If you missed out on a family ski trip in the fabulous snow conditions at half-term, don’t despair – there’s time to make up for it with a late season holiday at one of the delightful resorts in the Tirolean valley of Paznaun.
Paznaun embraces the resorts of Kappl, Galtür, See and Ischgl – and making sure families have the time of their lives is one of the things in which all four specialise.
Cost is obviously a major factor for families on a ski trip – and the Paznaun resorts are very conscious of this and aim to help keep a rein on the budget, as well as making sure children and parents get the most out of their holiday.
Superb childcare, so that parents can have a day skiing together secure in the knowledge that youngsters are having fun too, is available from Sunday to Friday at a remarkably economical price.
In Kappl, the Sunny Mountain Club takes children from three years and is available from 9am to 3.30pm – and a morning or afternoon’s childcare costs just six euros per child (this doesn’t include the cost of food). And for families who are staying in Sunny Mountain ‘member hotels’ – those that have a special partnership with the children’s centre on the mountain – there is no charge for childcare.
In See, all-day childcare, from 9:30am to 4pm in the Kids’ Club, costs only four euros with food for children from two years. An individual hour is just one euro.
In Ischgl, three to five-year-olds are looked after in the skiing kindergarten.
And in Galtür, children from just 18 months are warmly welcomed in the guest kindergarten from 9am to 4pm.
In Paznaun, children under eight (accompanied by a parent) ski for free in all four ski areas. In Ischgl, children under ten (with the VIP ski pass that’s available with the guest card) ski free.
In Galtür, teenagers under 19 ski at the children’s rate and families benefit when buying a family ski pass.
In the four Paznaun ski areas, families will discover slopes to suit the full range of abilities, with 365 km of runs.
At See, adventurous youngsters can have a go on mogul runs and medium-kickers. In the Funparks at both Kappl and Ischgl, there are courses and obstacles for everyone from beginners to advanced.
The fabulous variety of skiing in Galtür is divided into six sectors of difficulty in the multiple award-winning Silvapark, so everyone can find exactly what suits them.
And there’s fabulous fun to be had in Ischgl by riding down into the valley on the three-stage Skyfly zipline.
Thanks to its high altitude, with skiing from 1,040-metres to 2,872-metres, the slopes are in great shape through a long season, with the slopes open from the end of November to the beginning of May.
Special attractions round the resorts
On Mondays in Kappl, early rising families can enjoy first tracks on freshly-groomed slopes from 8am (with lift passes). On Tuesdays there is moonlight tobogganning from 7pm to 10pm – and special rock concerts for kids are held on toboggan evenings.
On Tuesdays in Galtür, at 8.30pm, everyone can have a go at barrel stave racing – the staves are used rather like very basic skis. On Wednesdays there is floodlit skiing on a 2.2 kilometre run, from 7.30pm to 10.30pm. On selected Mondays and Wednesdays in See, there is both floodlit skiing and tobogganning from 7.30pm to 10.30pm (on separate runs!). Ischgl’s seven-kilometre toboggan run is one of the longest in the Alps and is floodlit every Monday and Thursday from 7pm to 10pm (weather permitting). See’s toboggan run meanwhile is considered one of the most scenic in Tirol and is open daily.
