Putting on the Kitz

When we were skiing last year in the Gastein Valley, we met a couple at our hotel who were staying for the night on their way to Kitzbuhel. We had never heard of Kitzbuhel before, but they went on and on about how great it is. We only later realized that it's a world renowned ski resort, but we were sold on the place after hearing about it from the couple, mainly because we thought they were cool and the couple they were hanging out with at our hotel was equally cool, so we trusted their opinion and we, of course, wanted to be cool.

After hours upon hours of research looking into ski resorts, we decided on Kitzbuhel for a week ski holiday. If you ask 10 different people for their opinion on where to ski in Europe, you're most likely going to get 10 different answers. Austria itself has probably 50 or so different resorts and most of them are really nice and have excellent accommodations. For two people who have a difficult time making decisions, having so many options is pretty much our worst nightmare. There had been very little snow in Europe over the winter at that point, so naturally we selected Kitzbuhel, one of the lowest altitude ski resorts in the Alps and known for poor ski conditions in early winter.

WIA: We ate most of our meals at the two hotels at which we stayed and it was all just fine, but nothing was memorable.

WID: We skied and relaxed in the hotel spas. That's it. It was perfect. Because there hadn't been much snow, many of the slopes were not open, but we still enjoyed ourselves. We took a lesson the first day, which was helpful. We both feel very comfortable skiing, but we both still have a lot more to learn when it comes to technique. I still had my share of falls this year (including two on the T-bar), but I'm getting better and enjoying the hell out of it. There are still many times when my speed picks up to a level where I get uncomfortable because I don't have complete control and balance. I'll get there. There were so many times while skiing that I couldn't help but slow down, look around, and admire the incredible beauty of the Alps.

WIS: The Schwarzer Adler is in town, a block off the main street. I think the hotel has been around for a while, but it's been renovated recently and was very nice. The spa facility was big with several different sauna options. There was a pool on the rooftop of the hotel. We liked the idea of it, and though it was heated, when we dipped our toes in, it didn't seem warm enough for us to take the plunge. The latter part of the week was spent at the brand new Kempinski Das Tyrol in Jochberg, which is a few kilometers outside of Kitzbuhel. We were lucky to come across incredible grand opening promotional rates they were offering and we pounced on it. The resort is top notch and made for the perfect ski and spa experience.

WAM: I've really fallen for the whole ski and spa experience in Europe. It's hard to beat a week where each day is a repeat of waking up and eating a nice buffet breakfast, skiing for three or four hours, relaxing in the spa for another few hours, maybe taking a nap, and then enjoying a nice dinner. And it all takes place with some of the most beautiful snow covered scenery in the entire world as the backdrop.
WTF: While on the train to Kitzbuhel, we watched The Tree of Life and I really have nothing else to say besides WTF? If anyone can answer that question, please call or email me.