 Poster: A snowHead
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| 8611 wrote: |
| dublin2 wrote: |
re Winter tyres, it is unlikely these will be on a hire car, unfortunately |
anyone know any operators in Italy that are good for these? Certainly got them once in bergamo was pure luck though, think it was the only one in their fleet |
I was offered cars with snow tyres at Venice Marco Polo with Hertz a few weeks back, but they wanted €45-55 a day on top of my prepaid rental of a Focus Estate which was only £100 for 5days.
The weather wasn't forecast to be that bad and I was only going up to Alleghe at 1000m, so I took the car with summer tyres and snowchains. It did snow in Alleghe while I was there, but just stayed local that day. Drove up to Arabba one day and there was a bit of slush about, you just have to drive a bit more carefully and think about your braking, just like winter driving in the UK.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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For a recent trip from Milan I booked with Hertz, specifying a group R "Jeep Cherokee or similar" on a rate that included the "winterised fee". Here's what the booking confirmation said:
Your Vehicle:
Intermediate, Estate, Automatic, Aircon (Group R) IWAR
(R) Jeep Cherokee or similar
Payment method: : Pay at Location
5 Days at 57.23 EUR 286.15 EUR
Included in the rates
Tax
Location Service Charge (LSC)
Vehicle Licence Fee (VLF)
Theft Protection (Excess Applies)
Winterised Fee*
Unlimited Free Kilometers Included
Customer Remarks
We are driving to the mountains to go skiing, so 4WD please
*Winterised Fee
Please note that from 15 Nov to 15 Apr many cities are required by law to restrict the circulation to only vehicles equipped with snow chains or winter tyres. For a summary of the orders, please visit www.poliziadistato.it.
To comply with the regulations, in the locations subject to this requirement, vehicles are equipped with snow chains - the price is included in the rental charges under the item “Winterisation Fee”.
Hertz offers vehicles equipped with snow chains in the following Italian regions: Valle D’Aosta, Piedmont, Lombardy, Veneto, Trentino Alto Adige, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Liguria, Emilia Romagna, Tuscany, Umbria, Marche, Lazio (Rome excluded), Abruzzo, Molise, Campania (only Benevento and Avellino), Puglia (only Foggia) and Basilicata.
In these regions, all vehicles are automatically equipped with snow chains for an additional fee of EUR 1.83 (including tax) per day with a maximum of EUR 27.45 (including tax) per rental. This price is included in your rental charges under the item “Winterisation Fee”.
On arrival we were shown to a knackered Vauxhall Zafira people carrier with summer tyres and no chains.
I am in the process of taking this up with Hertz, but seeing as they can't be bothered to respond I'll post the story here. FWIW, I am a frequent renter and a long time top-tier member of Hertz's Gold Plus Five Star loyalty program.
This is an industry that treats its customers with contempt, and has a terrible reputation for a reason. I thought I had done all I could possibly do to ensure I would have a suitable car for a family skiing trip.
Be warned!
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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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Yeah I used that link above, cost was 135 euro for four days. Used xe and economy rentals to get car for 22 euro for four days (yes 22 euro). Allegedly with free snow chains. So fingers crossed I won't need them or if I do I will get them...
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My Hertz car out of Venice Marco Polo had a set of chains in the boot, never been used. The summer tyres got me up the frozen gritted crud on the access road to my B&B in Alleghe. A nice man with with a JCB and scraper bucket goes round the village clearing snow as soon as it falls, so no problems getting out either. The main roads were so well used and gritted, nothing had a chance to stick at that altitude.
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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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We have booked with Hertz Venice. Rental specifies a Fiat Punto 4x4 with winter tyres .........or similar ! Cost for 8 days is £150 .......... We expect to get a 4x4 with winter tyres. Surely ?? I will let you know how we get on.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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lol good luck gufo, I suppose its Hertz so you'd hope you're safe enough
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@IanTr, shocking. I remember hiring a car with Hertz from Malpensa some years ago. Over 60k on the clock and we had to note over 30 major scratches and dents in the bodywork before we set out. It does seem to me that in general terms Italy is a much worse place to rent a car than neighbouring Austria and Germany and often we have chosen to fly to those countries when visiting the South Tyrol for that reason. Shame really.
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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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| Gufo wrote: |
| We have booked with Hertz Venice. Rental specifies a Fiat Punto 4x4 with winter tyres .........or similar ! Cost for 8 days is £150 .......... We expect to get a 4x4 with winter tyres. Surely ?? I will let you know how we get on. |
When you say "Rental specifies", did you pay an additional fee for "Reserve this exact model"? If not, Hertz's weasel-phrase "or similar"* will apply so you'll be getting pot-luck over type of car including transmission.
In Hertz's opinion, a front-wheel drive Vauxhall Zafira with summer tyres is "similar" to a 4WD Jeep Cherokee with winter tyres as it is "..comparable in size and performance".
You may (of course) be lucky and get what you're expecting. I wasn't - see my earlier post.
*Or Similar - what does it mean?
The term 'Or Similar' indicates that the vehicle you rent may not be the exact make and model as the vehicle displayed, although it will be from the same car group, meaning that it will be comparable in size and performance to that vehicle.
The actual vehicle you rent will depend on the makes and models available at the time within the car group you request. If we are unable to provide a vehicle in your requested car group, we will provide a vehicle from the next available car group up at no extra charge.
Last edited by You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net. on Thu 3-03-16 9:01; edited 1 time in total
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Some heavy overnight falls all across the Dolomites last night:
Cortina: 35cm
Val gardena: 40cm
Alta Badia: 20 cm
Val Di fassa: 45cm
Val Di FIemme: 40cm
Obereggen: 40cm
Sextner: 50cm
Civetta: 60cm
The ALta Badia overnight fall of 20cm looks very suspect to me though. Not sure where they take that depth reading. Looked like quite heavy snow for a long period last night according to the radar and livecams
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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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Looks like lots more to come on Saturday - the GPS spike is massively tall
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San Martino Di Castrozza
03 March 2016
Around 15-30 cm overnight.
Hard to tell as it's blowing a gale.
All lifts in the area on wind hold until the PM 
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You know it makes sense.
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@pjd, Saturday appears to be the one day all the weather sites agree on. Loads of snow! Should make our transfer interesting. Most sites also agree that there will be some snow on Sunday as well, but they disagree on how much. After that, they all still have different forecasts, although the general trend seems to be less snow as the week goes on, which is fine by me.
What strength winds normally make them close lifts down? If we have a few days travelling around (from Pozza) I want to ensure that we are not going to get stranded. If they do close the lifts and you already have a pass do they compensate you at all?
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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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@EdYarker, we're on a transfer on Saturday too- might be interesting 
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Poster: A snowHead
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@EdYarker, re the winds, I've never found that the 'valley' lifts shut - eg around Plan de Gralba in the Gardena, but on several occasions have found that when we got to the passes the lifts there were shut - maybe the wind was around 40/50 km an hour.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Quote: |
@EdYarker, we're on a transfer on Saturday too- might be interesting
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If it means having a load of new snow for the week I'm happy for some minor delays on the journey. We are with a TO so at least don't have to worry about driving with chains etc.
@pjd, Thanks for that. At the moment there is no forecast for high winds next week but I will keep an eye on that. there is plenty to do in the Val di Fassa, so if valley lifts stay open we will be fine. Just need to choose our days carefully for SR and Marmalada etc.
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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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Headed for Alta Badia on Saturday and flying in to Innsbruck (TO). With the forecast, do the seasoned travellers amongst you anticipate we're in for a long transfer?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Taken at one of the restaurants above Corbara & San Cassiano this morning.
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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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| HelenS wrote: |
| Headed for Alta Badia on Saturday and flying in to Innsbruck (TO). With the forecast, do the seasoned travellers amongst you anticipate we're in for a long transfer? |
It's quite possible. Especially if you are unable to land at Innsbruck. I'd be watching the weather there as well in the resort.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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UPDATE
San Martino Di Castrozza
03 March 2016
All lifts closed all day
Tomorrow is set fair and calm. Fingers crossed.
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ahh!! Went to Selva last year for a week in March. It's just a fantastic ski area and love the restaurants and ambience. Looking at the webcams today looks like they've had a rare good dump which means it will be even better. Whoever is going in next couple of weeks is I for a real treat. Off to Tignes in a week snow will be great but always a place in my heart for this area. Fantastic!!
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| Arteta10 wrote: |
| Whoever is going in next couple of weeks... |
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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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| HelenS wrote: |
| Headed for Alta Badia on Saturday and flying in to Innsbruck (TO). With the forecast, do the seasoned travellers amongst you anticipate we're in for a long transfer? |
The huge spike in GFS is skewed towards the end of the day at the moment so you might be ok depending on your departure time
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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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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@pjd, excellent I think we should arrive in Selva early afternoon
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| 8611 wrote: |
| lol good luck gufo, I suppose its Hertz so you'd hope you're safe enough |
Hertz came up trumps. We got our 4x4 with winter tyres ! Only 5000 k on clock and in great condition. Office even checked the state of the passes for us before we set off for Corvara. Arrived ahead of the snowfall. it's been heavy all day and still going strong as we approach evening. At least 40 cm forecast so no ski for us today but hopefully tomorrow!
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You know it makes sense.
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If the webcams are anything to go by Madonna di Campiglio looks to have had about half a metre of snow in places.. 
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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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Well we have arrived in Selva, just sat in the bar at the hotel and it's tipping it down! 
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Poster: A snowHead
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We got into Corvara this afternoon over the pass from Val Gardena, but the road wasn't great, luckily we have a 4x4 with Winter tyres. Our friends are coming up from Venice in a hire car, no winter tyres as they asked for and the snow chains they were given are broken. Six hours so far and they are still an hour away!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Hope they make it ok
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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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Just to follow on from previous post...snow is so bad they are stuck 8k outside Corvara. Tow truck on way to get them.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@Goliard, sorry to hear that. Nuts that , as said above, that winter tyres are not routinely available in Italy
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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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Update and info for anybody heading to Corvana, we have just been informed the road from Arabba is currently closed. There were coaches struggling to get through earlier, don't know if this is the cause. Our friends are still stuck and the truck can't get through to them.
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| Goliard wrote: |
| Update and info for anybody heading to Corvana, we have just been informed the road from Arabba is currently closed. There were coaches struggling to get through earlier, don't know if this is the cause. Our friends are still stuck and the truck can't get through to them. |
Hope they are safe and end up getting rescued somehow. Suspect they may have to go back to Arraba and stay overnight somewhere.
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It would appear the road is blocked in both directions. Our friends haven't had a car go past either way for half an hour.
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| Goliard wrote: |
| It would appear the road is blocked in both directions. Our friends haven't had a car go past either way for half an hour. |
That is absolutely awful. Please keep us informed and again I hope they are safe and get rescued. Just been looking at the Corvara village livecam and seeing the diggers clearing the snow from the streets. Looks like it was a heavy fall
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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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Dumped all day in San Martino Di Castrozza.
Started around 8am, still pumping down.
At least 40cm.
Face shots galore even though it was wet. Well wetter than I'm used to.
But steep, old growth forests for 800 or so vertical metres more than made up for it 
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FAQ
