 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi All,
Myself and a mate are hitting northern Italy; my mate is brand spanking new beginner, I am early intermediate. I appreciate we have lots of choices of resort but its hard to pick out a good resort for beginners, good lift system plus some decent pubs to go to in the evening. We are both 40+ so not looking for a rave in the evenings. We will most likely be there mid-week.
Don't mind driving a reasonable distance, ideally under 2.5 hours.
We are in Italy as we are first taking in a football game.
Any suggestions welcome please.
Thanks
B.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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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For beginners, Seiseralm, Dolomites is ideal. Loads of piste side hotels, and alternating green and blue runs, plus easy access from the highway, pretty fast and straightforward driving. Don't know about night life, not my specialty. Or Ortesei - both give you access to the super dolomites area.
You didn't say from which Italian town you are coming from, which makes a difference on transfers though
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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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Livigno is high, great for beginners and, being duty free, has quite a lively atmosphere.
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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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+1 for Livigno
I have been there more than 25 times and it's great. Very high and snow sure as well.
Ouch!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@banchini,
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Don't mind driving a reasonable distance, ideally under 2.5 hours.
We are in Italy as we are first taking in a football game.
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When and where is your football game? Italian alps are quite big and some areas are closer to some Cities than others. Also resorts good in Feb may be less good end of March.
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Passo Tonale - great for beginners & early intermediates, cheap & about 2 hours drive from Milan. Some pretty lively bars including one of those Austrian style umbrella bars right by the slopes.
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Have a look at Ski-2 website for Champoluc. It's about 2 hours from Milan, nice town with some decent bars and Ski-2 have their own ski school with really excellent British instructors.
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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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| T Bar wrote: |
@banchini,
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Don't mind driving a reasonable distance, ideally under 2.5 hours.
We are in Italy as we are first taking in a football game.
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When and where is your football game? Italian alps are quite big and some areas are closer to some Cities than others. Also resorts good in Feb may be less good end of March. |
Hi T Bar - we are in Milan for the derby, so hoping to start Sking the next day Monday....
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Milan to Livigno is about 4 hours drive but would be great for your requirements.
I'd go to Sauze d'Olux if I was you. Slopes are handy enough and its within 2 1/2 hours drive. Towns good fun too.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Cervinia is a decent place to ski for beginners. There are a few bars that can get lively and a good enough range of restaurants.
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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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Maybe Madesimo (perhaps even staying by Lake Como and driving over each day) or Pila (from Aosta).
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@banchini,
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Hi T Bar - we are in Milan for the derby, so hoping to start Sking the next day Monday....
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Mmm fairly soon ,
The Aosta valley seems to have the best snow currently in Italy, some of the other resorts suggested such as Sauze d'oulx which may otherwise fit the bill don't appear to have much snow.
Of those suggested so far Cervinia Champoluc and Pila are all in the Aosta valley I have stayed in none of them but they may well be good. La Thuile where I have skied would probably suit you from a skiing point of view but is one of the deadest places I have been to for night life. Courmayeur is quite a fun place with good skiing and pleasant pubs and an attractive town.
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You know it makes sense.
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I would second Cervinia; nice slopes for beginners but also great terrain for intermediates and a large ski area, travel over the top to Zermatt in Switzerland or Valtournenche, next door village to Cervinia. The town isn't humming but nice bars and restaurants. It's got the best snow conditions in Italy at the moment, but when the wind is blowing it can close the resort as there are no trees. I was there last year with bright blue skies but no skiing due to high winds - very frustrating!
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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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Its a nightmare, we go out this Saturday/Sunday to Milan plan was to hit the slopes on Monday for 3/4 days...been looking at Passo Tonale (PT) and nearby resorts, its hard to get a "real" handle on what the state of play is snow wise, the hotels I am emailing seem to economical with truth, some of the webcams don't look particularly appealing, base level looks dry, other parts look patchy.... its seems PT has good snow making so maybe that explains why all the lifts/runs are open....
I like the idea of Cervinia but the weather wind issue does worry me, from what I can glean though Cervinia seems like it has a few decent bars and I like the idea of seeing glacier and the matterhorn and possible Zermatt.... I guess if its closed, you are not too far from Champoluc, Pila and Valtournenche....
I was looking at Sauze d'Olux, but again from what I am gleaning from the web, its not great down there snow wise....
tough call....
should have went to Washington... ! 
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Poster: A snowHead
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banchini simple. Drive up to the Dolomites
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FAQ
One usual downside is that as it is quite remote the transfers from airports are quite long (up to 5 hours coach transfer from Bergamo with a half hour stop midway!) but since you have your own transport and depending where you are starting from it could be a lot shorter than that.
