Latest posts for the topic "Dolomities or any other good slopes in Italy - it must be ski in/out (or almost)"

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

Mon, 9 Nov 2015 17:17:59 GMT

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.

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

Thu, 12 Nov 2015 14:22:32 GMT

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.

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

Thu, 12 Nov 2015 18:35:53 GMT

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.

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

Thu, 12 Nov 2015 23:17:13 GMT

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

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

Fri, 13 Nov 2015 15:10:15 GMT

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.

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

Fri, 13 Nov 2015 17:20:09 GMT

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.

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

Fri, 13 Nov 2015 20:48:20 GMT

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

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

Sat, 14 Nov 2015 01:01:02 GMT

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!

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

Sat, 14 Nov 2015 11:17:50 GMT

The Planibel apartments in La Thuile are virtually ski in-ski out - not easy runs at the bottom of the hill, though

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

Sun, 15 Nov 2015 01:36:50 GMT

dobby wrote:The Planibel apartments in La Thuile are virtually ski in-ski out - not easy runs at the bottom of the hill, though

Agreed, Dobby. Best to just shut your eyes!!!

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

Sun, 15 Nov 2015 10:31:06 GMT

Mrs Dobby was well and truly "bundled" by some nutty French kid on one of the blacks down to the bottom of La Thuile. She ended up in a heap. He ended up in the catch netting.....

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

Sun, 15 Nov 2015 13:14:08 GMT

dellaga wrote: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.

I was in St Moritz last Jan when they hosted the women racing. One slope was closed, and it actually made for even quieter pistes as the majority of people who went up the lifts were watching the skiing and not doing much themselves. I wouldn't imagine it would interfere with your holiday.

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

Wed, 18 Nov 2015 17:12:29 GMT

Hi babo
I have skied in the Dolomites every January for the last 10plus years it is amazing if you have children or you go to ski school Selva val Gardena is amazing you can book apartments or hotels that are on or very close to the danterceppies piste which has lift system of its own you can then ski into the village and go onto the champanoii lift up to the top of the sella Ronda there are so many great long runs around that area and you an stay out all day if you can ski hard you can do the whole of the sella Ronda in a day

I have stayed in most for the ski villages around the sella Ronda over the last 20 odd years and have found arraba to be quite steep for children

Selva has great resturants and shops

Hope that is of some use

Macjayski

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

Wed, 18 Nov 2015 23:56:14 GMT

You could also try http://www.altabadia.org/en/italian-alps-dolomites/villages/colfosco.html as one of the options.

The main UK half-term week can get very busy if it coincidences with a Carnival holiday week in Europe. I think it is a week earlier than feb half-term in 2016 thus should be a little quieter but the UK companies charge the same (high) prices anyway.

We're going to explore Ortisei and surroundings this time around:)
The Dolomites are stunning wherever you go, hope you'll find a right place for your family.

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

Thu, 19 Nov 2015 17:51:59 GMT

Ortisei is quite pretty and the biggest of the three villages.
you can go up to Seceda and ski back to town via La Longia 11km run that really deserves a try.
Seceda itself has some long runs, the only thing is that it can get quite windy, and the main lift is long and has no cover.
Oh well, you'll warm up again as you ski down!

On the other side of Ortisei you get to Alpe di Siusi.
Great skiing wherever you go

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

Tue, 22 Dec 2015 21:47:11 GMT

La Thuile is great, you also get a couple of away days on your lift pass to visit Pila/Courmayeur so might be worth considering doing that when the races are on. We went last year during the Special Olympics, crowding wasn't a problem and it was so lovely seeing the (mainly downs) youngsters having such a fab time, we went to watch their closing parade in the village, what a great experience.
The little butcher/Deli within the Planibel complex is great. Worth noting that swimming pool entry is free if you stay in the hotel but you pay if you self cater, they only allow proper swim wear so any males in your group need to take proper trunks not baggy beach shorts and swimming caps are mandatory unless you are bald!