A promenade around the resort's center reveals shops containing all the luxury goods and sporting equipment a shopper could need to keep happy even serious binges of acquisitive lust. But if you're looking specifically for sporting goods, consider dropping into Kitz Sport, Jochbergerstrasse 7 (tel. 05356/62204). Country Classics-Driendl-Schulze Hinmüller OEG, Jochberger Strasse 21 (tel. 05356/66808); and BM Metternich KEG, Vorderstadt 18 (tel. 05356/71474), are where you'll find locally handcrafted pewter, ironwork, ceramics, woodcarvings, and a small selection of folkloric clothing for men and women. For an outlet with even greater amounts of women's Trachten (traditional clothing such as dirndls), head to Sport Alm, Josef Pirchl Strasse 9 (tel. 05356/71038). Traditional clothing for men, women, and children, as well as modern, conservative clothing for all occasions, is available at Eden, Vorderstadt 22 (tel. 05356/62656).

Innsbruck Airport is not the closest but may be the most suitable airport for Kitzbühel. Much of the route is along the Inn valley motorway to the town of Wörgl and then past the resorts of Brixen, Hopfgarten, Westendorf and Kirchberg.Innsbruck has long been known as a accepted destination for ski charter flights - especially from the northern European countries - but now the introduction of new lower-fare scheduled flights from major destinations like London has made it into a real option for those flying from further afield.

Salzburg Airport is the closest airport to Kitzbühel but the shortest journey is on minor roads through ski resorts which can make for a long journey in bad weather. The route from the airport heads through the small part of Germany which separates one part of the province of Salzburg from one more and then via Lofer and St Johann into the valleys which branch off for the skiing areas of the Wilder Kaiser and Kitzbühel.An alternate route can be taken via the German motorway system to Kufstein and Wörgl but this is scarcely worth it as it still involves a journey on country roads from Wörgl to Kitzbühel.

Munich Airport is a longer journey but another one which is on motorways for much of the way. The route south to Kufstein can get hard in holiday periods but this is certainly a viable option for those arriving on the principal airlines' scheduled flights or on their low-cost rivals that share Munich Airport.

Kitzbühel really boasts two railway stations - most people will be looking for the Hahnenkamm stop rather than the Schwarzsee one. (The stop before the Schwarzsee is for Kirchberg. also part of the Kitzbühel ski area.) Trains run from Wörgl on a regional service, making the routes from Innsbruck and Munich probably easier than that from Salzburg.