Ski Garmisch 2009-2010 from $976*per person
Includes airfare from New York, transfers from airport to hotel, 7 nights hotel stay, and breakfast each morning

Garmisch-Partenkirchen are traditional towns in southern Germany located within the Alpine region. Garmisch is a family-oriented, quaint town with much to offer in its skiing and snowboarding facilities. The area is filled with traditional restaurants and cafes for those needing a delicious bite to eat. Garmisch is the only major ski resort in Germany and was the site of the 1936 Winter Olympic Games.

While Garmisch is old and new, what it isn't is trendy. Garmisch is Bavarian to the core and the atmosphere is fun and warm. You won't find the ritzy style of some of the other European resorts, but you will find great people, food, and terrific skiing.

General Information
Garmisch-Partenkirchen lies at the foot of the Zugspitze, which is the highest point in Germany at 8,832 feet above sea level. The skiing here goes from late November all the way through April, with some May skiing at times as well. This ski area is made up of 11 separate peaks divided into three ski areas. The peak is way above the tree line and you are able to catch glimpses of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The only drawback to this resort could be that the area is so large, skiers must travel some distance to the pistes and summits, but the large area allows for many different ski experiences and locations.

Skiing / Snowboarding
Garmisch-Partenkirchen allow for skiing from late November right through April. This resort is divided into three ski areas: the Garmisch ski area, the Zugspitze glacier, and the Osterfelderkopf. These ski areas combined contain 43 slopes serviced by 38 lifts and, to top it off, all natural snow.

Six of the 43 slopes are rated as beginner trails. Although there are a few low/intermediate trails, it is best to stick to the beginner runs here. Intermediates will find the greatest skiing here. About 65 percent of all the skiing is classified as intermediate. The biggest complaint here is that there are too many runs to take it all in.

While Garmisch does afford some interesting challenges for advanced skiers, this is generally considered an intermediate resort. Advanced skiers will enjoy the skiing at Hausberg, with its quick, sharp turns and steep inclines. Most of the expert sites are not close together, so traveling between them can be a bit of a hassle.

Garmisch tries to attract snowboarders as well as skiers. There are two half-pipes and two fun parks built just for this reason. Although they are working to get more snowboarders here, it is still second to the skiing in this area.

There is no night skiing or heliskiing at Garmisch. Snowmobiling is not a very popular sport here. Snowmobiles may be rented in the village, but not at the resort. Ice climbing is not available here, as well.

The tourist board in Garmisch-Partenkirchen claims there is only one cross-country course. While this may be true, that one course is also 94 miles long! You can ski cross-country all over this resort.

Children's Ski And Winter Activities
Garmisch-Partenkirchen is one of the most kid-friendly Alpine resorts. Most of the hotels provide daycare. There is a ski kindergarten for children over five who want to learn to ski. For those over three who are too young to ski, there is the Garmisch kindergarten in the village.

There are discounts on lift tickets for teens and children under 15. Children under five can ride the lifts for free.

Après-ski
The atmosphere at Garmisch has a degree of charm that other resorts are unable to match. But this place is fun, too. At night, the town is filled with music and laughter from the beer halls and the clubs.

There are over 100 restaurants in town with fine food at reasonable prices. You can find nearly any type of food at Garmisch. The casino is open until 3:00 a.m. There are 32 nightclubs and bistros. The prices are reasonable and, for the most part, the nightlife is pretty casual. Remember that many hotels and the casino require a jacket and tie.

The Garmisch Kino is the cinema in town. You can usually find first-run top American films in English, although they may be a few months late.

Attractions
The attractions abound in this area. The villages of Garmisch and Partenkirchen alone are worth wandering around. The houses are painted in different colors with the beautiful backdrop of the Bavarian Alps. The cog wheel train to the top of the Zugspitze is a treat, even without your skis.

There are numerous cities and town within just a couple of hours from Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The closest is Obergammergau which is 12 miles north. Obergammergau is the site of the Passion Play, held every 10 years on the zero year. Munich is less than an hour away by car and train. There are multiple attractions there to spend a day or two discovering.

Just about 30 minutes away is Neuschwanstein Castle. This castle was built by King Ludwig II and is the real life model for the Disney castle. This side trip is perfect for a nice morning or afternoon break from skiing.

Lift Facilities
The main ski area has 38 lifts. The lift system is a bit older here. There are 25 drag lines and four chairlifts, none of which are high-speed quads.  These lifts are all at the top of the mountain. You must first take one of 11 cable cars or the railway system up the mountain. The lift system can move an estimated 50,000 skiers up the mountain per hour.

Lift Tickets
The best deal for exploring this area is the combined Happy Card. This gives you access to all of the 131 lifts in the main resort and the surrounding areas. There are also lift tickets for the main resort as well as for each mountain.

Children under five ride the lifts for free and there are discounts for those up to 15 years old and seniors. <<pricing>>

Snow Conditions
Just to start: there are no snowmaking facilities on the main slopes at Garmisch and the season can begin in mid-October and go well into May. What this means is that there is plenty of snow here. The average snowfall is over 30 inches for the months of January and April and over 25 inches in February and March.

The summit of the Zugspitze, Alpspitze, Osterfelderkopf, and Kreuzwankel are all above the tree level and remain snow covered year-round. Ice is usually not a problem here except for the occasional patch on the most frequently used pistes.

Travel Time
The closest airport to Garmisch-Partenkirchen is Munich's Franz Joseph Airport. The drive from the airport to the resort takes about one-and-a-half to two hours. The quickest way to get there is to rent a car, but there a lot of car traffic in Garmisch which may cause some delay. Parking is also difficult in Garmisch.

Another option is to take the train. The train goes from the airport to Munich's main rail station where you transfer to the direct train to Garmisch. Once at Garmisch, a free shuttle bus operates frequently.

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