Help with my shortlist

AllyG wrote:Pablo,
I have been to the other half of La Thuile - La Rosiere, for a week's ski-ing. The problem with it is that it still has lots of drag lifts. One of them was so steep that the ski instructor asked us women if we thought we could manage it - at one point you were practically dangling by your arms. And another one has a very sharp bend in it. And there's a very long flat drag lift between La Thuile and La Rosiere. If you fall off it (like one poor person I saw) it's a very long walk. I don't know if there's another link in between. And sometimes the link is shut.

And the lower run at La Rosiere is very pretty through trees but often shut because of lack of snow, and the return chair lift is very slow. I skied it in a lesson and I couldn't believe it because at the bottom the snow was missing, so we had to take off our skis and walk.

I think the La Thuile side has the better ski-ing, and more modern lifts.

Ally

There is not an alternative link over to Italy. Someone from La Rosiere spams another well known forum-or at least used to-so I figured it might have something going for it... I didn't enjoy it.

The trees in La Thuile are fantastic.

I'm afraid I never got to La Thuile,
We just crossed the border post and then turned around and went back, because we didn't have time. In fact I went to the same point twice, in morning and afternoon lessons.

It's only really all those drag lifts that put me off La Rosiere. Apart from anything else, they put oil all over your ski trousers. My daughter has white trousers, and I couldn't quite wash it all off. Apart from that, it's a very nice place - much smaller and quieter than Val Thorens. And we managed to find a cheap apartment in Les Bouqetins residence, which backs on to the forest, and is only a few yards from the ski school meeting place in the main village.

Ally

Sainte Foy is extremely cool just up the vallet, anyways I will stop cluttering the thread now :lol:

1st day in Arabba we did the Punta Rocca as its the highest point you can get to and it was a very clear day so the views would be excellent. Even with the amount of people with the same idea on the Sunday which included locals we got to the top ok with some excellent skiing from Arabba.

The Sella Ronda Circuit (clock wise) was ok with again no real ques and we were warned we may have to walk slightly which was true as you have to walk over a bridge to a lift. Helped with getting your bearings as well.

Snow cover was the best they had, had in over 50 years so we were spoilt really. Piste map isnt great but its easy to work out where you are and was easy skiing back to the resort. Lifts were fast and the longest i had to wait was at the "Hidden Valley" which was 40 mins and if Id known i wouldnt of bothered. Got to say the lifts from Arabba to different points of the Dolimites were 2nd to none, it was pack em and stack em in some lifts and a woman could get pregnant and never know who the father was people were so close.

Food and drinks much cheaper in Italy than France. Even on the mountain they dont rip you off which i found they did in France. Night life quiet and a beer 3.30 Euro :)

The whole experience was so good Im moving towards going to Italy again. The peolpe the lift system and the prices were so good.





The main 2 lifts are just behind the church which had very very random bell ringing

Excellent report and endorsement indeed, my lower league friend.
I have to say I have been toying with idea of a trip to the dolomites and in particular Val Gardena for some time now. Arabba and Selva appear the obvious choices to stay, and your report has whetted my appetite more now.
Thanks.

tony -have you managed to narrow down any of your lists yet?, what do you look for when you are planning a trip

Hi Amanada. Still got the blues?

When looking for somewhere to go, I onviously try to leave out places I have been before. I look for somewhere with a good extent of slopes, around 150km usually or more, high enough skiing altitude, and snow record. WTSS gives me excellent info on all of these. It also helps if the lift system is modern and fairly fast. Serre Che was reported as being painful to get about, and it was certainly slow and at times annoying with a lack of modern lifts. I prefer some nightlift to take or leave, but its not the main feature.
Once I have narrowed down the resort, I try and get accommodation!
i dont ask for much!!!

thats a good checklist to go by, i dont have the blues as i only have 16 sleeps to go yippee. have you any views on Courmayer, school going next year have you heard any reports on that?