Stubaier Gletscher is one of the most popular ski resorts in Austria for recreational and sport skiing before winter season. The reason of this is richness and diversity of ski pistes as well as a guarantee of appropriate snow coverage. What is more, ski pistes and infrastructure of ski resort are designed to families with children and fulfill expectations of people skiing on every skill level, also those training ski race. The best proof of it is that Stubaiier Gletscher achieved many times a title of “the best glacier in Europe”.

Stubai ski resort (1697 – 3210 m a.s.l.) is the biggest glacier area in Austria available for recreational and sport skiing. On its area there is 108 kilometres of ski pistes with various difficulties. Skiers can make use of 26 modern ski lifts. Opening hours: 8:00 do 16:00.

International driving license is not obligatory. People under the age of 18 years old cannot drive mechanical vehicles, even if they have driving license. On highways and dual clearways, a vignette is absolutely required. The vignette is a label confirming that the fee for the use of toll roads was paid.

Prices of vignettes from December 2017 are: for one-track vehicles (A category): annual 34,70 EUR, 2-monthly 13,10 EUR, 10-day 5,20 EUR; for cars up to 3,5t (B category): annual 87,30 EUR (valid 14 months: from 1 December 2017 to 31 January 2019 till 24:00), 2-monthly 26,20 EUR, 10-day 9,00 EUR.

Lack of stuck on in appropriate place of windscreen vignette threatens with obligatory purchase of 1-day substitutive vignette in the price of 120 EUR (rigid flat amount results from road traffic regulations). The way and place of attachment of a vignette is shown in graphic form on its reverse. A vignette shall be stuck on left upper corner of windscreen or below rear mirror. A vignette needs to be stuck on, it must not be damaged or pasted. Fact of purchase of a vignette does not give a law to ride through toll roads. This law is gained only after stucking on a vignette in an appropriate place. Not stuck on vignette is treated the same as unstamped ticket in public means of transport. Failing to stop for a control or manipulations with a vignette threaten with additional fine up to 3000 EUR. Vignettes can be purchased on Austrian gas stations, on border crossings of south Poland and on some of gas stations. What is more, on some parts of highways and dual clearways, additional fees for a run may be in force (e.g. tunnel).

Tourists driving cars should expect detailed controls of technical condition of vehicles (especially important: tires, brakes and possession of first aid kit, warning triangle and reflective vest as well as snow chains in winter). For bad technical condition of a vehicle or a lack of basic equipment there may threaten high fines or keeping of plates or even of a car. Obligation of following of speed limits is rigorously enforced. Obligation of fastening seatbelts on all car seats is enforced. Acceptable maximal alcohol content is 0,1 g. Result from 0,1 to 0,49 g is a delinquency that may threaten with a penalty depending on the result of assessment to drive a car – the assessment is done by a policeman. A driver having above 0,5 g of alcohol in blood may be punished with a fine (from 218 to 5813 EUR) and with taking away of driving licence or several-months prison sentence, even if he did not cause an accident.

Prohibition of speaking up the phone without hands-free set while driving is enforced. Additional information for drivers may be found on the website: www.oeamtc.at.

Since 2008, cars, combi vehicles and trucks with laden mass up to 3,5 t have to be equipped with winter tires on all wheels or snow chains on propulsive wheels (snow chains may substitute winter tires only while driving on snow), in winer conditions, in period from 1 November to 15 April. There is prohibition for trucks to ride in festive days and on Saturdays from 15:00 and Sundays from 00:00 to 22:00.

More information you will find on the website: http://polakzagranica.msz.gov.pl/Republika,Austrii,AUT.html

Planning ski trip (regardless of our destination) let’s remember about helmet. HSKI Ski School suggests for every white frenzy lover to be equipped with it. In Poland, skiing with helmet concerns children up to 16 years old. In Austria and all federated states, children up to 15 years old need to wear helmet while skiing. In Italy, a duty to use helmets concerns children up 14 years old – the penalty for skiing without helmet is 200 euro!

Going on a ski trip it is good to acquaint with international code of behaviour for skiers and snowboarders. Thanks to it we will avert many unpleasant situations and accidents on ski pistes.

1. Concern for other people
„Every skier or snowboarder should behave in such a way that he does not cause danger or harm for other person.”
2. A way of skiing and snowboarding as well as control of speed
„Every skier or snowboarder should control the way of running. He should adjust the speed and way of running to his skills, type and condition of slope, weather conditions and traffic intensity.”
3. Choice of running direction
„Skier or snowboarder running from behind has to take such a running track, so that he does not cause danger for skiers and snowboarders running in front of him.”
4. Outrunning
„Skier or snowboarder may outrun other skier or snowboarder from up and from down, from right and left side on condition that he leaves enough space to outrun skier or snowboarder so that he is able to make any, intentional or not,  maneuvers.”
5. Moving off and moving up the slope
„Skier or snowboarder, entering the labelled downhill, moving off after stopping or moving way up the slope, needs to look up and down the slope to be sure that he can do it without danger for himself and for others.”
6. Stopping on the run
„Until it is absolutely necessary, skier or snowboarder must avoid stopping on the downhill track in places with narrowings and places with restricted visibility. After fall in such a place, skier or snowboarder should clear out from the run track as fast as possible.”
7. Coming up and down on foot
„Skier or snowboarder must come up and down on foot only through margin of run.”
8. Adherence to ski signs
„Every skier or snowboarder should apply to ski signs and run marks.”
9. Accidents
„In case of accident, every skier or snowboarder should give first aid to victims.”
10. Duty to reveal identity
„Every skier or snowboarder, wether he is the causer of accident, victim or witness, must in case of accident reveal his personal data.”

HSKI Ski School possesses third-party and accident insurance.

According to Act of November 24, 2017 on package travels and linked travel arrangements, every participant of ski trip organized by HSKI Ski School is covered by basic insurance SIGNAL IDUNA Safe Trips (Europe, Standard, medical expenses 11 000 EUR, including salvage charges 6 000 EUR, accidents 15 000 PLN, with extension of practising of winter sports). Undoubtedly, such insurance may, in some cases, not cover the amount of costs of insurance case. Costs of transport, treatment and hospital stay abroad are very high and counted in thousands of euros. Not all of them are also financed by NHS.

In consideration of the safety and health of participants of ski trips we recommend purchase of voluntary and extended insurance SIGNAL IDUNA Safe Trips (Europe, Super, medical expenses up to 100 000 EUR, accidents up to 100 000 PLN, third-party up to 100 000 EUR, with extension of practising of winter sports).

While planning ski trip, we usually make a booking well in advance. Often, the fortuitous events happen and they are the reason of resignation from the trip. To avoid a loss of costs paid towards the trip, we recommend purchase of cancellation insurance SIGNAL IDUNA Safe Reservations. Such an insurance policy allows, in certain cases, to cover 100% of costs incurred. Contribution rate is not exorbitant and it is worth to include it in a budget of the planned trip.

We remind also that standard insurance policies do not cover costs connected with occurrence of insurance case if it is caused by chronic diseases or cancer. Occurrence of such diseases among participants of ski trip, and in case of cancellation insurance – among their relatives as well, requires purchase of supplementary insurance.

People paying dues for NHS have a right in Italy to use medical care within insurance. It should be remembered, that not all kinds of medical help are available within NHS insurance – among others, people not having appropriate insurance will pay for so called rescue operations (arrival of ambulance, transport oto hospital, etc.).
Going to doctor or hospital, in case of touristic trips, it is necessary to have a document confirming fact of insurance: European Health Insurance Card.

In case of accident or other occurence requiring intervention, you need to call the police (133), fire brigade (122) or emergency ambulance service (144). The calls are free. There is also an universal emergency number 112 which you can call in any case.