Hotel Zum Kaiser, Schladming

Schladming is part of the Dachstein-Tauern-Ski Region and part of the larger Ski amadé area which is one of the biggest ski regions in Austria. The resort is well known because of the international Alpine Ski World Cup races which are held at the highly acclaimed Planai venue. It has also hosted the Special Olympics World Winter Games. The rich tradition of Schladming and state of the art facilities have contributed to the ski area`s international reputation.

Even though Schladming is at a fairly low altitude, the snow is pretty reliable and the pistes are well looked after. You can also access more skiing at St Johann im Pongau and Obertauern. In addition, the lift system has been updated to increase accessibility to the whole of the domain and reduce queues. Schladming itself has more than 50km pistes, and the skiing is excellent for intermediates. There are tree-line runs, while 45 minutes away are the Obertauern and Dachstein glaciers. Boarders should head for Schladming if they are still progressing, as it is one of the most boarder-friendly resorts in Europe (two parks, two half-pipes and a boardercross track).

Schladming itself is more than just a ski resort. It is a lovely town in its own right, with a traffic-free centre. The main gondola goes from near the centre, while eateries are excellent both on and off the snow. The après-ski caters to all groups and is pretty lively. Non-skiers can also take advantage of the many facilities that the town can offer. The transfer time is another big plus, as Salzburg is only an hour away and there is a train link to the town.