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11-Day escorted group SKI trip to BAD HOFGASTEIN in the

GASTEIN  VALLEY in AUSTRIA, for Seniors &  50's & over,

tentatively planned for January, 2009

in the Gastein Valley in Austria designed especially for seniors and over 50's:

+ Return to Toronto Tuesday afternoon.

+  DOUBLE Occupancy tentative price per person $3,200. Canadian *.

+  SINGLE Occupancy tentative price per person $3,300. Canadian *.

     * Travel Agents - Contact us for pricing details.  

 INCLUDED IN PACKAGE:

+ FLIGHTS:

   FROM Toronto to Vienna, Friday, in the early evening.

       Arriving in Vienna Austria, Saturday, in the morning

       then a one-hour flight from Vienna to Salzburg.

       Arriving in Salzburg Austria about noon Saturday, 

       about an hour's drive from the airport to the hotel in Bad Hofgastein.

   RETURN from Vienna, Tuesday, leaving late in the morning,

       Arriving back in Toronto mid afternoon Tuesday.

+ FLIGHT TAXES and FUEL SURCHARGES estimated at $250 Canadian included.  

+ 7 NIGHTS in BAD HOFGASTEIN at the 4-star Kurhotel Osterreichischer Hof

   or similar, depending on availability, with Breakfasts and Dinners.

+ LOCAL bus TRANSPORTATION at the resort.

+ 3 NIGHTS in VIENNA at the 4-star Hotel Ananas or similar, depending on

   availability, with Buffet Breakfasts.

+ LOCAL ACCOMMODATION TAXES and HOTEL GRATUITIES included.  

+ TRANSFERS - From Salzburg Airport to hotel in Bad Hofgastein.

   From hotel in Bad Hofgastein to hotel in Vienna. 

   From hotel in Vienna to airport in Vienna.

+ LOCAL SKI GUIDE FOR 5 DAYS - Resident Certified Austrian Ski School

   Instructor and Local Mountain Guide.

+ ESCORTED from Toronto & back by Ed Pollock. 

  This will be Ed's third ski group trip to the Gastein Valley, in addition

  to more than a dozen previous ski trips to ski areas in the Alps.

  A senior and ski writer, Ed has also skied all over North America.

 NOT INCLUDED:   

+ SKI PASS - approx. $250 Canadian for 5 days, purchase at ski area.

+ EQUIPMENT RENTALS - available in hotel and locally if desired.

20 of the ADVANTAGES of having a CERTIFIED local mountain GUIDE &

SKI INSTRUCTOR: 1.They know the best areas and slopes to ski on any given day. 2.They

know the the best place to start the day. 3.They know the best way to get there. 4.You don't have

to waste time trying to figure out where to ski, where you are, or where to go. 5.Throughout the

day, they always know where you are at and where to go, based on your skiing ability and

preferences. 6.They know which areas and slopes have the best conditions for your skiing

preferences at that time, on that day. 7.They know the best times and the best lifts to get around

during the day. 8.They can even check on conditions throughout the day. 9.They know the best

places for lunch and the best time to be there. 10.They can provide pointers to help you ski better.

11.They can pick the best places to meet up or go to, if someone wants to ski elsewhere or take a

break during the day and meet up later. 12.They can contact the hotel or taxi to make or change

arrangements for return to the hotel. 13.They can provide local history, geography and all kinds

of information that cannot be found anywhere else. 14.If visibility is limited due to weather

conditions such as falling snow, all you have to do is follow the guide. 15.If you have a problem,

the guide will be there to help you, including getting assistance if necessary. 16.You will never get

lost. 17.Having a guide will not only take away most, if not all the stress you might experience

when visiting such an enormous number of different places to ski, especially if it is your first time

there. 18.You will be able to spend and enjoy far more time skiing on the slopes that are best

suited for your skiing, than you could possibly do without the guide. 19.Although it may have

added to the total cost of the trip, it is well worth it. It will increase the value and amount of

skiing you will enjoy far more than any additional cost. 20.Last, but by far not the least - your

local certified ski instructor/guide can take you "off piste" (off the marked & groomed runs)

including of course, powder and/or difficult runs, because they know the slopes and can match

your skiing ability to the conditions. 

 DETAILS of TRIP     >> Click on map below to enlarge it <<

Austria's Gastein Valley is an hours' drive south from the city of Salzburg, in the

Gasteiner Tal region of the Province of Salzburg.  Arriving in the Gastein valley,

you pass through Dorfgastein on the way to Bad Hofgastein, gaining altitude along

the way. Dorfgastein has a ski area of its own, called Dorfgastein-Grossarl, which

connects over the mountaintops to the next valley.

Gastein valley's four major ski areas. 

(click to GASTEIN web site)

 4-star KURHOTEL OSTERREICHISCHER in BAD HOFGASTEIN

  7 nights - Saturday to Saturday January and/or February 2009

History of the Gastein Valley (click to skip history) 

The thermal springs of the Gastein valley were known to Stone Age people

and the Celts, who recognized the healing powers of the warm springs.

Romans also visited the valley to partake of the healing waters.

    During the 15th and 16th century people travelled long distances to come

to Gastein, where they would take baths in simple wooden tubs for ailments

such as gout. In 1828 the spa regained prominence under the sponsorship of

Archduke Johann of Austria. It became fashionable to "take the cure" in

Bad Gastein. Famous personages including Emperor Wilhelm I of Germany and

Emperor Franz Josef I of Austria, along with poets and composers, flocked to

the Gastein valley to immerse themselves in the healing waters.

    The 20th century brought both progress and health science to the Gastein valley.

The railway made the area more accessible and more people became aware of the

benefits of the healing waters. Gradually the area changed from an exclusive spa

for the rich and famous into a modern health resort.
     Then, in the latter half of the 20th century, Gastein evolved from a health spa

catering to people with arthritis, rheumatism, sinus problems and sport related

injuries into the present-day ski resort in winter and hiking paradise in summer.

The surrounding mountains and abundance of snow in winter has made the Gastein

valley an ideal ski destination.

     When skiing became more fashionable after World War II, new lifts and cable

 4-star HOTEL ANANAS  in VIENNA

    Vienna's largest 4-star property, the art nouveau Hotel

Ananas is located near the Naschmarkt - the city's oldest

and largest fruit/vegetable market. Well regarded for its

friendly atmosphere and service, the Ananas offers

particularly good value accommodation. Guest rooms are

comfortable, clean and bright, being furnished to a very

high standard and equipped with bath/shower and WC,

hair dryer, cable TV, radio, direct dial telephone, mini bar

and air conditioning.
    The hotel also has associations with one of Austria's most famous actors, Hans Möser,

with these being reflected in the title of the restaurant "Zum Möser" and summer beer

garden "Mösers Biergartl".
    For breakfast, tuck into a marvelous (and more than ample) buffet, while afternoon tea

- with some delightful Viennese pastries - can be taken at the café "Johann Strauss".

What's more, at the end of a busy day unwind at the hotel's "Alexander Girardi" bar or

alternatively, relax in the in-house sauna/fitness centre.
    The hotel has 534 rooms, bar, café, fitness centre, garden, jacuzzi, restaurant, sauna,

a well-stocked souvenir shop and can provide theatre/opera ticket bookings.

Vienna Sightseeing (click to web site tour of VIENNA)

                 Strauss Monument                                          Reisenrad                          Spanische Reitschule Lipizzaners 

Hours: Mon. Tue. Wed. Thu. Fri. Sat. 10:30am to 6:00pm. - Sun. 12:30pm to 5:00pm.  - Evenings by appointment.

Last modified:05/31/08.