Alpbach

Alpbach is a cool and friendly, all-Austrian alternative to some of its more famous nearby cousins and only about 45mins from Innsbruck. This perfect picture postcard resort, decked out with traditional chalets dotted in and around a gently rising mountain, is one of those places beloved by skiers in one-piece ski-suits who seem to spend more time sunning themselves outside mountain restaurants than checking out the slopes.

You get to ride on three sides of what looks to be an old volcano. The higher runs are mostly devoid of trees and there's plenty of between the piste freeriding, lower down weaves through the trees before opening up once more towards the base. It's pretty good place to learn, but there are a few CAT tracks which may involve a small amount of skating once you start exploring the mountain.

There are a few long top to bottom runs both on and off-piste but the terrain doesn't really rise to show any good air opportunities.

There's no longer a park and the halfpipe is just a whole in the ground these days. If you're lucky you might get to try the remains of a booter left by the locals, but thats about as laid on as it gets.

Alpbach is without doubt, an intermediate’s resort and one that won’t take too long to conquer; you wouldn’t spend more than a week here, and certainly not a whole season, unless you’re easily pleased and like an unadventurous mountain. 

The mountain has a number of accommodation options including: Self Catering, B&B, Hotels and Apartments.

Crystal Ski Offer a week at the Hotel Furstenhof, b&b, with flights from Gatwick to Innsbruck and transfers costs from £465 per person (based on two sharing)

Or

A week at the Guesthouse Andreas, half board, with flights from Gatwick to Innsbruck and transfers costs from £595 per person (based on two sharing)