Dolomites - Arabba or Moena

Hope you find this useful: http://www.moena.it/default.asp?stagione=4&lingua=1&cms=205&alloggio=0

Also suggest you keep an eye on this link: http://www.fassa.com/EN/Skibus-service/

The 2012/13 timetables haven't been published yet, but it shouldn't be long now :thumbup:

While Moena isn't the most convenient of bases for the Sella Ronda, it should be possible with an early enough start. It doesn't have to be breakfast at 5:30, so you can start to get the kids ready at 6 in time to catch the first bus at 8:30 which will drop you off at 9 at the back of a two-hour queue for a cable car which will take you up the mountain just in time to stand in another queue to get your lunch -) , but it's as well to be as organized as possible. It might be a big ask of lower intermediate kids to complete a circuit of the Sella Ronda (the guidebooks suggest 5-6 hours). None of the runs are overly difficult but you are the best judge of their abilities. Let the alternative of an £80 taxi-ride be your incentive to make sure you catch that last lift that gives access to the valley where your skibus runs :twisted:

I would be inclined to take the Col Rodella cable car from Campitello and head for Selva and spend a day in the Selva/Santa Cristina/Ortisei area. This would allow to assess your kids' ability and energy levels for a full-on assault of the Sella Ronda later in the week. Also bear in mind that you can not ski back down to Campitello: you can either come down in the cable car or ski to Canazei and get the bus back from there.

It's not all bad news though :) . Moena is a terrific base for the hidden gem that is Lusia. I really can't think of a better place for families. The blue and red, long, wide and rolling pistes are beautifully prepared. There are lovely mountain restaurants with wonderful views, a kids' snowpark and a timed section of piste complete with speedgun. You won't believe how fast your kids will be going by the end of the day! The kids may find the black piste back down to Ronchi a bit of a challenge; the alternative is to unload in the gondola. I believe that you can ski all the way back to Moena along a frozen track when conditions are good; here's hoping... :D . This is a 10 minute bus ride away from Moena. Another 15 minutes further on is Passo San Pellegrino, another super family area that the Italians keep to themselves, while the Brits and Germans flock to the Sella Ronda -) .

Another grand day out would be Pozza di Fassa(10 minutes by bus), from where you take the Buffaure gondola which then allows you ski on the opposite side of the valley to the Sella Ronda as far as Alba di Canazei. Bear in mind the only run down to the valley in Alba is a black, a typical Italian black; lovely and smooth in good conditions with a couple of steep sections that look far worse than they actually are. You may simply decide to stay high and ski back to Pozza, in which case you would be skiing just blues and reds.

The link also shows access to Carezza, Falcade and Obereggen which are unknown to me but could well be worth further investigation. It seems to me that you have chosen well and the world, or at least the Dolomiti Superski is your oyster. Have a good one :thumbup:.

You will love Moena. The bus ride is about 15-20min, depending to the Campitello box and the main system. But dont get dragged into the mentality of must do this, must do that! From Moena, you have easy access to many different areas and within a few mins (20-30) bus trip. Do them all! None will disappoint! We skied today in Alta Badia - awesome! Great snow and so quiet. We're here until late March. Get in touch if you think i can help further. Tim

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