December 2019 95 www.bahrainthismonth.com With, probably some of the earliest skiing in Europe, Austria is a long-time favourite for its excellent powder coupled with great runs and, of course, fab après ski You might recognise Sölden as the setting of 2015 Bond movie, Spectre, but there’s more to this often-overlooked resort. Sölden has some of Austria’s most reliable snow welcoming skiers almost all year round. There is also something for every level of expertise from beginners to off-piste. For sure, it’s not one of the prettiest resorts but the social life more than makes up for it. High slopes mean guaranteed snow and great skiing at Ischgl, in the Eastern Alps. However, this resort prides itself as much on its parties as its powder and is the place to go if you want a ski break that will probably leave you needing a holiday on your return. Check out the infamous Hotel Elizabeth with its legendary nightlife scene and the resort’s Top of the Mountain concerts which attract international artists such as Muse and Lenny Kravitz. Mayrhofen has great terrain parks and vast open snowfields on the higher slopes, making it a favourite with both skiers and boarders. And, even better, it has been described as some of the best value skiing in the Alps. Offering three gondolas and a slope equipped with cameras, so your exploits can be caught on video, the area is fun for pretty much all levels of expertise. There’s also an outstanding après-ski scene which is topped off by the annual weeklong Snowbombing festival event in April. travel
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