Why do skiers flock to St Anton?
There are many reasons why the resort of St Anton in Austria is the first choice for skiing holidays, with perhaps the leading one being its impressive choice of runs.
From beginner routes to runs for the pros, everyone will be kept entertained and happy. There are 34 runs for those new to the sport, so kids and adults alike will have plenty of space and time to master the basics, hone their skills and gain confidence.
However, St Anton is a particular haven for intermediate and advanced skiers due to the 100 runs that cater to these abilities. Perhaps the most impressive feature of the resort is the breathtaking 10.2 km run that connects St Anton to Valluga, which is certainly not for the fainthearted!
With around 280 km of piste in total in St Anton, there is plenty of Austrian mountainside to explore on a short activity getaway to this part of the country. The scenery here is nothing short of spectacular, while the village of St Anton itself is just as pretty. If you want to take a breather from skiing and snowboarding, you can while away a couple of hours browsing the village stores and stopping off at a café for a warming hot chocolate.
As well as a large variety of runs pulling in thousands of people on cheap ski holidays in St Anton, another reason why they come here is for the resort's facilities. The importance of plenty of lifts should never be overlooked, as you will not want to spend time and cash honing your skiing skills to then have to wait hours for a ride up.
St Anton has 34 T-bar lifts, 38 chairlifts and ten gondolas, so you will not have to hang around to get up the top of the slopes before making your way back down. Skiing can fast become an addictive sport once you get to grips with it and you will want to reward your hard work with a thrilling run. Once you get to the bottom, you will be eager to get up to the top again to repeatedly experience the adrenaline rush.
After all of that skiing, the holidaymakers of St Anton flock to its restaurants and bars for some après-ski fun. The evening's activities on offer here are known the world over and the Mooserwirt and Krazy Kangaruh bars will more than likely be on your agenda during your short break.
There are plenty more bars both on the slopes and in the village, while the 18 mountain restaurants will cater for every taste and budget. Apres-ski adventures usually commence in the late afternoon. Many people wrap up their partying after dinner, but some do decide to continue late into the night, meaning you will always find somewhere to have fun.
Ski chalets are a great option for groups of friends and families who like to keep an eye on their spending money and who prefer the convenience of having everything they need in one place. Of course, staying in catered accommodation does not mean you cannot explore the nightlife of the village, which is why it can provide the best of both worlds.
When planning short skiing breaks, you will want to find a resort that is near to the airport. The closest airport to St Anton is Innsbrucke, from where a transfer to the village should take approximately 1.5 hours.
The Austrian destination is also easy to fly to. London Gatwick offers direct two-hour flights, while Innsbrucke can be reached from Manchester in just over four hours. The season starts in November and runs until April/May, so you will find plenty of flights to book for your skiing holiday.
