Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Ski and snowboarding

For ski chat, join the Mumsnet Ski forum. Check out our guide to the best resorts in Europe and our family ski holiday packing list.

Original poster

Austria skiing

177 replies

Grayswood · 07/12/2021 14:44

Meant to heading off to Austria on the 17th December. We booked direct (yes, in hindsight mad) and we won’t get a refund if we don’t go. Anyone else still heading off to Alps this xmas, or are we really stupid? It looks like Austria will be coming out of lockdown tomorrow.

OP posts:
Havanananana · 07/12/2021 15:13

Austria comes out of lockdown on Sunday - it is the details that will be announced tomorrow (Wednesday 8th Dec). Unvaccinated people will remain in lockdown - i.e. only allowed to leave their homes for a few limited reasons (work, essential shopping, doctor's appointments etc).

The regional governments can set their own rules - e.g. Vienna has already announced that hotels, tourist accommodation and restaurants will remain closed until 20th Dec.

Ski lifts are already running in a number of resorts, with more due to open over the next few days - there has been exceptional snowfall over the last 10 days. The "2G" rule is in place - to use the lifts, guests aged 12 and over must be double vaccinated or recovered (and have the appropriate Covid certificate). FFP2 masks must be worn in the lifts, in lift stations and on public transport.

LoobyLou2709 · 07/12/2021 19:25

We head to Austria on 24th for a week, still planning to go if we can, same as you we booked direct, however our accommodation provider has been extremely fair and said he'd give us a full refund we we can't or decide not to go, (even though when I booked it back in January it said I wouldn't!) easyJet flights we can change free of charge. Just trying to get my head around the new rules now having to do a test before leaving Austria as well as when we land! 🤦🏼‍♀️

FoodieToo · 07/12/2021 19:34

We are booked to go to Austria on 8th January . Do you think Austria will be asking for a pre arrival test ? I am assuming they will ??

Caspianberg · 07/12/2021 19:43

Im near a ski resort. It’s open already for locals.
Lockdown ending should be announced Thursday. There’s talk of hotels being closed until 20th but who knows.

My nearest test centre now has pcr tests for tourists for €35 if people need for flights home ( they are free for Austrians). I imagine that will be a standard price in most areas.

And yes lots of snow. The next 48hrs a lot more snow is forecast.

Havanananana · 07/12/2021 21:22

The "nearest test centre" in most alpine villages will be the local pharmacy (Apotheke), where PCR tests cost €35 and antigen tests €25 for non-residents.

The result of the antigen test takes about 30 minutes (depending on how busy the place is) and is sent to your mobile phone - in English as well as German so you can use it for entry back into the UK.

yefferson · 07/12/2021 21:29

If you're going to Tyrol (the state which includes e.g. Innsbruck), you can also get free antigen tests via the Tirol Testet programme, but only at designated test centres as a tourist.

Caspianberg · 08/12/2021 05:55

There are various ‘test’ options here:
Town - 25min drive has Red Cross and another main location for tests and vaccines.
Town halls - 5mins and 15 mins away
Pharmacy - various options

I don’t think anyone travelling to Austria we have a problem getting a test, it’s just an extra expense and slight inconvenience.

for those with teenagers, it now says the school ‘ninja pass’ which is for covid school test results is valid for skiing Friday/ Saturday and Sunday. A pcr test will be accepted during school holidays. This is instead of double vaccine option I assume

Schulte · 08/12/2021 07:38

So what is acceptable proof of double vaccination in Austria? My teens (under 16) have an immunisation record Print-out, details of their jabs in the NHS app, but no QR code. I’m hoping that’s enough?

BlackLambAndGreyFalcon · 08/12/2021 07:42

Yes hoping to go on the 17th. There's a press conference today apparently which will provide the details of the lockdown ending. Upper Austria is apparently staying in lockdown for a further week (we're going to the Tirol though).

Havanananana · 08/12/2021 08:04

@Caspianberg

For clarity, the "Ninja Pass" only applies to Austrian children - it is the pass that they get at school, where regular testing is taking place.

Caspianberg · 08/12/2021 08:07

@Schulte - I think that will be enough. They need to see vaccine dates as valid 9 months, before ski pass sold. So if you have those, you should be ok. For restaurants again you just need to show at door. Usually it’s the green pass shown with qr code, but I would think that’s not an issue for under 18

I think if your staying in apartment or private chalet you will have less issues as can eat at ‘home’ if restaurants closed or restricted

Schulte · 08/12/2021 08:10

Phew - thanks. I also just read on the Austria info website that the green pass is not the only proof they accept. I might email the tourist office and apartment owner just to double check.

We’re flying to Munich then driving into Austria so the next thing to check are Germany’s current entry requirements…

Doubleraspberry · 08/12/2021 08:16

We went to Austria in October and they took any proof of vaccination - paper or online. No QR code.

My husband went to Austria via Munich last month and it was fine - the airline will tell you a passenger locator form is required but if you’re just in transit through Germany, it’s not. We wasted quite a long time trying to complete it before we worked that out!

Caspianberg · 08/12/2021 08:28

@Havanananana - thanks, yes I know it’s only locally. But the pcr in holidays if unvaccinated I hadn’t seen before which might help some people in uk who I think are still only half vaccinated for teenagers still.

Best bet is to contact the local tourist information to the area your staying in just beforehand as they have generally been very good at up to date info ( ours emailed us every few days in summer as have summer guests in holiday let)

And yes, lots of locals especially old people seem to just carry their vaccination card as don’t have smart phone.

Ylvamoon · 08/12/2021 08:37

Missing the point.

But why head to Austria? They are hollowing out mountains for water reservoirs to feed the snow machines. An environmental disaster waiting to happen. All for some leasure pursuit.

Havanananana · 08/12/2021 08:56

@Caspianberg

As far as I can see, the PCR tests for teenagers only applies to Austrian children - during the school holidays they can continue to use the lifts etc. if they follow the same testing programme as they would have done had they been in school, with the individual test results counting as proof instead of their (school) Ninja Pass.

I am not aware that any solution has yet been found for unvaccinated teens from outside of Austria. As far as I can see, they are still subject to "2G" - i.e. fully vaccinated or recovered.

Caspianberg · 08/12/2021 09:02

@Havanananana - yes maybe your right, it is unclear who that’s valid for

Schulte · 08/12/2021 10:20

Thanks @Doubleraspberry!

The Austria Info website still says they’re working on a solution for unvaccinated teenagers. Hopefully it will be announced soon.

BlackLambAndGreyFalcon · 08/12/2021 15:17

Good news from Austria!

www.thelocal.at/20211208/breaking-these-covid-measures-to-apply-in-austria-from-sunday/

Doubleraspberry · 08/12/2021 15:48

One thing to bear in mind is that FFP2 masks are required in all public areas in Austria, and on flights going into Austria. They are very cheap there but I found they were more expensive here. The disposable medical ones widely used here aren't enough.

BlackLambAndGreyFalcon · 08/12/2021 15:53

Yes and also for flights into Germany too if anyone (like we are) is flying into a German airport.

TheGodWorm · 09/12/2021 13:02

From Sky news in last 10 mins:

Austrian vaccine mandate will apply to teenagers

Austria's planned coronavirus vaccine mandate will have a minimum age of 14, health minister Wolfgang Mueckstein said on Thursday.
The mandate, which is due to come into force in February, will introduce fines of 3,600 euros ($4,072), Mr Mueckstein said.
Details of this plan must still be approved by parliament.
However, the government says it has the backing of two opposition parties, suggesting it should pass easily.

MirrorSignal1 · 16/12/2021 10:33

Wondering if anyone thinks Austria will follow France's lead and ban UK holidaymakers?

OhCobblers · 16/12/2021 10:46

Could anyone briefly explain to me restrictions on unvaccinated UK teens (one dose only and not had Covid) in an Austrian ski holiday?!
Thank you x

Caspianberg · 16/12/2021 11:02

@MirrorSignal1 - I don’t think so for now. We have just had a 3 week lockdown and numbers decreased a lot. Vaccine level about the same as uk. And Austria needs the tourist money hence early lockdown before the winter season.

Although I think the hotels could refill lots of English cancelled spaces with German or Austrians, as unlike France, Austrian ski resorts aren’t actually that popular with English guests as I think less ‘package holidays’ available.
We have a holiday let, in 5 years never had English booking.