Our family would like to plan a ski trip to Austria. Our friend suggested we do a package deal through Central Holidays. Are package deals the best way to go? Where would be the best place to go with two older teenage boys and a ten year old girl. We vary in our ability to ski from intermediate to expert. I have seen Lech and Kitzbuhel mentioned on this site but nothing about Innsbruck. Any opinions?

Janice: Innsbruck is not a holiday resort but a town without winter sport facilites in front of your door, whereas Lech and Kitzbühel together with St. Anton are among the most well-known places in Austria. <BR>It's comparable to Interlaken in Switzerland where your need to take the train or the car to go up into the mountains.

Janice, <BR> <BR>My friends have been snowboarding in Austria for several years now. We go through a agent - Monica at All Mountian Vacations - who puts together airfare, transfers, hotels, etc. I have not used Central so I can not comment on them, but Monica has at all times been very friendly, helpful, puts up with all our oddball requests, and has provided very insightful suggestions. I can not say enough good things about her. I am sure she can give you good advice. <BR> <BR>Contact info for All Mountain: <BR>website: http://www.all-mountain.com/ <BR>phone: 800-838-8142 <BR> <BR>Unfortunately, we go as a group of not-so-young men, so I can not give you advice regarding family trips. I know that St Anton (where we went last year) is known as a party town. We went to Innsbruck a few years ago and Ursula is right about it being a town, but there are buses which can take you to several (I think 6) local ski areas. <BR> <BR>You may want to check out http://www.ski-europe.com/ as well. It is a good source of info. <BR> <BR>You can e-mail me if you have any questions. <BR> <BR>Good luck. Think snow. <BR> <BR>Peter <BR> <BR> <BR>

Ditto what was written about Monica at All Mountain! She's planning our 3rd trip for us this holiday season. We've done a traditional village in French Alps, a purpose-built French resort, and are trying Innsbruck ourselves this year b/c there are both skiers and non-skiers in our family group.

Have a look at Ischgl. Inssbruck is a city and quite far away from the skiing areas. St. Anton is frequented by the English, Lech is exspensive and loved by the Germans, Kitzbühel is not safe for snow. There are certain companies here in Europe who offer you "ski safari"s - they take you by bus to a different ski area every day. I have visited Innsbruck in winter and there is mostly no snow there.