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LIVING IN AUSTRIA

Skiing in Austria: How to check if there’s snow on the slopes

February has been warmer than usual this year, with many wondering where to find the best conditions for their skiing or snowboarding holiday.

Published: 7 February 2024 12:16 CET

January in Austria offered many days of dry and sunny weather this year. During last week, Austria experienced temperatures as high as +10°C in many alpine valleys. Despite the warm weather and lack of snow, most ski resorts have remained open; 185 of them are still operating, while 14 are closed.

However, not all resorts have all lift systems running, and they often need to use artificial snow to provide guests with their desired experience.

Even though most ski resorts have chosen to remain open this winter, experts say that the climate crisis means trouble is ahead for the European skiing industry. According to Climate Foresight, impacts from climate change are expected to be more significant on European Alpine tourism than in other areas of the world. 

READ ALSO: Is it possible to have a cheap skiing holiday in Austria?

It is predicted that 25 percent of European ski resorts will experience scarce snow every other year with a 2C increase in global heating.

How can I check the snow conditions?

There are a few resources for winter enthusiasts to ensure enough snow to enjoy their trip.

On the snow forecast page, you can read about current snow conditions in different ski resorts all over Austria. It is up-to-date and shows snow reports daily. You can search for any desired resort or see which currently offers the best conditions. 

If you want to look at the webcams for specific resorts, Bergfex is one of the platforms offering webcam viewing and updated information. Not only that, but a search for the city you are planning to visit or the resort you want to ski on, plus the word “webcam”, will bring up several results for you to check conditions on the spot.

Is there a snow-guaranteed resort to go to?

Not officially, but some ski resorts are considered safer choices if you want to experience a lot of snow.

St. Anton is one of Austria’s most famous ski resorts in Tyrol, with lifts up to an altitude of 2,811 meters. The resort attracts people worldwide with over 300 kilometres of ski slopes and great entertainment options like après-ski in various bars and restaurants.

Lech is a popular ski resort in Vorarlberg. Situated at a high altitude, it offers good snow conditions throughout the winter season. Lech is part of the Arlberg ski area, which, like St. Anton, provides more than 300 km of slopes. Lech is a family-friendly ski resort that provides entertainment and events in bars and other locations.

READ ALSO: Where are the best places to go skiing in Austria?

Hintertux Glacier is in the Zillertal Alps in Tyrol and is part of the larger Zillertal ski area. The resort’s high-altitude location, with slopes up to 3,250 meters above sea level, makes the snow conditions great throughout winter. The snow conditions are said to be reliable from late November to early May. Hintertux is considered family-friendly but also offers opportunities for après-ski and other entertainment.

Obergurgl is a ski resort in the Ötztal Valley in Tyrol, located at an altitude of around 1,930 meters. It is one of the highest ski resorts in Austria. Obergurgl offers around 110 kilometres of slopes for all levels. It is a family-friendly resort that offers entertainment such as après-ski in local bars. 

READ ALSO: The five best hidden ski resorts in Austria

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For members

RENTING

Can I get out of a rental contract in Austria?

Have you viewed an apartment in Vienna o elsewhere in Austria and hastily signed a contract? Don't you like the apartment after all? These are your withdrawal rights in Austria.

Published: 23 April 2024 17:24 CEST
Can I get out of a rental contract in Austria?

In Austria, the rental market is highly competitive, with apartments often staying on rental platforms for short periods due to high demand and limited supply. This, coupled with brief apartment visits (sometimes with other prospective tenants) and the pressure to secure a place, can lead to hasty contract signings. 

Understanding your withdrawal rights is essential in such a market.

READ ALSO: Renting in Austria – The key things foreign residents need to know

If you signed a rental contract and then realised you don’t want the place, you might feel stuck in your contract. Austria does have really strict rules on contracts, so that “anyone who signs a rental offer makes a binding declaration that they wish to rent the apartment at a certain rate”, Austria’s Tenants Association says.

The real estate agent will also remind you that you cannot leave your contract, as you signed a contractual agreement (“verbindliches Angebot“, which means a binding offer). But what exactly are your rights then?

It’s all about timing

Basically it’s very tricky and almost impossible to back out after signing a rental contact in Austria.

According to Austria’s Chamber of Labour (AK), Austrian law is on your side – but only in a particular case. 

Under a consumer law that applies to all types of contracts, including rental agreements, you are protected against potential pressure from real estate agents and property owners. If you view an apartment and sign an agreement on the same day, you have the right to withdraw from the contract within the week. Furthermore, if the estate agent fails to inform you of your right to cancel, you can withdraw from the contract within one month.

READ ALSO: Shopping in Austria – What are your consumer rights when purchasing goods?

The Tenants Association is more critical and explains that withdrawal is only possible within the “narrow” limits of the Consumer Protection Act. “If you as a consumer submit your contractual declaration on the same day that you viewed the apartment for the first time, you can withdraw from your contractual declaration in writing within one week.”

If the offer was not signed on the day of the very first viewing, though, there is no right of withdrawal in Austria.

READ ALSO: Tenant or landlord – Who pays which costs in Austria?

If you have the right to do so, the most effective way to withdraw from a rental contract is to do it in writing, preferably by a registered letter, as explained by the Austrian Chamber of Labour (AK). This not only provides a clear record of your intent but also empowers you to navigate the legal aspects of the process with confidence. 

If you signed the offer after the viewing, you don’t have the right to withdraw from the contract you signed. In that case, you could ask for a mutual agreement termination, seeking an amicable termination option with the landlord. Otherwise, you’d be bound by the contract, which in Austria usually means you’d have to stay for one year in the apartment and give three months’ notice before leaving.

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