 Poster: A snowHead
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My son's passport was due to run out in June so, since it now needs 6 months extra life, we applied for a replacement in the first week of January and...finally the old one has reappeared today. The new one is "in the post" and will hopefully come in the next few days. We are all booked off for the first week of the kids Easter holidays 2nd -9th April. Is there a website I'm missing that will show me to a bargain ski holiday? Or am I looking at another DIY. If it is a DIY, the cheapest flight seems to be Ryanair MAN->Treviso as it's currently <£350 for 4 of us inc luggage etc! GVA, GRN, CBY, Milan all seem about £300 one way, one person, without luggage! No Torino flights I can see from MAN. So a second holiday in the Dolomites is beckoning. Which is the best area this late in the season? Mrs W...S has a bad knee and wants a wellness hotel this time. I'm considering Ortisei/St Ulrich to ski Alpe di Suisi (maybe Hotel Hell?) or St Viglio to ski Kronplatz (maybe Aqua Bad Cortina?). Is there a better choice of area for a couple of 10/11 year olds who were skiing blacks in 2020 but appear to have forgotten 80% of what they once knew? Where are lessons from Ortisei? On Alpe di Suisi or on the southfacing slopes heading towards Selva (presumably mush after 2)? Any advice appreciated.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Dolomites in April….only if you like slush
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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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@what...snow, I’m just back from 6 nights in Alba, after doing the Sella Ronda on Monday, where any south facing runs were soft and not enjoyable ( for me at least ) I spent the rest of the week looking for, and staying on slopes that faced anything but south, which meant in reality towards Arabba staying on the Porto Vescuvo side in the mornings, and after lunch Belvedere above Alba, there would be a small amount of south stuff to encounter on the way. On Friday I had an early start and went round to Corvarra, really good on the way the return less so. I’ve done a daily report in the trips area which has more detail. Can’t help on accom as I was in a small BB hotel, basic but lovely and ideal for solo trip.
For France have you looked at LYS with EasyJet if it’s still running until your dates.
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Hell of a transfer from Treviso to Ortisei. Like the mountain stages of the Tour de France.
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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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You could fly to Toulouse and go to the Pyrenees where the snow depths seem reasonable. Nb I have only been to the Pyrenees in summer so do further research before booking.
Alternatively would you consider a self drive package to the French alps? Les arcs would be a good option there.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Munich from Manc..... they fly everyday so seem to be cheaper..... Turin and Salzburg from Manc always stop before Easter which always baffles me...
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| NJ wrote: |
| Hell of a transfer from Treviso to Ortisei. Like the mountain stages of the Tour de France. |
Easiest way would be using the motorways past Verona & Bolzano than trying to navigate mountainous passes, but yes, it's a long way!
Dolomites probably not the best choice for April, unless your doing the off-piste couloirs on the Sella after a spring storm like these guys...
http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php?t=53437
Perhaps N facing parts of Arabba or Kronplatz would be holding up still by then???
But maybe best look at other higher options in Austria or France...Obertauern, Kaprun, Hintertux, Ischgl, Tignes, Val Thorens, etc
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Sulden am Ortler & Schnalstal in far N of Italy (in S Tyrol, but beyond the Dolomites, right against Austrian border) have 3000m+ glacier areas that extend the season. Both a long drive from Treviso, but doable! 
https://www.bergfex.com/suedtirol/
Just need to keep an eye on resort closing dates
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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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@what...snow, too late in the season I’d suggest, especially this one.
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Is there nothing at all from Turin, even non-direct? Looks like a fairly easy drive from there to Orelle which would drop you into the back of Val Thorens.
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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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@what...snow, can you delay a week. Lets that forecast snow come in, give passport more time.
We are flying to Munich and going to Mayrhofen. Lufthansa looks like about £840 for family of 4 manchester to munich, inc bags and they let you book skis in for free
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@NickyJ, Possibly but I have to work Monday 11th so would have be a DIY leaving Tuesday 12th and coming back on Easter Monday. Plus my Dad is supposed to be visiting, but I've already warned him and he is flexible enough to suddenly switch. I don't think it would be so good for everyone else (kids like group lessons, wife like's Italy). I see longer term the forecast is more snow in the lead up to Easter. I will report back, even if you are all right that the Dollies are wet and soggy. So far the wettest, slushiest places I have skied have been Saalbach, Flachau, Glenshee, Morzine, The Lecht, Nevis Range (in that order).
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You know it makes sense.
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@what...snow, ah, shame about work. Of course previous week is also possible for that route forecast is looking cold and snowy....  so shouldbe good. Really hope passport turns up. Have to say I have never old turn up BEFORE new one and normally weeks after
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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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Poster: A snowHead
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@what...snow, sounds like the Treviso flights are a good option, Sun-Sun is even cheaper.
Here are projected closing dates for Dolomiti areas:
https://www.onthesnow.co.uk/dolomiti-superski/projected-closing
Shame Civetta & San Martino close on 3rd, but Falcade/Passo San Pellegrino isn't too far from Treviso and stays open until 18th.
Arabba or Cortina would be an option if you can find somewhere to stay.
Looks like a good covering all over in the forecast...
https://wepowder.com/en
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Passport arrived today! Nearly finished booking all the bits, just waiting on confirmation from the hotel. Of course the flights went up by >£100 in the last 2 days but still good value. Promise I will keep you updated, even if it's the slushfest predicted by the stereotypers, but the forecast looks pretty good.
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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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@what...snow, yay. Really pleased passport arrived. Looking at forecasts, looks like less slush than mid March would have been for this year. Fingers firmly crossed and hope you have a great time
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@what...snow, great news!
Forecasts look promising and you'll likely have the place largely to yourselves, could be the best week of the season! 
Where did you decide upon in the end?
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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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Choose snowboarding, or fat powder skis - ideally with jet ski and rope tow
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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We have arrived after many adventures! There is at least 8 inches of fresh snow on our balcony here in La Villa, which is one of the lowest villages in this part of the Superski Dolomiti area (1400m).
Temps were 10c at Treviso Airport, -8c where I had to get the snow chains on (I haven’t read a good chains thread on here for a few years but enough nuggets had filtered in that I managed despite being in the middle of the road, on a slope, in the dark, attempting this for the first time) and -2c on arrival. Missed a hot dinner but gained a new skill so swings and roundabouts.
General impression of travel with Ryanair and Manchester Airport is it’s going to be significantly more stressful than it was pre-pandemic. Pre-pandemic MAN was about adequate, today it was about as bad an experience as it is possible to imagine an airport in the U.K. to be TBH (imagine vividly). Over 3 hours standing in one queue after another, mainly security. All the money they are saving on staff, someone is losing in duty free, that was completely empty. No one has time for shopping.
Ryanair experience was slightly worse than the worst experience I’ve previously had with them (must have used them a dozen-20 times), just chaotic, massively understaffed and with website tariffs that nobody understands. We got through without an extra charge but with so much head scratching and sucking of teeth that I’m not expecting the return to go smoothly. Still, freshies tomorrow
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Going to restart over in trip reports for anyone interested. 1st attempt at using Imgur for photos.
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@what...snow, glad you made it!
Have to say we were so glad Feb half term we were able to go out from Bournemouth. With 3 flights a day approx, it can't get too crowded..
Sadly that meant going to Geneva which was massively busy.
I am hoping that my trip next week won't be too bad by virtue of being on one of the first flights out
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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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@what...snow, we are in selva just now. The fresh snow depths made for a very memorable day.
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@dode, I bet! There’s a sign in the lift saying the Selva pass is closed to traffic. Presume it’s open now, the snow is only lightly falling here now. Any busier over there? Like your own private mountain here yesterday
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Yesterday we went round by Arabba, the snow was awesome and it was fairly quiet.
Today went up Seceda and down La Longia, then up to Seiser Alm. It was ridiculously quiet over that way, with a good 4-5” fresh snow overnight at top of Seceda.
I’d imagine the Selva pass will be open. We are heading your way tomorrow, to take in Santa Croce in the best viz forecast for the week. So will know for sure then. Haven’t heard anyone in the hotel say anything was shut though.
Enjoy!!
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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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@dode, The Lifts to Santa Croce after La Villa shut for the season yesterday. The last lift still running is Gardenaccia. Kids seem to fancy Colfosco tomorrow pm, not sure what I’ll do am. Went to Arabba today and was knackered by 12! No hanging around in queues or even waiting for the piste to clear. Getting too old for what my brain thinks I can do.
Still looks pretty good though
Last edited by And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports. on Mon 4-04-22 18:33; edited 1 time in total
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| what...snow wrote: |
We have arrived after many adventures! There is at least 8 inches of fresh snow on our balcony here in La Villa, which is one of the lowest villages in this part of the Superski Dolomiti area (1400m).
Temps were 10c at Treviso Airport, -8c where I had to get the snow chains on (I haven’t read a good chains thread on here for a few years but enough nuggets had filtered in that I managed despite being in the middle of the road, on a slope, in the dark, attempting this for the first time) and -2c on arrival. Missed a hot dinner but gained a new skill so swings and roundabouts.
General impression of travel with Ryanair and Manchester Airport is it’s going to be significantly more stressful than it was pre-pandemic. Pre-pandemic MAN was about adequate, today it was about as bad an experience as it is possible to imagine an airport in the U.K. to be TBH (imagine vividly). Over 3 hours standing in one queue after another, mainly security. All the money they are saving on staff, someone is losing in duty free, that was completely empty. No one has time for shopping.
Ryanair experience was slightly worse than the worst experience I’ve previously had with them (must have used them a dozen-20 times), just chaotic, massively understaffed and with website tariffs that nobody understands. We got through without an extra charge but with so much head scratching and sucking of teeth that I’m not expecting the return to go smoothly. Still, freshies tomorrow |
Glad you made it!
I flew Ryanair from MAN at half term, was OK then, but maybe a lot more passengers to warmer destinations at Easter??
Bad luck having to do snow chains. Never ever had to do them on many trips to Italy. Which route did you take? Where did the chains have to be fitted?
From Treviso/Venice, it's advisable to choose a resort in the SE quadrant of the Dolomites where you don't have to cross any high passes.
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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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I checked out the route before: come off motorway at Belluno Nord, Agordo, Alleghe, Arabba, Campolungo & Corvara. Top heights 1875m at Campolungo. We were on a tight schedule to make it for dinner so I got driving while she started an audiobook and then sat Nav. All seemed fine until Belluno.
I wasn’t happy with the satnavs notions (I drove this way once, to San Cassiano about 4 years ago) and asked her to try and sort it out. The sat Nav then took us to SP 51 which was shut, then I stopped and took my phone out as hers refused to recognise the hotel address suddenly. Got a redirect and thought it sounded sensible, drive time suddenly dropped 5mins.
It was only when I started seeing villages ending in Cadore and kept getting signs to Cortina that a sinking feeling started to come on. Then the snow started falling around Peaio. But the arrival time kept getting shorter and suddenly we were supposedly 50 minutes away.
Anyway you know what’s coming up…Cortina, a little slide a few times, less and less black visible. 5 Torri car park and barely making 30kms/hr, avoiding the edges of corners as much as possible, keeping it in 2nd, delicate on everything. Just after the car park and 700m to Falzarego (so around 2000m?) got totally stuck, well backwards was ok  Wife asks “have we got chains?”. I’m about to say “not actually sure” when daughter pipes up from the back “they’re on the right, beside your skis”. Remember this is the first ski holiday I haven’t thought of a head torch and get wife out with her phone as torch.
Made a few mistakes getting 1st on but really not bad for 1st attempt. Round the other side and whizz it on 90% in about 5 mins. Can I get the final link on, NO NO NO. 15 mins mucking about on this and eventually gave up, drove 50 yards, quick tighten up and over Falzarego no problem.
The right turn and up to Valparola (2168m) was ridiculous though, masses of snow  but the Fiat & I were unstoppable. Through Armentarola and SC, then the road really was black so I said “got to get them off now”. There was a mutinous air but I was 2 mins tops doing that, 5 mins driving and a plate of pig meat and cheese and a huge wine list that I did not have time for. House red please was about as much as I could manage. Then someone tells me I’ve parked in the wrong bit of the hotel and need to move the car 20 yards
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Poster: A snowHead
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