J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by lynnemale

Tyche - same as us! Stayed in La Thuile last year and have booked to Sestriere this year! It sounds as if it doesn't have the same charm as La Thuile (which I would be happy to go to again and again), but my partner had really exhausted the blacks there so we thought about the Milky Way and Sestriere seemed the best value. Sauze sounds fantastic, but was higher priced and I don't think the accommodation was as close to the slopes and mostly inaccessible other than by walking.

Amazing resort. I first skied there when staying at Courmayeur and much preferred it so that's where we went the following season with my 14 year old son. We stayed at the Planibel Apartments. I suggest you read the reviews on Trip Advisor (I've put one on) so you know what to expect. After reading the reports I was actually far more pleasantly surprised overall. Be prepared for your room not to be ready on arrival in resort and don't expect a well-equipped kitchen. Also, take ear plugs if you're a light sleeper. As for the skiing, it's just out of this world, although both years there had been a lot of snow. At times, even on the easy blues, there were no other people about. For complete beginners there's a couple of nursery runs directly opposite the Apartments with a travelator. There are lots of good reds for beginner intermediates/good intermediates and some challenging blacks. It's a very easy walk back to the Apartments from the gondola/off the mountain (red/black only though). If you want a proper meal there are some superb restaurants if you walk up into the main part of La Thuile. I'm sure you'll all have a fantastic holiday.

I was going to recommend La Thuile, but see you've already been there and don't consider it suitable for beginners because of there being no easy runs back to the resort. I went to Courmayeur two seasons ago and would definitely not recommend it for beginners. It's been downgraded to being less suitable for beginners since I went. On our pass that year we could go to La Thuile for one day. I loved it and I think that resort is the only reason I had the confidence to ski again the following season - at La Thuile. OK, so the only way off the mountain from the main slopes is by gondola, but the wealth of blue runs all next to each other makes that worth it. There is a blue back to resort if you go up on the chair lift next to the nursery slopes. The reds are also fantastic for beginner or rusty intermediates. I would love to go back there, but my OH suggested trying another resort so we're going to Sestriere. Hope it's as good there as La Thuile.