Val Gardena info please

Good morning all

We are off to Val Gardena in January. It's our first time to Italy and so we are newbies to the area. Any advice on best runs, bars, where to avoid etc would be welcome.

Thanks in anticipation

Steve

I like Selva ..not stopped there but I have skied through it and in it may times ..There are enough runs to keep anyone happy ..get the full dolomitiski pass if you are anything above a beginner ...the sella rhonda is your first goal then the world cup run....the restaurants on the mountains are usually good value and you ca afford to eat in them ...

I wouldn't stay in Selva. It's OK but a bit of a one street town and access not fantastic. If I went again I'd stay in Corvara or Colfosco. If you get good weather you won't ski anywhere more picturesque

daved wrote:I like Selva ..not stopped there but I have skied through it and in it may times ..There are enough runs to keep anyone happy ..get the full dolomitiski pass if you are anything above a beginner ...the sella rhonda is your first goal then the world cup run....the restaurants on the mountains are usually good value and you ca afford to eat in them ...

Thanks Daved, we are comfortable on all levels of runs, and agree the all area is a must! I've just been looking at the World cup run which looks great. Much appreciated.

Dolomiti Superski pass is way to go, about €40 more than local pass it gives you an endless opportunities of skiing (with great vistas). Additional to Val Gardena (S.Christina) world cup run, there's also another one next door (Alta Badia) in La Villa,a nice one. From there you can also come/ski off Sella Ronda and ski to San Cassiano area. Selva's actually a good place to base yourself (if you're reasonably quick you can easily ski even to Marmolada and back).. but yes agree, it is mostly a one street village, still few good bars/restaurants...Ortisei is a proper, lovely town, and Corvara was mentioned, yes a lovely little village, well located for a skiing day trips to the different ski areas of the Dolomites. You'll have a great time, lots of on piste great skiing and lovely mountain restaurants with good food and not too pricey. I could go on and on about the Dolomites...:)

Firstly, the Dolomites are brilliant, especially for adventurous intermediates. Selva is a great base but definitely go for whole area pass.

You can easily head off in either direction on the Sella Ronda. The Sella itself is a bit of a slog and I prefer to think of it as the M25 which you use to get to another ski area. There are lots of little ski areas linked into the Sella and it well worth diverting off to them for much quieter slopes and often very good ones. A particular favourite area of mine is Monte Pana which is not far from Selva. It only has a few runs but they are wonderful (Alpha, Bravo and Charlie - all worth doing). Another "day trip" worth considering is over to Alpe di Suisi. You get a bus from the bottom of Monte Pana - it is a typical ski bus but travels over narrow forestry roads - definitely interesting (unfortunately, it is not on the lift pass - I think it is about €6 return). Alpe di Suisi is a high plateau with relatively easy skiing. It has a very relaxed vibe about it. The Hidden Valley is another possible excursion. It is a bit of a trek and if I am being honest, I am not convinced it is worth it. You do get a very long red run down from the top through a completely unspoilt valley but some of it is pathways.

The area is full of excursions that you can do which is one of the reasons I love it. The lift infrastructure is generally excellent but do watch your return times if you venture into other valleys if you want to avoid expensive taxi rides home.

Any of the hotels in town will be good, this is a class resort. Try Bar Stua next to the Costabella lift, Goalies (the Irish bar), the ski school bar, the beer Keller or the Krone next door. For Food try Reno's, the Costabella or restaurant Des Alpes for a fantastic Chatteau Briand. For skis etc go to Ski Olga and tell Klaus I recommended you, he is brilliant and reasonable. Lastly have blast. G

Some fantastic information by those who have replied. Thanks very much, I'm very grateful. As always we can't wait!

Steve