Messages posted by : AllyG
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Hi Brooksy,
I only put 2 of us down on the sleeps thread for Folgarida because most people don't know which day they're leaving on, and you were away on holiday when Far Queue asked me to add him to the list, and I never add anyone to the list without checking first. Of course you're still coming :) And since you're going in the car with FQ I expect you'll be leaving on Saturday 1st as well, so I'll add you on to the list 'pronto' - just practising my Italian ;) Edit Done it now - you're on the list - previous page :) |
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List of J2Skiers off ski-ing/boarding, with the number of sleeps/days left updated to today, Monday 25th March.
Tonypants is at the top of the list today :thumbup: Tonypants going to Alpe D'Huez in 5 days on the 30/03/2013 Bald-eagleman going to Passo Tonale in 11 days on the 05/04/2013 Gaz C going to Val Thorens in 26 days on the 20/04/2013 Bedrock Barney going to Tignes in 117 days on the 20/07/2013 Brooksy going to Chamonix in 271 days on the 21/12/2013 Bedrock Barney going to Val d'Isere in 272 days on the 22/12/2013 AllyG going to Folgarida in 313 days on the 01/02/2014 Far Queue going to Folgarida in 313 days on the 01/02/2014 Brooksy going to Folgarida in 313 days on the 01/02/2014 Bald-eagleman going to Sansicario in 407 days on the 06/05/2014 |
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Thanks Dobby, that was a great report :thumbup:
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Thanks :) I didn't know it was only 400m to the gondola. That's about the same distance as we walked from the Bonjour Bonjour chalet to the gondola in Tignes les Brevieres. Which gondola is it close to? I think there are 2 in Folgarida. |
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The hotel in Folgarida that we're going to stay in is called the Gran Baita. There's a photo of it here taken from Trip Advisor:
 It's not next to the slopes/lifts, unfortunately, but it's within walking distance of the village and the hotel run a shuttle bus to and from the lift. We will be arriving there on Sunday 2nd February 2014, and leaving on Sunday 9th February. The hotel has agreed prices with me for our rooms. The price includes half-board, with dining in the hotel's own restaurant, free use of the gym, sauna, wi-fi in the lobby, billiards room, lift, ski lockers, shuttle bus to the lift, and private parking. A double/twin room is 700 euros for 2 people, and a triple is 990 euros. We have to pay extra for flights and transfers, lift passes, ski/board hire, and lessons if we want them.
BA and Monarch flights are on sale already. BA return from Gatwick to Verona (VRN), the closest airport, is currently available at £107 including luggage. There is a public shuttle bus between Folgarida and the airports of Milan Bergamo and Verona (VRN), and this season a return only costs 32 euros. http://flyskishuttle.com/ It takes about 3 1/2 hours on the shuttle bus, because it stops in several places. A direct taxi between Verona airport and Folgarida, in good conditions, takes about 2 hours. But this season there's only one bus per day on Sundays, so we may well end up hiring a mini-bus taxi to carry some members of the group. Prices from Italiabus.it for a mini-bus taxi were 328 euros for an 8-seater between Verona aiport and Folgarida, which works out at 41 euros per person, single trip, if we fill the mini-bus. There is also a somewhat convoluted train route between these airports (and Venice Marco Polo, and Innsbruck) and Folgarida. Plus, of course, there is always the option of hiring a car at the airport for a week and driving there and back. I don't know which firm is the cheapest for car hire, but I looked at Rentalcars.com and the prices I got for a week's hire from Verona airport were £185 for a Fiat Punto, and £222 for a Volkswagen Golf. Snow chains are available but you have to pay extra for them. Some people are going to drive all the way out there and back. I am planning on getting there and back on the train, going on the Eurostar from St Pancras and using the Thello sleeper train between Paris and Verona, and then another couple of trains plus a bus/taxi to Folgarida. If I manage to buy the tickets early enough it might cost me £150 return in a 6 person couchette. By doing this I should be able to get 7 1/2 days of ski-ing :) I looked at the price of ski hire with Skiset, for this season,and it looked cheap enough, after their discount. 'Blue' skis and boots were only 50 euros, and 'performance' skis and boots 77 euros. http://folgarida.skiset.co.uk/ The area lift pass, which covers Folgarida, Madonna di Campiglio, Passo Tonale, and a couple of other places, costs 247 euros for an adult, 6 day, high season pass, this season. It covers 380 Km piste, which sounds very impressive, but unfortunately only 150 Km of that is lift and piste linked. It takes about 45 minutes to drive to Passo Tonale, and although there is a free ski bus there it goes from a village close by, Dimaro Ponte, not Folgarida. So if we decide to go to Passo Tonale on a day trip we'd have to get a taxi to that village. The 150 Km of linked piste is at Folgarida (60 Km), Madonna di Campiglio (58 Km), Pinzolo (30 Km). There seem to be several ski schools. The Azzurra ski school does adult group lessons from Monday to Thursday, with 2 hours in the morning on Monday to Wednesday and 4 hours on Thursday, making a total of 10 hours for which they charge 110 euros in high season. http://www.scuolaitalianasciazzurra.it/folgarida/prices-eng.html http://www.skirama.it/EN/Ski-pass-dolomites/ I have never been to Folgarida, but from reading the reviews and website descriptions, we think that it will be suitable for boarders, beginners,and intermediates. It's not as good for advanced and expert skiers as, say, St Anton, but there are some challenging pistes and off-piste areas. And it does look very pretty! :) The reason we're staying in a hotel in Folgarida, and not Madonna di Campiglio, is because the hotels in Folgarida are much cheaper! Folgarida is not a party town. It is apparently more suited to families. We currently have 16 people who are committed to coming with us, and 8 more (not counting Ian W) who would like to come but have to wait to sort out issues with work/family etc. Out of the 17 members of the group who came with us to Tignes in January, 16 would have liked to come to Folgarida, and 15 are still hoping to do so :) Old Boarder is the first one of us to buy plane tickets out there for himself and his 2 kids. So we will have at least 3 boarders in the group :) Jadavi definitely wants to come, but she's looking for a female room buddy to share with. If there is anyone reading this that would like to come with us, would you please let me know, either by posting on here or by sending me a pm. Thanks :) The total cost of the holiday will depend on several factors. This would probably be one of the cheaper scenarios: Flight = £105 Return transfer = £30 Half-board hotel = 350 euros = ? £315 6 day area lift pass = 247 euros = ? £220 Performance ski and boot hire = 77 euros = £70 Total = £740 This is what J2Ski has to say about Madonna di Campiglio: http://www.j2ski.com/ski_resorts/Italy/Madonna_di_Campiglio.html And this is what it says about Folgarida: http://www.j2ski.com/ski_resorts/Italy/Folgarida.html |
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Well, how about Courchevel 1650 then? It is expensive, but you didn't say anything about cost. And I've actually been there myself and I think it would be great for kids, beginners, and lower intermediates - and those who want to ski miles and miles could ski the whole 3 Valleys - that's 600 Km - surely enough? |
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Have you thought about Niederau? I haven't been there myself, but I know people who have, and they say it is very good for kids, beginners, and lower intermediates :)
And the ski area has recently expanded, so I should think it would be even better than it was before :) |
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That's great news Nelly :)
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