 Poster: A snowHead
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We are heading to the Birthday Bash in Arabba but decided to do a week in St Anton first and I'm now looking at options to transfer resorts.
Thanks to @admin I've managed to find a cheap and cheeky route from St Anton to San Lorenzen by train and then a bus from there to Arabba. We are a bit worried about taking all our ski luggage on the buses and if there would be room. There's also a lot of changes, 4 trains and 3 buses and some tight connections.
An alternative is to get the train to, say, Bolzano and hire a car to drive to Arabba but I've never driven in the alps before in winter. The cars do come with snow chains, which I've never used but I am a teeny bit nervous especially given my recent experience of getting to and from Tignes in heavy snow. 
Has anyone got experience of taking luggage on the buses? Do you know what would happen if a bus was delayed and would they wait for the connection? Or have you driven to Arabba and how difficult can it be in winter? Is it be easy to get the hang of snow chains etc?
Thanks
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Dmitri wrote: |
| ..I've never driven in the alps before in winter... |
Do it.
Like sex, everybody has to start somewhere - anticipate, gentle on throttle/brakes. The roads should be fairly clear (unless it dumps).
Plus you can drive to other nearby resorts while you're in Arabba.
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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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I caught a train and three busses on the way from Venice to Arabba. There was hardly anyone on them. The timetable suggested it was one bus, but the driver drops you by the side of the road and points to the next bus! It all seemed to work ok and i got there in the end.
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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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@Dmitri, if you decide to rent a car I'd recommend one with winter tyres fitted. I researched this recently so have a bit of info about who reliably offers winter tyres at VMP airport.
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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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That will put you in St Anton the same week we are there 26/1 - 2/2?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| tangowaggon wrote: |
| That will put you in St Anton the same week we are there 26/1 - 2/2? |
Yes that's right 
Where are you staying? We are east end, Sankt Jakober Strasse.
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@Dmitri, we’ve plenty of experience of taking luggage on buses and trains. Typically between us both we’d take one double padded wheeled ski bag or perhaps two separate unpadded ski bags, plus two 80-90L duffles and two 25-30L backpacks. Never had any issues travelling on any public transport in A, D, CH, northern Italy. Drivers/ conductors etc are well used to it!
While I do like having the car too, you can’t beat a good relaxing train trip through the alps and St Anton - Arraba will be fab fun. Get stocked up with wine, cheese, nibbles etc and enjoy a good picnic 
If the OeBB app/ website proposes a connection then even if it’s tight my experience is that it will be fine.
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We're at the otber end , on the main road out of the railway station & turn left, there's myself, matrski, northerngeezer and another.
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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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| ALQ wrote: |
| Like sex, everybody has to start somewhere - anticipate, gentle on throttle/brakes. |
Yeah, I remember that 
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| tangowaggon wrote: |
| We're at the otber end , on the main road out of the railway station & turn left, there's myself, matrski, northerngeezer and another. |
I know where you mean, stayed up there myself before. We'll have to get together for dinner sometime. 
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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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| Quote: |
Like sex, everybody has to start somewhere - anticipate, gentle on throttle/brakes.
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@ALQ, People have always told me that my point and squirt driving style never did me any favours, Now I might know what they meant
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| Inboard wrote: |
@Dmitri, we’ve plenty of experience of taking luggage on buses and trains. Typically between us both we’d take one double padded wheeled ski bag or perhaps two separate unpadded ski bags, plus two 80-90L duffles and two 25-30L backpacks. Never had any issues travelling on any public transport in A, D, CH, northern Italy. Drivers/ conductors etc are well used to it!
While I do like having the car too, you can’t beat a good relaxing train trip through the alps and St Anton - Arraba will be fab fun. Get stocked up with wine, cheese, nibbles etc and enjoy a good picnic
If the OeBB app/ website proposes a connection then even if it’s tight my experience is that it will be fine. |
+1 for this. Just come back from Lech using public transport and have done the Arraba trip twice. Room for ski gear on buses has never been a problem (of course, there's always a 'first time'..)
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You know it makes sense.
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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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| Matrski wrote: |
| Quote: |
Like sex, everybody has to start somewhere - anticipate, gentle on throttle/brakes.
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@ALQ, People have always told me that my point and squirt SEX style never did me any favours, Now I might know what they meant |
FIFY
You're doing a lot of Skiing this year mate. Are we meeting up some time? Lost track of who is doing what and when.
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Poster: A snowHead
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If you drive, remember cost of parking.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| pam w wrote: |
| If you drive, remember cost of parking. |
I’ve always parked for free behind portavescovo hotel, u just ask for barrier code at reception.
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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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@GlasgowCyclops, Possibly EOSB but that eats into next years holidays so not sure. What dates are you in Arabba? Essex has told me but I’ve forgotten, isn’t it usually Paul that goes off track on threads!
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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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@Matrski, the year I drove everywhere was covered in snow and that wasn't an option. Plus I had a cracked windscreen which needed protection from temperature extremes. It only got fixed the final day!
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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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| Matrski wrote: |
| @GlasgowCyclops, Possibly EOSB but that eats into next years holidays so not sure. What dates are you in Arabba? Essex has told me but I’ve forgotten, isn’t it usually Paul that goes off track on threads! |
I'm in Arabba from 24th Feb to 3rd march. I'll be on the EOSB though with Catwoman (AKA mrs Cyclops).
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@Matrski, yep I usually is Paul but he has been a good boy recently. Me I'm just killing time on the internet here in Shanghai (again). Thankfully day 3 so jet lagged has disappeared.
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Back on topic
I would drive. Make sure you have snow tyres and snow chains. Snow tyres will suffice for most but if not put on chains and factor inn20mph driving for a while.
Plus, if you like driving then this is beautiful. What is not so nice is no winter tyres and the drive from Cortina to Arabba. 
Also note M+S tyres are crap. They are not real winter tyres. They are chunky but no use. Insist on booking on full winters and look elsewhere if not.
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Biggest problem I can see by doing the train/bus all the way is the infrequent bus service from Corvara to Arabba. From Corvara village I'm sure you need to get one bus to Hotel Planac at Passo Campolongo and then another bus to Arabba. The service from Planac to Arabba only goes twice a day as I remember.
Secondly, the train/bus connections are very dependant on which train you catch from Innsbruck. If catching the Euro city from Innsbruck then you will have a longer wait at St Lorenzo for the bus to Corvara etc. If catching the regional trains then the connection times are much better.
If driving from Bolzano, shortest route involves two passes (passo Gardena between Selva and Corvara and Passo Campolongo between Corvara and Arabba)
If you could hire a car from Bressanone, then you would have a shorter journey via Pusteria valley and only one pass (Passo Campolongo). I've driven this route to Corvara and it was straight forward apart from the traffic on the return leg heading from Pusteria valley to the A22 motorway!!
If I was doing this route I would train/bus to Corvara and then get a taxi for the last leg to Arabba.
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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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@jimmybog,
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the infrequent bus service from Corvara to Arabba. From Corvara village I'm sure you need to get one bus to Hotel Planac at Passo Campolongo and then another bus to Arabba. The service from Planac to Arabba only goes twice a day as I remember.
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I'm sure the Portavescovo would send one of their mini-buses to collect Dmitri and Aewynia from Campobongo.
There again, a taxi all the way from Corvara shouldn't be too expensive.
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I'm fairly sure that there was space under the bus being used for luggage in the summer when I did Corvara-Brunico via San Lorenzen. Assuming I'm remembering rightly and it's the same buses being used, you should be fine.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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How many need to get from St.Anton to the BB? and do they have skis, boards, or coffin bags?
I'll be driving from Innsbruck to Arabba on the Saturday morning.
It's a small car, but there is some space.
Train to Innsbruck I think is easy from St.Anton. Conveniently, I'll be staying in the hotel attached to the Innsbruck main station.
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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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@Dmitri, Are you flying home from Venice or Innsbruck? Just wondering if this influences the hire car situation.
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You know it makes sense.
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| andy wrote: |
How many need to get from St.Anton to the BB? and do they have skis, boards, or coffin bags?
I'll be driving from Innsbruck to Arabba on the Saturday morning.
It's a small car, but there is some space.
Train to Innsbruck I think is easy from St.Anton. Conveniently, I'll be staying in the hotel attached to the Innsbruck main station. |
Maybe that will work out. I'll PM you 
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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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| Matrski wrote: |
| @Dmitri, Are you flying home from Venice or Innsbruck? Just wondering if this influences the hire car situation. |
We're flying back from Venice. I've been searching hire to drop off at Marco Polo.
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FAQ
