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We're looking to try Austria this summer. Two active boys 12 / 14, one of whom is really getting into his biking. Ideally we'd like to rent a lodge or apartment for a week or so in the Otztal area - but that's just based on looking at a map / websites and it looking like there's plenty to do.
We'll likely drive down from the South of England with 2-3 bikes on a carrier, something we've got plenty of previous in doing to Southwest France, the Jura and Northern Italy.
Any recommendations or advice gratefully received, as this is relatively unknown territory for us.
We are going to Solden this year for a long weekend biking. We went a few years ago and enjoyed it as it was less daft than Morzine (for the older end, us) and really good flow trails, which may or may not suit your kids. It’s a nice town, fairly quiet tho and I’m not sure how much there would be to do outside of biking. I think I saw some Mountain Kart type rides down the fire roads which looked a bit mad. There is also Area 51 or something just down the road which is an adrenaline water park and looks massive fun.
We stayed here in our campervan years ago but it has lodges to rent
https://www.camping-oetztal.com/en/
Had a couple of days in Soelden on a road trip a couple of years ago. Lovely area.
There is a lot to ride in the bike park, most of it flow trails, they have added more since. If you can have a day at Serfaus. It's about an hour away and brilliant.
Personally I don't overly rate Sölden.
Trails don't have as much variety as elsewhere. You can only stay on the marked trails.
You have to deal with Austrians. It's relatively expensive (but most places are, I guess).
Not that many activities or attractions in the valley.
Have a look at Paganella bike park. It's next to Trento, not far from Lago di Garda, in the Brenta Dolomiti.
Certainly more options regarding accommodation. Park is spread over a larger area and is more varied.
There are a lots more activities outside of riding. Lago di Molveno is lovely and generally not too crowded.
Stay in either Andalo or Molveno (lake). Fai is a little bit too much of a ride to get to the park, especially with kids. The park links these areas very well.
It's in Italy so you're already on to a winner when it comes to food and hospitality (especially compared to Austria!).
Lago di Garda is a 30-40 minute drive to the south and the town of Trento is definitely worth a look. Bolzano a little little bit north is also of interest and it's home to Ötzi the iceman which is interesting, especially for the kids.
The weather south of the watershed is better than in the north 95% of the time.
Don't forget to buy your Vignette just before crossing the border. You can do it on the internet if you like, but I like having the sticker.
Don’t forget to buy your Vignette just before crossing the border. You can do it on the internet if you like, but I like having the sticker.
No need to pay any tolls/vignette depending on the route.
From Calais via Belgium, fill your tank in Luxemburg, across to Germany, enter Austria via either near Füssen (Neuschwanstein castle, the "Disney" one) and take the Landstraße (A road equivalent) to Sölden....
Same route if you're going to Paganella, but head towards Landeck and then Reschen Pass / Passo di Rescia.
Check it on Google. You save about 30-40 minutes using tolls.
Used to drive from Munich to London fairly often.
Austrian motorway tolls are cheap as chips €11.50 for 10 days
It's just silly not to buy one. Not everyone is a local
Austrian motorway tolls are cheap as chips €11.50 for 10 days
It is such a short section of motorway it's not worth it, imo.... Also, in Austria they often have a variable speed limit when pollution is high. 80kmh along the Inn valley is tedious, especially when you can go the same speed for free on the A roads.
And, the Austrians are known for pulling campers/motorbikes off the autobahn and weighing them.... If you're overweight (my van is by 150kg when tanks are fully loaded), not only you do get a fine for being overweight, but you receive a second, much higher, fine if your licence doesn't have the 7.5t class.
Safer for me and many other motorhomers to take the slow road.
Safer for me and many other motorhomers to take the slow road.
It's safer for everyone if you stick to the weight limit. It's there for a reason
The Inn valley can be slow but so can the M25. I've spent about 4 months in Austria in the last 10 years in a van and never seen other vans get pulled over
You're sounding paranoid.
🙃
I’ve spent about 4 months in Austria in the last 10 years in a van and never seen other vans get pulled over
Lived in not far from Austria, in Munich, for 15 years and have myself been pulled out once (was a work van and fortunately well underweight) and heard of others being checked.
My van is rated to 4.2t, but my licence only 3.5t.
The Inn valley can be slow but so can the M25
Yeah, but the view is much better in Austria.
There are a couple of very good via ferrata / klettersteig in the Ötztal
The Lehner wasserfall is fun
Great info this, we're going that way this summer in the van (not a full camper). Going to the Spa Grand Prix first then heading down to Germany/Austria/Italy then maybe into France.
I'll check out those areas for some biking with my son (15). Need nice stuff for wife and daughter (they don't MTB) as well though so fancy an Italian Lake.
@ads678 - Lake Garda is crazy busy most of the time. It's not just MTB, it's also sailing as they have very reliable winds on the lake which are good for racing (as my sailing mate tells me)
Lago Iseo is a lovely quieter spot but much less MTB locally.
Iseo is a good shout....
There's also Lago d'Idro between the Lago di Garda and Lago d'Iseo which is much smaller.
Riding on/around the lakes tends to be quite technical.
You have to deal with Austrians.
And they have to deal with you! You've been in Germany too long and gone native. 😉
das ist selbstverständlich
Cool, the lake doesn't need to have MTB spots directly, we'll probably do them seperately. I'll want to be in and aeround the lake as wel! Would be nice to be able to go for a ride from the lake but I can't leave my wife with the dog all the time, while I go and have fun!!
And they have to deal with you! You’ve been in Germany too long and gone native. 😉
Im doing all I can to reverse that!
can’t leave my wife with the dog all the time, while I go and have fun!!
Take the dog?
Go to the aquadome- very expensive!
I yearn for the days when the hot, sulphurous water came out of the cliff into pools in the muddy car park by the road, get changed in the little hut they had and then relax! I guess Aquadome brings more money and jobs.
When in Otztal you could take a raft trip on the mighty Otztalerache.
Need nice stuff for wife and daughter
== Aquadome for sure then. Take plenty cash.
And if you do go on that bit of the motorway don't risk it without the vignette. We used it one Sunday morning and they shut the carriageway and looped everyone off to check. There were a lot of sheepish Italians in the naughty queue waiting for the fine🙂
I was there last year with friends - my tips...
Get a vignette if you are going on the motorway - the markings on the roads which you need one for aren't especially obvious - we didn't see any anywhere but got pulled over and fined on the spot - the cops have card machines to take your payment. They also wanted to see the registration document.
Personally I don't think there's more than about 2 days riding in Soelden bike park - the passes are cheaper for the day if you start riding after a certain time (11:30 onwards is classed as half day). I'd echo the comment about Serfaus Fiss Laden - this is definitely worth a trip for a days biking (this is when we got caught by the rozzers)
The local area does a Summer Card (Sommerkarten) which was included with our accomodation (we didn't actually stay in Soelden - we booked an Airbnb in Huben). This entitles you to free bus travel between Soelden and Otztal Bahnhof (which is about an hour and 15 journey). Most of the busses have bike trailers which can carry 20ish bikes on each one. You have to be able to load your own bikes, the drivers will only intervene if you load up incorrectly. They were also funny about us getting on the bus when we were slightly muddy. We also observed them being very impatient with people unloading their bikes blaring their horn loadly - the couple weren't dawdling at all.
The Sommerkarten gives you discounts and on some occasions free entry to things. We went to the (outdoor) water park at Area 51 and got free entry with the card. I think you can do one free thing per day at Area 51 (and you could easily fill a couple of days there).
I'd also echo the comment about doing a via ferrata while there - I rented kit for the day & it was pretty reasonable - loads of intersports to choose from - we did the one up and over a waterfall at Stuben
the markings on the roads which you need one for aren’t especially obvious –
Yup, Austrian road markings and signage is secretly designed to get you onto the Autobahn, imo.
They were also funny about us getting on the bus when we were slightly muddy. We also observed them being very impatient with people unloading their bikes blaring their horn loadly –
Like I said, Austrians!