Normally flying to Innsbruck from a vast array of UK airports, and normally using Austria Airlines with a meat based snack. Mayrhofen is then only about an hour transfer. Mayrhofen is in the Zillertal Valley, in the west Austrian province of Tyrol. Lifts provide access to the slopes of Ahorn Mountain to the south just a couple of bus stops up from the the Penken lift which takes to slopes including the 78 degree black run “Harakiri.” Trails lead to the Gasthof Zimmereben hut, with views of the valley and Ahorn. The Ahorn Eagle’s Stage is an observation point for alpine birds of prey. We have always enjoyed skiing Mayrhofen which is a town full of interesting and very different hotels. The Strass is next to the Penken Lift, the Chalets tend to be up near the Ahorn lift. The Neue Post and Berghof are a five minute walk down the road in the opposite direction. Food and service will be excellent everywhere, what seems to split the bars and hotels is the smoking policy. Mikes Sports Bar is a smoking bar and you are reminded of that walking into the hotel that houses that. The Kino or Film bar does not allow cigarettes but the E-smokers compete to make the biggest toxic clouds they can which, makes the bar a non starter for non-smokers though the skittle alley below is normally smoke free. The better hotels are all totally smoke free. Mo’s bar in the middle of the main road between the Berghof at the bottom, and the Penken towards the top is the bar with the cleanest air, great food, sports screen and live music Friday and Wednesday.

Mayrhofen ski resort lies at the end of the Ziller Valley where keen skiers and those seeking lively après-ski and nightlife are well catered for in a big, wide-open ski area which stretches out on both sides of the valley. One of Europe’s best summer-skiing resorts, Hintertux, is within fairly easy reach. The main street is predominantly pedestrianised –a mix of Tyrolean-style chalets, and four-star hotels. The main Mayrhofen skiing is high above the tree-line on the Penken, which rises way above the town and is reached by a large gondola in the centre of town. The Zillertal Superskipass covers the whole of the Ziller Valley, including the resorts of Fügen, Kaltenbach, Zell am Ziller, Gerlos, Finkenberg, Lanersbach and the glacier at Hintertux – an incredible total of over 515km of pistes and 200 lifts connected by a free bus or train. If you feel like an extra challenge, try what the resort markets as “the steepest groomed run in Austria” – called, predictably, Hara Kiri. It is indeed steep, but so short that even an intermediate could tackle it. The après-ski and nightlife is extensive with bars, pubs and clubs.

https://youtu.be/YKRTdacB0tMMannis Sport Hotel Is built above the shops and ski hire the main street half way down, not far from Mo’s Bar. It has a great piano bar and restaurant and is ideally placed for the lifts and the nightlife. It offers first class cuisine with hot and cold breakfast. 4 course evening meal is waiter service with 3 choices of main dish plus salad buffet. Smart dress requested at dinner (jacket and tie at Christmas and New Year). It does cater for Gluten Free, Vegans & Vegetarians in a country which is very meat heavy.