Dell Todd of Grand Rapids, Michigan, is planning an Austrian ski vacation and wonders whether to rent skis or tote them to the Tyrol. As Dell says, With the exchange rate being what it is, it seems pretty cheap. If I rent a car to move around in the Alps, and particularly when traveling with Connie, we lug our own skis. It s not much fun in moving from area to area to be fitted with new skis every morning. But the scenario shifts when jumping on and off trains, especially in Switzerland, where trains always run on time, with tight connections.
Rentals take the pressure off in changing trains.
With a helpful concierge, maybe even to the hotel itself. Sleep in small pensions Dewayne Bridges is an American expatriate in Stuttgart, who has been averaging 20 days a year on the slopes. He says, One thing I really enjoy is staying in small pensions. If you go in a medium sized group, you all go out to dinner together, head back to the pension, and with cards, games, wine, beer and snacks, have a really good time. I also find the owners are usually very interesting and a good source of local info.