Aschau bei Kirchberg

If you're considering Aschau, you need to be realistic about the skiing: the village itself sits at the quieter end of the KitzSki network, with just a small beginner lift on-site and limited vertical to call your own. That said, you're not isolated—Kirchberg is only 8 km away with regular ski buses, giving you access to a much broader terrain network when you want it. With 239 cm of average annual snowfall and a 156-day season, you'll have decent snow reliability and enough time to really know the mountain, but if you're the type who needs varied terrain every single day to stay engaged, Aschau's limited on-mountain options could feel repetitive by month three. The trade-off is that you get a quieter base where you can actually live cheaply and peacefully, rather than being caught in the chaos of a bigger resort town.

Living in Aschau means embracing village life rather than resort life. The village itself is genuinely small and calm—there's no real après-ski scene here, which is either a feature or a bug depending on what you want from a season. Groceries average around €65 per week (~£55.5), and rent will be modest by Alpine standards, though you'll likely be dependent on your employer for staff accommodation since there's no large seasonaire housing market. For everyday shopping, services, and a bit of social life, you'll be looking at Kirchberg as your practical hub, which is close enough that it's not a burden but far enough that Aschau stays peaceful. The nearest major airport is Innsbruck (about 90 minutes away), so getting home or welcoming visitors is straightforward without being on a major tourist corridor.

The seasonaire community here is small and employer-dependent rather than a built-in social scene. Jobs typically include hospitality roles in the handful of hotels and restaurants, ski-school positions (especially if you have teaching qualifications), and lift or rental work, though availability varies year to year. You're more likely to encounter Austrian staff and other EU nationals than a huge international mix, and visa access is straightforward for EU citizens. If you're a beginner learning to ski, Aschau is genuinely ideal—the on-site T-bar is designed for absolute beginners, and you can progress safely without pressure. If you're already experienced, you won't feel held back either, but you'll need to be comfortable commuting to Kirchberg or nearby areas for more challenging terrain. This is a place for people who want to work a season in a real village, not a resort party town, and who are either learning to ski or happy to explore the wider network rather than chase new runs every day.