Kitzbühel/Kirchberg,
Austria
Wonderful town and extensive slopes,
but unreliable snow.
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Kitzbühel
is an impressive name to drop in the pub. Every Ski Sunday
viewer knows that the Hahnenkamm racecourse is the most
challenging on the World Cup circuit, helping the resort
to cultivate a reputation as a rather special place. But
the racecourse is untypical of Kitzbühel's slopes - and
there is nothing very special about coping with icy,
slushy or bare slopes. We have visited Kitz countless
times, and rarely found decent snow on the lower
slopes. It does of course get good snow at times and has
invested serious money in snowmaking. But Kitzbühel's low
altitude means that its problems won't go away.
The
resort is very far from exclusive. It has its expensive,
elegant hotels, but it also has a huge amount of hotel and
guest-house accommodation that is quite inexpensive - and
not surprisingly attracts quite a few low-budget visitors,
many of whom are young and intent on a good time.
We
have received fewer reports on Kitzbühel lately, but
enthusiasts enjoy its unique combination of historic town
and extensive slopes.
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What's
Great
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What's
Not-So-Great
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Large, attractive, varied slopes offering a
sensation of travel both on- and off-slope
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Beautiful medieval town center (but see minus
points)
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Vibrant nightlife
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Plenty of off-slope amenities, both for the
sporty and the not-so-sporty
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A surprisingly large amount of cheap and
cheerful accommodation
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Jolly mountain restaurants
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Unreliable snow (though increasing amount of
snowmaking)
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Surprisingly
little expert terrain- Disjointed slopes, with quite
a lot of bussing to get around them
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Town's
charm spoilt by heavy traffic- Disappointing nursery
area
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Crowded
slopes
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