Dolomities or any other good slopes in Italy - it must be ski in/out (or almost)

Hello.
We are a couple with 2 daughters.Usually we go to French Alps (Avoriaz, Val Thorens, Meribel) and we used to stay all day long in the slopes. During the morning we like to attend classes (depending on each one level and phisical condition) then we return "home" for some light meal and we return to the slopes till they close. Our preferences are: Appartment (or similar) ski in/out near the center of the village - services and commerces. It is very difficult for me to chose a place because I do not know if it is far away from the slopes, commerce and if it is in a nice resort.We will flight to Milan and our dates will be 13-20th February 2016. I would like to read your recomendations, please.

Hi Babo,
From Milan you are about 2-2.5hrs drive to Val d'Aosta and its resorts (Champoluc, Gressoney, Cervinia etc. etc) or 4-4.5 hours from the Dolomites (depending on what resort you choose).
Are you planning to hire a car, or are you going to get to the resort by train/coach?

I have been to Val d'Aosta a few times, but always at "driving distance" from the slopes. The main lift in Champoluc is in the town centre, but February is a popular month and if it's Carneval week, accommodation may be hard to find.
I don't know if there are many apartments near the main lift in Cervinia (Plan Maison)/ Valtournenche (Salette).
As for the Dolomites, I normally go to Val Gardena.
Selva and Santa Cristina are well positioned, you have a few lifts taking you up the slopes, and there are plenty of ski buses. The villages are quite small, so if you stay "in town" you have easy access to both the slopes and the shops/restaurants.
The Italian resorts are not "purpose built" like the French ones so you do normally stay in the village and get the lifts up to the ski area.
There are some apartments on the slopes (we normally stay on Monte Pana) but they tend to book one year for the next!!!
And if you are on the slopes, you are not near the town centre. From Monte Pana for example there is a skilift that takes you down, but it shuts at 17:00 - 17:30 so if you want to go out in the evening, you need a car.

From my experience:
Val Gardena is lovely. Santa Cristina and Selva better positioned than Ortisei.
Val Badia has a lot of cruising blue runs but also some (not so hidden) gems and some challenging blacks. Best place to stay for skiing Corvara and San Cassiano or La Villa. Again, plenty of skibuses to get you to the slopes.
In Val di Fassa I would probably look to stay in Canazei or Campitello di Fassa.
Alternatively you can stay in Arabba which is also on the Sellaronda and gives you access to Marmolada.

Those three valleys are all connected, so you can stay out all day and enjoy the snow on a variety of different runs.

Personally, I also love Madesimo above Lake Como. It is much smaller, but with good runs.

What kind of resort are you more interested in?

Each of the valleys I listed have their own website where you can find accommodation and a map of the village.

Unfortunately there are many more areas on the Dolomites, that I don't know. I have seen most of them in the Summer, but I know that in the Winter, with skis, skiboots and poles a 10mins walk becomes a trek so being near the lifts is more important!!

Good luck in your search.

Have a look at La Thuile. The palnibel apartment are just across the road from the ski lifts and are self catering. It's just over two hours drive from Milan too.
There is some self catering apartment close to the lifts in Cervinia but no ski in/out.

I like La Thuile too but you can ski to Canazei but you would have to walk to the lift ..I liked Campitello which is a bit bigger and more modern but then the lifts do get busy in both

Thank you for all your information. I will take some time to analyse it and if I need any further info I will return here.
I am still very lost in dolomitas but I need to have more time to search over it. I can remember the first time we went to Meribel it was the same with the 4 possible little vilages. Now I know it by heart I can say if a spot is good to stay or not.
I think all your information will be very helpful.

Babo,
Please bear in mind that La Thuile (Val d'Aosta) will host the women Downhill and Super G races on 20-21 Feb which may affect room availability but also, they may close some runs as they prepare for the World cup.

You should also check selva di val gardena as it is a very popular skiing/snowboarding destination!

Agree with Gareth, La Thuile/Planibel is a good suggestion. We stayed at the Planibel when the boys were young. Good location, and the local shop made the lads ask for things in Italian!