Three weeks to Burn - Alps??
 

Hi... I will be studying abroad in Prague next semester, and am leaving to go around New Years in order to travel a bit. I wanted to travel for three weeks beforehand to areas that were not in close proximity to the Czech Republic. I would love to ski for a few days, and was considering the Alps... possibly Chamonix, on to the Swiss/Austrian/Italian Alps, and Milan. I will be limited to travel on the cheap!... Hostels and trains. Any suggestions at all?

Chamonix is in France. My cousin skis regularly in the Alps and considers Austria to be the cheapest venue. That may be a factor.

Fly into Munich and spend your time in Austria--ending in Vienna for your train to Prague. Better prices than France or CH.

If you can get a small group together, perhaps as few as 3, I suggest looking into renting an apartment for a week.
The Ötztal around Langenfeld has quite a few Ferienwohnungen or vacation apartments to rent.
Sölden is another village in the valley that has facilities as do Obergürgel and some of the others. You might also find Kitzbuhl to be an attractive ski center.
I am not a skier myself, but having been there in the summer, I see advertisements and ski lifts.
I know for a fact that Langenfeld-Astlehn has several vacation apartments because I rented one myself during the summer and thought it a great bargain. Compared to even 2 star hotels, you can save money by using an apartment on the daily rent and on food costs because you can shop the markets and use the kitchen.

Transportation might be a problem, but bus service is available to take skiers to the slopes.

Do a web search. The Tiscover site may have information for you.

Thanks for all the useful information. Sounds like Austria is the way to go!

You could easily spend the time in Switzerland. I spent a month there living with a family when I was a teenager. During that time I took a few days with some friends seeing more of the country, staying in hostels (which were quite nice in my memory, though I can't speak for them 15 years later!). We visited Lucerne, Berne, Interlaken and Geneva. Highly recommend those spots.