Six Weeks, Six Holidays for Families
The Tirol Tourist Board has come up with six holiday suggestions for each of the traditional six weeks school holiday
When parents are restricted to travel during school holidays, choosing a family holiday to suit all requires extra planning. Before even thinking of what to pack and working out how to keep them entertained for a week, the most important considerations when choosing a destination are availability and affordability during the peak July-August period.
Departs: Saturday 28th July
Where: Ellmau, Wilder Kaiser region
Family activities: Explore six family adventure parks, including the Hexenwasser (Witches’ Water) in Söll and Ellmi’s Zauberwelt (World of Magic) in Ellmau. Walk in the mountains, visit an old Alpine hut and get to grips with cheese making, take the family horse riding, try mountain biking or swimming nearby in the picturesque Hintersteinsee lake above Scheffau.
How much: Crystal Summer (www.crystalsummer.co.uk; 0871 230 8180) has 7 nights on half board at the 4* Hotel Hochfilzer in Ellmau from £2799, based on two adults and two children in separate rooms. Price includes return flights from Gatwick to Innsbruck, resort transfers, some free child supervision, a children’s adventure area and an activity programme for adults and children. Flights are also available from regional airports for an additional supplement.
For resort information visit www.wilderkaiser.info
Departs: Saturday 4th August
Where: Mayrhofen, Zillertal
Family activities: The Actionclub Zillertal and the Mayrhofen-Hippach tourist board have put together a varied and exciting children's programme for families, at affordable prices. Activities for 6-16 year olds include horse riding (10€), high rope course (from €8), free tennis, rafting on the Ziller river (from €10), canyoning (from €8), adventure and a survival day, including building dams and stone bridge (€12). For more information click here.
How much: Inghams (www.inghams.co.uk; 020 8780 4454) has 7 nights at the Chalet St. Lukas on a catered basis (buffet breakfast, 4 course evening meal with choice of complimentary wines, tea/coffee and chocolates) from £1,277, based on two adults and two children sharing a four bedded room. Price includes return flights from Gatwick to Innsbruck, resort transfers, free daily packed lunch, free tea and coffee served throughout the day and a weekly barbecue or Al Fresco meal. Flights are also available from regional airports for an additional supplement.
For resort information visit www.mayrhofen.at
Departs: Saturday 11th August
Where: Alpbach
Family activities: Ride on the gondola up the mountain, visit Juppi’s Enchanted Forest with its wobbly bridge, haunted marsh and birds nest swing, experience the Lauserland adventure playground and join in the organised activities or spend time at the Alpbach Kinderpark, which has a small zoo, trampolines and mini golf. The whole family will appreciate the stunning scenery whether they have a go at horse riding, a Segway trek or try e-biking.
How much: Farm stays are popular in Alpbach, where prices can start from as little as €413 for a week’s stay at the Auβerhaus and children will love the animals and fresh farm produce (www.farms.at). Flights can be booked with www.easyjet.com from London Gatwick to Innsbruck from £54 per person return and car hire is recommended. Alpbach is an hour from Innsbruck.
For resort information visit www.alpbachtal.at
Departs: Saturday 18th August
Where: Galtür, Paznaun Valley
Family activities: Special activity programmes for children are on offer, with free participation and minimal costs for riding cable cars or equipment rental. Siggi’s Alpine Club caters for children aged 4-10 years, with hiking, climbing, painting and games adding to the fun. Educational activities are on offer too, with little ones finding out whether mountains move, what an avalanche is and how the animals live in the mountains. The Youth Club Paznaun offers 11 – 16 year olds a paragliding taster session, mountain biking, rafting and canyoning, high rope course and a ‘chill and grill’ bbq evening.
How much: Neilson (www.neilson.co.uk; 0844 879 8155) has 7 nights at the family run 4* Hotel Almhof in Galtür starting from £1782 for 2 adults and 2 children, including flights from Gatwick to Innsbruck.
For resort information visit www.galtuer.com
Departs: Saturday 25th August
Where: Seefeld
Family activities: Ride up the Rosshütte Mountain Railway, hike in the mountains, take to the saddle e-biking, have a go at roller-skiing or spend the day swimming at the Olympia Sport Centre. An excursion to Ötzidorf (£26), an open-air archaeological park displaying life as Oetzi the Iceman would have experienced over 5300 yrs ago, is well worth a visit. The hotel offers an activity programme, free bike hire, kid’s pool and slide and free child supervision 3-12yrs (6 days 8 hrs day)
How much: Thomson Lakes & Mountains (www.thomsonlakes.co.uk; 0871 230 8181) has 7 nights at the 4* Hotel Kaltschmid in a self-catering apartment for 2 adults and 2 children from £1510 or from £2303 in a hotel room on half board with unlimited drinks with evening meals and lunch buffet. Price includes flights from Gatwick to Innsbruck and resort transfers.
For resort information visit: www.seefeld.com
Departs: Saturday 1st September
Where: Oetz, located at the entrance to the Oetztal (Oetz Valley)
Family activities: At the Feel Free Adventure centre try rafting, canyoning, climbing, high rope courses, tandem paragliding, glacier safari and beach volleyball. Hike to a mountain hut, have a go at mountain biking, visit Tirol’s highest waterfall, or relax at the thermal baths at the Aqua Dome.
How much: Nature Resort (www.nature-resort.at) offers 7 nights from €1834 for 2 adults and 2 children in a family apartment. Price includes breakfast, afternoon snack and evening meal, ‘Active Club Ötztal’ adventure and leisure programme for adults and teenagers, ‘Iceman Kids’ children’s activity programme, use of all leisure and recreational facilities, use of the spa, bike rental and free internet. Flights can be booked with www.easyjet.com from London Gatwick to Innsbruck from £54 per person return.
For resort information visit: www.nature-resort.at
For more information on the region www.visittirol.co.uk or www.facebook.com/visittirol
-ENDS-
For further information and images contact:
Becky Horton, Horton PR
becky.horton@hortonpr.co.uk; 020 8330 2143; 07766 738020
Holger Gassler, Marketing UK, Tirol Tourist Board
holger.gassler@tirolwerbung.at, Tel. +43.(0)512.5320.641
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