 Poster: A snowHead
|
|
So it looks like we're off to Cortina d'Ampezzo in March. I understand it's a proper town with some ski areas. Any tips would be great. Where to go? How to get about? Stuff to do for those not skiing whilst looking after very small children? We'll be quite a large group of various abilities from decent skier's and snowboarders to 2nd week beginners. I thank you.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
The best thing in Cortina for me was going up to Rifugio Lagazuoi and skiing the hidden valley all the way down to the horse tow and taxi back. I think it would be absolutely crazy to go to Cortina and not do it. It was just spectacular on several levels
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
The thing I like about Cortina is that it is utterly distinctive; wherever you are you know exactly where you are.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
I'm off to Cortina in Feb, having done a daytrip over from Arabba a few years back where we skied both sides of the valley (Tofana & Faloria/Cristallo), good variety of runs and panoramic views all around.
The beginners area around Lacedel/Pecol is very extensive with great progression runs.
Hidden Valley & Cinque Torri are spectacular, but a bus ride away.
The town is very pleasant, wealthy Italians with fur coats and lapdogs and the evening Passegiata around the wine bars when the beautiful people come out.
Getting about, there are skibuses that run around a circuit in Cortina linking the two cablecars to the main hotel areas and there's a bus service out to Cinque Torri & Lagazuoi.
Little kids, not sure, but most Italians ski as a family, so I'd be surprised if they aren't catered for.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
@Snow Hound, it's a lovely place - I would say all the areas around it as above are worth skiing and seeing - the cable cars to Faloria and Tofana (and Lagazuoi) will be ok for small children (at non peak times!) and have restaurants at the top. The views from anywhere are spectacular.
Where in Cortina are you staying - it is quite spread out? A car is very useful!
This is my review from last visit in April: - http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?p=3052340&highlight=#3052340
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
Cortina is stuck in a time warp. Some people see that as a negative, but I love it. Rickety old lifts, table clothes and laid back service at restaurants, people who take time to stand and stare rather than clock up 300km in a week. It is soo relaxing. You 'll have a great week.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
That's great thanks. Our hotel is right in the centre with the Faloria gondola the closest by a smidge. The kids are babies, our son won't even be one, so too little for lessons. What about the link to Alta Badia? Looking at the piste map it seems as though a bus and a horse are involved? Very intriguing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tip - book restaurants on mountain, it might not be busy but many people don’t come to ski they come to do lunch. also check out what the hotel provides eg minibus and concierge -might be better than trying to sort the daily plan (!)yourself
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
My Cortina tip is go for the 1500cc engine rather than the 1200cc.
It has a 5 bearing crank rather than 3. Its just that much tougher an engine.
I'm puzzled why there are very few girls called Cortina compared with boys called Morris, as so many were conceived in the back seat.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cortina is faded decadence of the 1956 winter olympics. Wealthy Milanese have second homes there. Take a walk down the famous shopping street and observe elderly ladies wearing diamonds and fur walking their poodles. I particularly liked the very posh but dated tea shop, I was surprised only to receive a small bill.  . The ski areas are disjointed and the lifts are of 50's vintage but was not crowded and there are a couple of exhilarating runs which I must experience again before I hang up my boots.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
| DrLawn wrote: |
My Cortina tip is go for the 1500cc engine rather than the 1200cc.
It has a 5 bearing crank rather than 3. Its just that much tougher an engine.
I'm puzzled why there are very few girls called Cortina compared with boys called Morris, as so many were conceived in the back seat. |
Well it looks s better than calling your daughter Escort or Fiesta 😛
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
When I've bee in in Cortina I stay at the villa Argentina which is out of town but ski in ski out.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| luigi wrote: |
| I'm off to Cortina in Feb, having done a daytrip over from Arabba a few years back where we skied both sides of the valley (Tofana & Faloria/Cristallo), good variety of runs and panoramic views all around... |
That sounds like a fun day out. Would you mind letting us know how you arranged that day trip from Arabba. Is there a bus service? Ta
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
| ALQ wrote: |
| luigi wrote: |
| I'm off to Cortina in Feb, having done a daytrip over from Arabba a few years back where we skied both sides of the valley (Tofana & Faloria/Cristallo), good variety of runs and panoramic views all around... |
That sounds like a fun day out. Would you mind letting us know how you arranged that day trip from Arabba. Is there a bus service? Ta |
It was arranged by the Tour Op, SkiTotal, which no longer serves Arabba, I believe. The rep took a few of us in a minibus for €20 each. The Dolomiti Superski pass was valid in Cortina too.
Other tour ops may do similar. If you're independent, I don't think there's a public bus, but maybe you could arrange something with the taxi guys in the square in Arabba, I know they go up to Falzarego.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
All I can say is that it's a little piece of heaven!
There are lots of lines not joined up and it is like stepping back in time a little but boy it has something for everyone.
Some the best piste runs I have come across and the views, oh the views . . . . the food is good and terrific value as is the Vino.
All in all my fave.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
| Snow Hound wrote: |
| That's great thanks. Our hotel is right in the centre with the Faloria gondola the closest by a smidge. The kids are babies, our son won't even be one, so too little for lessons. What about the link to Alta Badia? Looking at the piste map it seems as though a bus and a horse are involved? Very intriguing. |
That's the Hidden Valley that guys have been talking about. The run that goes from the top of the Falzrego/Lagazuoi cable car down to the Horse-Tow at Armentarola in the Alta Badia area.
If you get the first bus up to Falzarego/Lagazuoi cablecar, you can do the Hidden Valley, take the Horse Tow to link into the Alta Badia area. You could then continue on the anti-clockwise Great War circuit, which would eventually (after a lot of skiing and 2 more bus trips) bring you back to Cinque Torri at the end of the day, where you can get the bus back down to Cortina. It's a long day, so check the map below & relevant bus timetables.
http://www.dolomitisuperski.com/documents/pdf/GrandeGuerra_web.pdf
Alternatively, after doing the Hidden Valley you could just play about in the Alta Badia area and then catch a taxibus back from Armentarola up to Falzarego and ski the Averau Troi circuit and catch the skibus back to Cortina from the bottom of Cinque Torri (Bai de Dones) at the end of the day.
http://lagazuoi5torri.dolomiti.org/dengl/cortina/laga5torri/inverno/averautroi.html#
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
