 Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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This might help with an overview of the resorts...there are many...
https://www.bergfex.com/italien/
Italian Alps cover a wide area...
Assuming you're looking to fly...where can you fly from and to??
That will make a difference to recommendations as you're going for a short duration, you don't want really long transfers.
Are you looking to DIY or go with a Tour Operator?
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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@Katski78, Luigi is a font of knowledge, I’d add to his info if your going for just 5 days, Milan Malpensa (MXP) has a better range of daily flights, it’s just over 2 hours to the Aosta valley, Pila staying in Aosta the easiest, further down the valley La Thuile or Courmayuer, Pila and La Thuile probably have the best suited runs for you.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Might be difficult to get a tour operator offering for just 5 days.
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Pila staying in Aosta the easiest
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Yes - fly to Turin, rent a car, find an apartment in Aosta, eat in a different restaurant every evening if you don't want to cook. Or stay in a hotel up in Pila - but evening options much more limited up there.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| luigi wrote: |
This might help with an overview of the resorts...there are many...
https://www.bergfex.com/italien/
Italian Alps cover a wide area...
Assuming you're looking to fly...where can you fly from and to??
That will make a difference to recommendations as you're going for a short duration, you don't want really long transfers.
Are you looking to DIY or go with a Tour Operator? |
Thanks @luigi
We'll be flying from Gatwick or Heathrow.
So can probably head to any airport.
Then will hire a car to drive to resort.
And will be sorting DIY.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@geoffknight,
Thank you for the airport and resort recommendations
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Before Christmas means requiring early snow cover.
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Accommodation shouldn't present any problem before Christmas (as long as it's before the "Christmas week" starts). Could maybe book flights early, when they're cheap, and leave a decision on resort till you see what the snow's like.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Sestriere high enough?
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Cervinia is a good shout. High and easily accessible from Turin.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Another vote for Pila (Aosta). The town Aosta has a lovely Christmas market, historic sights and restaurants. There's affordable apartments near the gondola station for Pila. Pila is great for intermediates.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Dolomites - because of the extensive SnowMaking
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| Orange200 wrote: |
| Sestriere high enough? |
Did Sestriere this Christmas and it was great, had an absolute blast, family loved it and there are some very cool runs, loads of snow....
....but, combined with iffy snowfall in the run-up (it hardly snowed 10 days prior), it also meant that exploring elsewhere was limited; some of the higher lifts and runs were closed because high winds had blown all the snow off, and the link to Sauze/Claviere didn't open until Boxing Day - think that's more down to cost saving from the lift company - and that coincided with the place is filled to the brim with Turin visitors. However, before they arrived it was incredibly quiet so I suspect, when there's half decent snowfall, it's a great option. Plus, I found the transfer from Turin very straightforward.
Interesting that a few families in or hotel had previously done Val Di Fassa and Dolomites at Crimbo and said it was excellent
Last edited by So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much  on Sat 18-01-25 13:25; edited 1 time in total
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You know it makes sense.
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Hotel Biancaneve in Val Gardena, note @albob’s point above re snowmaking though.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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We did five days pre-Christmas in 2023, in Courmayeur. Booked very cheap flights to Milan and waited to see what the snow looked like in the Aosta Valley. Easily found an Air BnB, skied one day in La Thuile, went to Aosta for the Christmas market one evening, and spent the ret of the time in Courmayeur, which was also lively and very Christmassy in the evenings.
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Poster: A snowHead
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My lad did Passo Tonale with his school a couple of years ago and really enjoyed it. I think they went 9-16th Dec and had really good snow cover.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@luigi,
Thank you for the bergfex link - spent ages yesterday looking at piste maps and the other info!
@geoffknight, @Origen, @Canuck, @rainman,thanks for the recommendation of the Aosta valley. Love the sound of the Christmas market in Aosta town.
@albob, thank you for the dolomites recommendation - that sent me down a black hole in the internet of research and looking at the sellaronda - fabulous 
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@abricotine, that hotel is just the sort of thing we are looking for! 
@Orange200, @surferrosa, @Specialman, @Agent Orange,
Have had friends and family visit sestriere, cervinia and passo tonale in February time, but good to know I can look at them for December too!
Thank you all.
Off to spend another day with my head in internet research - love it! 
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Dolomites snow making is excellent and reports are generally good pre xmas. Alta Badia resorts give access to superb blue cruising and in the Val Gardena Ortisei is very attractive with the Suisi ski area near by.
I like La Thuile but it wouldn't be top of my list as it is north facing and low down in the valley would be pretty gloomy at that time of year.
Cervinia and Sestriere are pretty high which is great in good weather but if you want tree lined skiing and the weather is a bit bleak may be less than ideal.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@T Bar, thank you for the info - good to note.
I'm really liking the sound of the dolomites
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@Katski78, for pre Christmas, leave it very late indeed to book. A couple of days before. You'll have the current conditions and the forecast. Demand is so low then you'll have loads of options.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| sean1967 wrote: |
| @Katski78, for pre Christmas, leave it very late indeed to book. A couple of days before. You'll have the current conditions and the forecast. Demand is so low then you'll have loads of options. |
Agree with this advice in principal the only slight problem is that for a short holiday if you want to book flights in advance airports that are convenient for Dolomites are not very convenient for Aosta and Western Italian resorts.
Mind if you took a flight to Innsbruck the dolomites are easily reachable and if they are not good Austria has a shedload of cruisey blue tree lined skiing and spa like hotels.
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@Katski78,
Exactly what dates are you looking at?
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@T Bar,
Good call flying to Innsbruck. Like you say, then we could do Austria if snow in the dolomites isn't as good.
Is there anywhere in Austria you would recommend for us?
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@Kenzie,
We're looking at 17th to 22nd December
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| Katski78 wrote: |
@Kenzie,
We're looking at 17th to 22nd December |
So thats four days skiing unless you are keen and travelling which allows the odd half day?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Katski78 wrote: |
@Kenzie,
We're looking at 17th to 22nd December |
So thats four days skiing unless you are keen and travelling which allows the odd half day?
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| Katski78 wrote: |
@Kenzie,
We're looking at 17th to 22nd December |
So the end of the pre-Christmas week and the start of Christmas week.
Would suggest La Thuile, with the chance to ski across to France, or Valtournenche or Cervinia, with the chance to ski across to Switzerland.
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| Katski78 wrote: |
@T Bar,
Good call flying to Innsbruck. Like you say, then we could do Austria if snow in the dolomites isn't as good.
Is there anywhere in Austria you would recommend for us? |
I guess if it's last minute because Dolomitic snow is not good it would heavily depend on where had snow.
Saalbach and Schladming get a lot of love, if the snow low down is poor you could look at Obergurgl or Obertauern.
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You know it makes sense.
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@Kenzie, @T Bar,
Great thank you for those
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Sestriere is high, but also extremely dry (low precipitation).
Far larger chance you have bad snow condition than Pila and the other resorts in Valle d'Aosta.
Two other downsides: their snowmaking is far below average. And they have the nasty tendency to close whole sectors when it is quiet, without any compensation.
So: in theory a nice resort. But meteorological challenged, and extremely customer unfriendly management.
Cervinia is extremely snowsure, but also vulnerable to wind closures.
La Thuile is very nice, but the remarks about being in the shade in midwinter are true.
Pila while staying in Aosta is by far your best option.
Ayas is your second best option.
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Poster: A snowHead
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[quote="T Bar"]Dolomites snow making is excellent and reports are generally good pre xmas. Alta Badia resorts give access to superb blue cruising and in the Val Gardena Ortisei is very attractive with the Suisi ski area near by.
This, have stayed in Alta Badia in various hotels and other accommodations pre Xmas and the extensive snow making means there are always pistes open even if surrounding area are snow lite.
Perhaps the below hotels may be of interest, both are on or very near the lifts for the Sella Ronda and have extensive spa facilities
https://www.granrisa.it/en/hotel-la-villa-italy/1-0.html
https://www.hotelarkadia.it/it/
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Katski78 wrote: |
@T Bar, thank you for the info - good to note.
I'm really liking the sound of the dolomites |
The Sella Ronda is very different and a must for at least a one off for the experience. Innsbruck is just under 2 hours from Selva (closest resort on the Ronda itself). Snow making excellent, but some years it has to be...
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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| T Bar wrote: |
| Katski78 wrote: |
@T Bar,
Good call flying to Innsbruck. Like you say, then we could do Austria if snow in the dolomites isn't as good.
Is there anywhere in Austria you would recommend for us? |
I guess if it's last minute because Dolomitic snow is not good it would heavily depend on where had snow.
Saalbach and Schladming get a lot of love, if the snow low down is poor you could look at Obergurgl or Obertauern. |
Only small issue some of those not the closest to Innsbruck, but if Innsbruck is the airport then there are other options alongside Obergurgl and Saalbach; Solden and Ischgl for example; snow sure, open early
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| Katski78 wrote: |
@Kenzie,
We're looking at 17th to 22nd December |
My daughter has done these sort of dates past two years in Italy. they went to Livigno one year - snow was good but its a long transfer for shortish trip
This Dec just gone they went to Champoluc / Frachey (Monterosa) (partly me and my son had been previous year).
Now Monterosa is crusey reds, not so much blues, but there are some nice hotels. Snow was good there too and all except small area above gressoney was open.
I would also echo that staying Aosta (Pila (mostly tree line cruisy blue & red) on your doorstep - La Thuile, Courmeyeur, Champoluc in easy-ish reach if you're prepared to do a bit of driving for variety would be good.
Or find a nice hotel in La Thuile or Courmeyeur and flip between the two - La Thuile has the most extensive and higher piste skiing of the two, but Courmeyeur more treelined
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Awkward dates - the christmas week will be 20 - 27 so finding good "ski resort" accommodation for just the first couple of days of that week will be difficult, as owners will be looking for a very lucrative rent for the whole week.
That also argues for Aosta, as it is not first and foremost a "ski town".
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