 Poster: A snowHead
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Evening  massive 
The plan with my somewhat extended family (S Wales, Ireland, SE London, me in the Ding) is for a group trip to Italy in Feb 22 for a week.
Sister and bro-in-law, his sister and partner, my niece and me, so we need 4 separate bedrooms.
Hotel isn’t really an option as my niece couldn’t afford the single supplement, so we’re trying to find nice self catering apartment options.
I’ve done some searching on here, G and AirBnB, but can’t find anything (yet) with four separate bedrooms.
Does anyone in the collective have any experience / top tips?
We are a very mixed group in terms of ability, three of us are red/black standard, one ex military can ski anything, one very new skier.
Two questions for you all - would you recommend / not recommend Passo Tonale, and if not where you would suggest on similar budget?
If you do like PT where should we stay?
Grazie mille 
Steve
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@sherlock1965, no idea on Passo Tonale.
Large apartments somewhat rare I imagine? Usual target market is single family units, is my perception. 2 units in one block?
Italian hotels often well set up with single rooms. I've stayed in enough of them on business.
Or the group just all chip in on the single?
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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 is your budget for apartment(s)? Would it stretch to two two bedroom apartments in the same block, then you could socialise in one and use the other for overspill? Alternatively, would one of your party be happy with a sofabed option?
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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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Have been to PT once and didn't rate it. Would not go back.
It's a fairly unattractive resort that can be bleak in high wind conditions
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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'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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and, @DCG, @trmacc, I submit my comments above,
"Large apartments somewhat rare I imagine? Usual target market is single family units, is my perception.
2 units in one block?
Italian hotels often well set up with single rooms. I've stayed in enough of them on business.
Or the group just all chip in on the single?"
Apply equally there too
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@under a new name, we've managed to find a few 4 bedrooms over the years, in both La Thuile and Sauze, need to get in early though. The link above where we stayed a few years ago in La Thuile has availability early and end Feb
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@trmacc, well done, good ones are few and far between, ime
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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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@under a new name, they certainly are, have had to book over a year in advance before now!
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For a mixed group on a budget, Passo Tonale is pretty good! As well as Tonale there are two linked resorts with steeper reds and more blacks plus off piste from the glacier lift. For the beginner, progression slopes are great with plenty of choice.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I like Passo Tonale. I can understand why someone wouldn’t but if you take everything into account and are on a budget you can’t beat it. Yes, Passo Tonale itself is fairly unattractive but there is also some fairly spectacular scenery and for nicer tree lined slopes you can ski in Pontedilegno. Then of course there is the Presena Glacier which although small makes for more extreme skiing and can give you a super long run with about 1500m vertical drop. You go from a steepish (shrinking!) glacier in a spectacular bowl, across some blues on a plateau, then (if you don’t chicken out and take the gondola down) a steep red called the Paradiso which scares me every time. After that it’s a long gliding blue past the sled dogs on to some tight reds in the trees which then open up to a nice glide to Pontedilegno.
Most tour operators also offer a day away skiing in Madonna di Campiglio which is well worth a visit for the amazing scenery and breaks the week up nicely.
The equipment hire, accommodation, food and drink are all reasonably priced and apart from one 2 man chair the lifts are good. Not many queues either. (There are in Madonna though!)
Accommodation wise I’m not really sure on your numbers but if you only want 1 or two singles you should be ok. The Miramonti is the biggest hotel in the middle of Tonale and is pretty good, it has decent food and a free spa. Rooms aren’t the best and it can be a bit busy but it is a great location and is about 75m from the front door to the lifts. If you want a bit quirky and quiet then I can recommend the Cielo Blue, it’s a bit further from the slopes but still only a 5 min walk. I think they only have one single but there isn’t a supplement. I think around Jan/Feb it’s usually about £7-800 for half board. It’s quiet and doesn’t have a spa etc but it would be good for a small group. Basically all the accommodation in PT seems pretty reasonably priced, I ski on my own so always end up going back there as the it’s so competitively priced for a solo trip!! Even the top hotel in resort, the Paradiso can sometimes be had for £800. These prices are obviously for the last few years and are the Crystal package.
I realise I sound like a member of the Passo Tonale tourist board but having been there a lot over the last 15 years I still like it and always have a good time. I’ve been to other places in that time but always get drawn back to Tonale - and not just because it’s cheap!
Hopefully that covers most things!!
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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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Thank you folks, all very useful stuff to know. I’ll pass your collective wisdom on, and see what the verdict is.
Cheers
Steve
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Had many trips to Passo Tonale with school groups (at HT you'll find quite a few there!). I'd agree it may not be the most picturesque, but it's pretty good for a budget-conscious mixed ability group. You could look at accommodation in Ponte di Legno as well as Tonale itself, as long as it's walking distance from the gondola up the valley to Tonale. Ponte has more in terms of bars, supermarket etc. Gondola takes 10-15mins but does finish slightly above the main village so a short ski required (walk for total beginners) across the bottom section of a blue slope. Temu, the lowest village with lift access, also has some accommodation which may be slightly cheaper but few amenities there. If that lift is open it's possible to get from Temu to Ponte and the valley gondola via a couple of chair lifts. That route definitely not suitable for beginners though so from Temu it's 10mins on service bus up to the Ponte gondola base station.
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