Despite being cramped up in a tiny seat against my snoring friend for almost 20 hours with minimal amounts of sleep that seemed to never end, the coach journey to the Austrian Alps wasn’t that bad. A flight would’ve been a better idea. Noted. However, the journey couldn’t ruin what was an amazing experience. 
The views were incredible, the food was gorgeous, the snow was thick and the air was brisk. What more could you want?

Flachau resort, deep in the Austrian Alps just South of Salzburg, in a little traditional Austrian hotel was where I was staying. Since I have experience skiing, the first hours on the slopes were enjoyable. If you have never been before it is like a living nightmare. I have been there. Struggling to pull your boots on in the never ending layers of clothing that make you sweat in below freezing conditions and not even being able to stand up for 5 seconds. You wish you never agreed to go and all you want to do is just roll down the side of the mountain and cry. You doubt your existence on Earth. Good start right. 

But there is hope! Once you conquer the snowplow and master the parallel ski technique, it’s the most incredible feeling. There is nothing better than skiing at high speeds, down vertical slopes with wind brushing past you whilst speeding past passing skiers with a massive grin on your face…until you fly through the air and land face first into the snow. Nothing beats it. You have to be there to believe it. Joking aside, it truly is a magical experience.

The views are unlike anything you have seen before, the rolling mountains covered in snow stretch right across the horizon. I was also lucky enough to be caught up in snowstorm on the mountain when you can hardly see two feet infront of you. It adds to the wintery excitement. Restaurants serving traditional Austrian dishes, the Hutenburger being my favourite, across the mountain that you can ski too.  

The cold weather, the snow and the heights seem to put a lot of people off of the idea of a ski holiday. Once your thousands of feet up the mountains, all of that doubt disappears. You fall in love with it. It may not be entirely relaxing or as luxurious as a beach holiday, but it is so much fun and and can be one of the best experiences of your life.