Weekend skiing staying in Innsbruck

[prand]

Hi All, any recommendations for a short ski break staying in Innsbruck?

A logistical error on my part means I booked some flights at the tail end of Europe's Feb half term next year to Innsbruck for a 4 day ski trip, and it means there is hardly any reasonably priced accommodation Where we wanted to go; Solden, Ishgl, St Anton. Obergurgl etc

It doesn't help that there's only 3 in this party and one is an olympic class snorer and needs to be insulated in a separate room! And it seems like many many Austrian hotels don't provide double beds to turn into twins very easily, so room sharing options are much reduced.

I've been thinking about staying in Innsbruck though, lots and lots of decent hotel options for our odd shaped party at nice prices, a short, 15 Euro taxi ride from the airport, and a handful of mini resorts a funicular, tram or bus ride away. And the city centre itself seems charming, lively with lots to eat, drink and see.

Has anyone done this before and got any tips? I think I can get the hang of finding a central located hotel, ensuring we're near tram or ski bus stops But can we rent skis and boots in the city, and is it ok to traipse around town and public transport and back into our smart metro hotel at the end of the day in all our gear?

I guess a hire car would be useful, perhaps to get further afield to the Stubai glacier or similar, but we're only going to skiing a max of, possibly 3 days so will whats on the doorstep be enough?

[Petetamora]

I think in your circumstances I would probably get the train each day to St Anton (direct route, less than an hour, stops a short walk from the main lifts). I would also suggest hiring skis and boots from one of the shops by the Galzigbahn in St Anton and then you can leave them there each night so you can travel in ‘normal’ shoes etc.

[Snow and Rocks]

I've stayed in Innsbruck a couple of times and both hotels featured "double beds" that were in reality two single mattresses with quite a large (30cm+) divide between. They also obviously had completely seperate bedding for each side.

My gf wasn't a fan but i slept like a baby on my side of the great divide as she termed it.

[prand]

Snow and Rocks said:

My gf wasn't a fan but i slept like a baby on my side of the great divide as she termed it.

Yes these are the ones I am familiar with, I also had similarly good sleep when with my wife!

I guess Austrians are comfortable, in the same vein as naked saunas, with this bed scenario even though us prudish English can't imagine actually sharing what is still a double bed with an old mate. I'd also still be concerned about my friend Steve who is quite the cuddler!

As for the train the St Anton, not a bad shout, 16€ return to commute up the valley in comfy shoes seems good but looking at todays timetable seems to take well over an hour each way so maybe not so workable over a long weekend.

There do seem to be an interesting variety of smaller ski areas around innsbruck though within 30-40 mins journey which could be worth a day or half's diversion, The free bus pass looks tempting. But lugging skis about in boots may still be a bit of a challenge, though finding a hotel with storage near a bus stop might be a good bet.