Gastein Kid Resume
Gastein With Kids
It’s no secret that almost all ski resorts in Austria are centered on vacations with children. Gastein Valley is not only known for its excellent skiing conditions for families, it’s also known for the ability to combine an active vacation with healing procures in the thermal spas.
Nature has gifted the region with hot springs that have been bubbling up for hundreds of years. In all there are 18 springs with radon and nitrogen infused waters (the temperature of the springs is between 42 and 46°С), which are actively used for baths, swimming pools, therapeutic drinking water, inhalation therapy, and other healing procedures.
For more intensive treatment visits to radon tunnels in the mountains are available. This “tunnel therapy” consists of three elements — radon, warmth, and high humidity, all which are intended to increase the body’s abilities to restore and “repair” damaged cells. Thanks to the healing climate and the presence of such waters many notable figures and royalty from all corners of Europe came here to vacation during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
You may find yourself asking “Well what about the kids?” Visiting hot springs is unlikely to interest and excite young travelers. But here the Austrians, as always, are on top of things. Modern thermal centers such as Alpentherme in Bad Hofgastein or Felsentherme in Bad Gastein are also geared toward younger visitors.
In Alpentherme there are specially equipped water zones for children with a few rides, a spacious wide open play area, and even an aquatic movie theater. In Felsentherme the separate shallow pools will make your children happy, and there are special rates for families visiting the thermal springs. In short, a family trip to the thermal pools will please everyone young and old.
However, let’s return to the main theme of the resort — skiing. Tourists coming to Gastein with children usually stay in one of four resort villages. Dorfgastein (830m), Bad Hofgastein (860m), Bad Gastein (1002m), and Sportgastein (1585m).
Bad Gastein is considered to be the central resort, as it is the largest and most scenic of them all. The largest skiing area, Stubnerkogel (2251m), is situated here. From this area you can get to the Bad Hofgastein-Schlossalm (2050m) area without even taking off your skis.
This is the most ideal zone for children’s and family skiing. These areas are connected to the other Gastein areas (Sportgastein, Großarltal, and Dorfgastein) by bus routes. The two last areas, Großarltal and Dorfgastein, in turn share a common ski area.
If you become bored with descents into the valley you can always set off on a tour of other ski areas, as this resort is part of the enormous Ski Amade region; your ski pass will also allow you entry into neighboring resorts such as Salzburger Sportwelt or Schladming.
In spite of the prevalence of more difficult red ski slopes, skiing with children in Gastein is comfortable. The slopes are laid out well and in such a way that beginners and advanced skiers don’t interfere with each other.
In terms of learning to ski, this place is heaven for kids- there are little ski villages for kids with mini clubs and bright, colorful learning areas next to every ski zone. On such place is the 5000 square meter Gasti Snow World in the Dorfgastain ski area, equipped with three conveyor belt lifts, a ski carousel, and training lifts and slopes. It also has a kindergarten and a game room.
In Bad Hofgastein next to Angertal lower station there is the wonderful Gasti Schneepark, which has a conveyor, carousels, wave slopes and other special slopes for kids in addition to a mini club, labyrinth, and snow tubing. The children’s park in Bad Gastein is a bit more modest- it offers a carousel, two conveyor lifts, and snow attractions that include tubing.
The children’s ski schools at Gastein are characterized by their high level of training for children. They all conduct lessons in any of the aforementioned parks.
The Apres-ski program is no less entertaining than an active vacation in the mountains. While this resort cannot boast about having a large quantity of lively clubs and discos, there will always be something for you to do in your free time away from the ski slopes.
The main means of relaxation after a day of skiing is, of course, a visit to the thermal springs. This can be coupled with a meal at one of the colorful alpine restaurants, or sledding (this region has three sled runs). Those who love to skate can visit rinks in Bad Hofgastein or Bad Gastein. The whole family may also bowl a game or two at Pub Gastein (in Bad Gastein) or try curling (at Bad Gastein Ice Stock Club or Bad Hofgastein Ice Arena).
Characteristics of Gastein Ski Resort
- Ski season lasts from December to the end of March
- The minimum altitude of the resort is 860 m
- The maximum altitude is 2700 m
- There are 220 total km of ski runs, including a glacier. Of these:
- 31 % are blue
- 59 % are red
- 10 % are black
- There sled runs (Bellevue-Alm (2500 м) in Bad Gastein, Aeroplan (3300 m) in Bad Hofgastein, and Strohlehenalm (2000m) in Dorfgastein)
- 45 km of cross country ski trails
- 41 total lifts, of which:
- 10 are drag lifts
- 19 are chair lifts
- 1 is a cabin lift
- 10 are gondolas
- 1 is a mountain tram
Vacationing with children in the Gastein Valley in summer
A summer vacation with children in Gastein promises to be interesting and jam-packed with fun. During the summer school vacation period the Gasti children’s club is open for children from age 4 to 12. Over the span of a week active outdoor games, a trip to a lake, visits to natural points of interest in the region, hikes, and much more await your children.
As in winter guests still visit the thermal spa centers in summer, but the main difference is that in summer they can use the open aquatic areas and pools, as well as the ones that are indoors. There is also a natural water reservoir located between Bad Gastein and Bad Hofgastein on the Achenpromenade, where it is possible to take a swim and soak up the warm rays of the alpine sun.
From September to October a colorful harvest festival takes place in the valley. In addition to all the dances, songs, and displays they offer a special entertainment program especially for younger guests.
Choosing a place to vacation with children in Gastein
Gastein resort can boast a large offering of accommodation of any level- from luxury hotels to budget apartments. When planning a trip with children to Gastein Valley, we recommend checking out hotels in such tourist villages as Bad Gastein (the largest, has the most develop infrastructure) and the neighboring Bad Hofgastein. The ski zone of these resorts, Stubnerkogel –Angertal – Schlossalm, is the largest and it is ideal for teaching children to ski.
Other alternatives for vacationing with kids worth taking a look are Dorfgastein village, which has its own ski area, as well as Grossarl village where there are a few excellent hotels that are kid friendly.
All three of the resorts listed above have convenient transport connections, and in each one there is a railway station.
How To Get
to the Gastein Valley
By air
Here is a list of airports that are closest to Gastein resort:
- Salzburg Airport (88 km), www.salzburg-airport.com
- Munich Airport (257 km), http://www.munich-airport.de
From Munich and Salzburg low cost shuttles (70 euros round trip) go to the resort and back 8 times a day.
By rail
The railroad passes through Gasteinertal Valley, making travel by train convenient. Stations in the valley are located at Bad Hofgastein, Dorfgastein and Bad Gastein. From these stations it is easy to get to your hotel by taxi or bus. You may familiarize yourself with the train timetable here: www.oebb.at, www.db.de.
By car
The trip from Munich takes about 2 hours, from Salzburg takes 1 hour. Take autobahn A10 to Villach, exit toward Bischofshofen, exit Gasteinertal on route 167 to Gastein Valley.
From Innsbruck, the car trip takes about 2 hours. Take the autobahn to Wörgl, route 312 to St. Johann/Tirol to Lofer, route 311 to Zell am See to Lend, route 167 to Gastein or autobahn Kufstein – Salzburg – Villach, exit at Gasteinertal, route 167 to Gastein Valley.
Where To Go In Gastein
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Useful Advice On How
To Spend Your Time In Gastein
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