J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by Gaz C

Great report. Sorry the St. Anton trip didn't work out but it doesn't look like you were exactly 'slumming it' there -) . I really fancy a proper crack at Switzerland (Verbier and Zermatt are on the bucket list) and your report has whetted my appetite even more. :thumbup:

That's precisely why prices are so low. That's not to say it isn't worth taking a chance on; as long as you know what you are getting.

Ally, the Gran Baita is in Folgarida 1300 and is about 400m from the gondola shown as 1 (Folgarida) on the piste map.
http://www.snow-forecast.com/resorts/Folgarida/pistemap_full

The other gondola, 2 (Belvedere) serves Folgarida 1400 which is a 10-minute bus-ride away. Both gondolas go up to the same place (Malghet Aut) which is where you may have to queue (5-10 mins) at busy times for the 4-man chair-lift that takes you up Spolverino and away from the nursery slopes. From there you ski to the chair-lift that takes you up Monte Vigo where you then decide to head for Marilleva (nice skiing, hideous concrete buildings) or Madonna di Campiglio (super skiing, classy town). If you go to MdC you will need a full area lift-pass. Anyone wanting to do big mileage can buy a 6-day pass. People wanting to go for just one day can buy a one-day extension to their Folgarida/Marilleva pass at the kiosk at the
bottom of the Malghette piste 10, indicated by a brown square with the words 'SKI PASS' on the map.

There is some great skiing in MdC and you'll really get a sense of travelling if you ski the Groste or the Doss del Sabion. The home runs (black and blue) to 1300 are lovely. The red to 1400 is great too. Nice little bar about two thirds the way down that red. So nice we overstayed and missed the last lift back up :oops: . No problem there is a frequent free bus back to 1300. Hope this helps :D .

Nice one. :thumbup: Like the comment about the roll-cage and ff crash helmet :lol: .Feeling your pain with the speed freak kids. Now then, where's that sandpaper :lol: .

Stayed at the Gran Baita three years ago. Nice 3* hotel run by lovely people. Very good food when we were there. Italian guests that we kept in touch with returned the following year and commented on how many Eastern European staff and guests were there. It's only 400m from the gondola (too far in ski-boots) but the hotel shuttle bus takes 3 minutes and runs at your convenience. It also brings you back (between 3:30 and 5:30, I think). If the bus isn't waiting at the lift station it will be running other guests back to the hotel. It will be back in 5 minutes. The driver Simone is a really nice guy. We would have returned the next year too but it wasn't available for the dates we could travel so we stayed at the Hotel Renzi (100m from the gondola and still ran a shuttle-bus). That was nice too :)

I think £740 all in is a good deal. :thumbup:

jastem wrote:I agree with GazC re Folgarida. There are two beginner slopes which are separate from the main pistes, so you can learn to ski without the fear of being mown down by other skiers. A very gentle slope then takes you back to the gondola or to the long blue back to the village. There are several friendly bars/cafes where the 'minder' can keep an eye on the beginners. For the rest of you, the skiing in Marilleva or Madonna is superb.

I'd forgotten about the two side-by-side beginner slopes! :oops: They are the ones served by the short, parallel drag-lifts at the top of the 'Bambi' chair. I think the 'progression' of the pistes in Folgarida is ideal for beginners/low intermediates. I got as much satisfaction from skiing the blue (Azzura) down to 1300 and the red (Belvedere) down to 1400 with the children as I did from skiing 'Le Tunnel' at Alpe d'Huez.

Alpe d'Huez! Now there's another possibility! -)

What about 'the next village', ie Folgarida. No green runs but the blue 'Bambi' piste' is the easiest I've ever seen. The blue 'Panoramica' is a natural progression from there. Lots of nice 'cruisy' reds and a few blues between the top of Monte Spolverino and Marilleva, plus the option to extend your lift-pass if you want to ski MdC. 1300 is a little quiet at night, but the Eta Beta bar is good fun if you catch it at the right time.1400 appered a little busier when we skied there but I don't know what it's like in the evening. Been to 1300 twice with my tribe. PM me if you want any more details. Hope this helps.

That's the one. Off out now for a few (German, by the way ;-) )
I'll bet the OP wishes she'd posted on 'Netmums' for all the help she's received on here :-D .You have a good night too;-)