Alps.
The TUI BLUE Montafon in the Silvretta Montafon region, a popular winter sports and hiking paradise for the whole family, is also set to open in May 2020.
I took a closer look at the three hotels.
Off to skiing fun – the ski areas in Austria
If the flow on the slopes is right, I experience unique moments of happiness only possible when skiing. This is especially true when snow conditions are ideal and the slopes are freshly prepared to fly down the mountain – just like in the ski areas where the TUI BLUE hotels in Austria are located.
TUI BLUE Schladming
The TUI BLUE Schladming is located in the popular Schladming-Dachstein ski area. Located directly on the ski slope of the local mountain Planai (1,906 m), the hotel is the ideal starting point for your winter holiday in Austria. Freshly invigorated from breakfast, you can dive straight into a day of skiing fun, because the TUI BLUE Schladming boasts a private tunnel access to the slopes, or you can cross the street to the lift at the valley station.
My personal tip for advanced skiers: The legendary and very steep valley run on the Planai. The World Ski Championships have been held here twice. The last turn of the descent ends practically on the doorstep of the TUI BLUE Schladming. Each year at the beginning of the season, the floodlit “Nightrace” takes place here. Spectacular.
Would you also like to get to know the ski resorts around Schladming? In addition to being the centre of the Schladming 4-Mountain Ski Area, the Schladming-Dachstein region is also part of Ski amadé, the largest ski area in Austria. The amadé ski pass also gives you access to other ski pistes in the Salzburg sports world, like Gastein, Hochkönig, and the Grossarl Valley.
TUI BLUE Fieberbrunn
The TUI BLUE Fieberbrunn is located in the middle of the magnificent mountains of the Kitzbüheler Alps in the Pillersee Valley in Tyrol. Due to the close proximity to the gondola lift’s valley station, you can quickly reach the Doischberg slope in the middle of the Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn. Once at the top, I take a deep breath of the fresh mountain air, while the fresh snow creaks under my shoes.
Known as the “Home of Casual”, the region’s 270 kilometres of groomed slopes is one of the TOP 5 ski areas in Austria. With 140 km of blue, 112 km of red, and 18 km of black downhill runs, beginners, families, and professionals alike are guaranteed varied runs.
And if that’s not enough, you can use the Super Ski Card ski pass to speed down over 2,700 kilometres of slopes in 22 other powder-perfect ski regions – and all with just one card. Get your ski pass for the “Champions League” of winter sports.
TUI BLUE Montafon
The TUI BLUE Montafon is located in Schruns-Tschagguns in the Silvretta Montafon ski area. With 140 kilometres of slopes and 36 lifts, the region is a little more manageable than the major ski areas in Austria. For beginners and families, this is the ideal way to go. The majority of the slopes are blue runs, ideal for improving the ski skills of young and old and for skiing days together as a family.
You can reach the valley stations of the ski lifts in a few minutes by ski bus or car. Sufficient free parking is available. I still recommend taking the ski bus from the TUI BLUE Hotel, so you can get to know a few other ski-loving holidaymakers. 😉
As in the other ski areas, the Montafon Brandnertal Card provides you with access to an additional 79 lifts in 9 ski areas. The best way to get information here is at the hotel.
And as far as the subsequent après-ski enjoyment is concerned – the ski areas in Austria are known for unique and fun alpine lodge experiences. Many casual umbrella bars and cosy cabins invite you to stop for a bite to eat and extensive après-ski. Here people dance, laugh, and really celebrate. The wheat beer tastes twice as good after such a day. Now it’s time to sway and sing along: “I sing a Liad für dich…”:D
Winter sports activities during winter holidays in Austria
I love winter in the mountains: stunning blue skies and the sun, which despite the cold of the snow warms my face – fantastic!
In addition to extensive skiing fun, you can also experience other varied winter sports activities in the TUI BLUE Hotels in Austria.
Snowboard fans are in good hands at the TUI BLUE Schladming, because the Schladming ski area is also home to one of the best snowboard parks in Europe, the Horsefeathers Superpark. Go wild on steep gutters, spectacular cliffs, and powder fields.
Are you enthusiastic freeriders and is it the ultimate gift for you to leave a fresh trail in the deep snow? The Skicircus of the Fieberbrunn region is a true freeride mecca. Take on a new challenge at the Freeride Park in the area of the high speed chairlift Asitzmuldenbahn in Leogang. The Freeride World Tour also takes place here.
Ambitious cross-country skiers can expect a 220-kilometre network of cross-country ski trails in the municipality of Ramsau am Dachstein. Particularly worthwhile for experienced cross-country skiers is the Dachstein crossing, by which skiers can experience the breathtaking natural wonder of the Alps, recognised by UNESCO as a natural world heritage site.
As a biathlon World Cup region, the Pillersee Valley also scores points in terms of cross-country skiing with more than 100 kilometres of tracked trails.
The cosy among you can hike through the snow on Montafon on more than 150 kilometres of hiking trails, and enjoy the wonderful Alpine scenery. It is a real feeling of happiness to wander through the still pristine, virgin snow. The BLUE Guides also offer guided snow tours on-site at the TUI BLUE Hotels.
Just adorable – in Schladming you can also go dog sledding. I think Heike Schadenbauer’s blog article perfectly describes the experience with the cuddly but energetic huskies.
Programme and off-piste offers
When it comes to the offer and programme in the hotel, the two new TUI BLUE Hotels Fieberbrunn and Montafon score particularly well. In addition to extensive fun on the slopes, you also have the opportunity to participate in the sports and activity programme with BLUEf!t. After an exciting day on the slopes, indulge yourself in special feel-good moments in the BLUE Spa with steam baths and saunas, as well as massage rooms. The TUI BLUE Schladming doesn’t have its own BLUE Spa, but rather a SkySauna with 3 saunas.
Breakfast is known to be the most important meal of the day – all TUI BLUE hotels include a rich breakfast buffet to refresh yourself for a day on the slopes. Enjoy the hearty cuisine of Vorarlberg in the restaurant at the TUI BLUE Fieberbrunn. Half-board can be booked as an option at the TUI BLUE Schladming and Montafon.
Yet another off-piste highlight awaiting your winter holiday in Austria can be found at the TUI BLUE Montafon. Directly opposite the hotel is Aktivpark Montafon with swimming pool, ice rink, volleyball, football, and tennis courts.
And the Oscar goes to… – my conclusion
I took a close look at the three TUI BLUE Hotels for your winter holiday in Austria. But which hotel will now win my very prestigious Winter Oscar in each of these categories:
- Best ski resort
- Largest selection of winter sports activities
- Most diverse off-piste programme
Best ski resort
In the best ski resort category, I must give two awards, one to the TUI BLUE Schladming and one to the TUI BLUE Fieberbrunn. Both hotels are located directly on the slopes and impress guests with a wide range of runs for every level. The Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn is one of the most popular ski resorts in Austria, and the Schladming-Dachstein region, which is part of the Ski amadé, also offers a large network of ski resorts.
Largest selection of winter sports activities
When it comes to the selection of winter sports activities in addition to skiing, all three TUI BLUE hotels are winners. My recommendation: inform yourself in advance about the available offers at each hotel, and find out where you can practise your favourite winter sports.
Most diverse off-piste programme
BLUE Spa, culinary delights, BLUEf!t, hiking trails, and an active park – the prize for the off-piste programme goes to the TUI BLUE Montafon, with the TUI BLUE Fieberbrunn taking a close second.
You see, finding a clear winner is nearly impossible. Each TUI BLUE hotel is perfect in its own way for a winter holiday in Austria. Where some are drawn to resorts boasting the best ski opportunities in Austria, for others the best winter holidays happen off-piste. One thing is certain: once you’ve experienced the enchanting skiing and winter sports offered in Austria’s snow-covered mountain landscapes, you’ll see skiing as a truly unique way of life.
Which TUI BLUE hotel would you like to check in on next?
Let me know in the comments. I wish you a great and eventful winter season on the slopes in a white winter wonderland.