Reccomendation - Alta Baia or Kronplatz

A snowHead

Hi all, just looking to see if anyone has stayed in Alta Badia or Kronplatz (even better if you stayed in Hotel Ciasa Soliel or Hotel Petrus respectively). Having difficulties choosing between the 2.

A snowHead

It depends on what you want from the resort.
https://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?t=158987&highlight=
And an alternative view
https://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?t=158864&highlight=

I am sure someone will give you a view on Alta Badia shortly.
Kronplatz is more "out on a limb" and Alta Badia gives easier access to the Sella Ronda and more mainstream areas

Which makes me prefer Kronplatz but everyone is different

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

I've stayed in San Cassiano (Alta Badia) twice, both at the Steinrosl. SC is very quiet, I love it, but note there is almost no nightlife. AB has mostly easy skiing but connects well with adjacent areas with more difficult terrain. I'll stay there again but I prefer the skiing at Kronplatz. There are more black runs, and more long runs due to the greater vertical at K. Also a very good lift system as long as you don't mind gondolas, which they have in spades. There are also two good museums at the summit. If you like long, fast cruising laps, check it out even if you stay at AB. If you don't have a car, there is a bus between Sponata (AB) and Piculin (K).

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So I like to be different. I was disappointed by kronplatz. Probably because the weather was warm and the lovely long blacks and lower runs were horrid slush. A great beginner resort though as lovely gentle long blue runs on the main plateau

Alta badia is directly, if slightly on a limb, connected to the sella ronda and has huge benefit for that.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

If you haven’t skied the Dolomites before, go with Alta Badia, the vista will blow you away.
If you have skied the Dolomites before, try Kronplatz. Unlike the Sella Ronda they have proper long runs and proper long blacks. The vista is more alpine than Dolomite tho.

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@AL9000, Kronplatz is mostly made up of long runs. Sella Ronda is mostly made up of not that long runs.
Both are great areas.

After all it is free

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

+1 for Santa Croce area and visit the little chapel presumably of Santa Croce, at the top and the restaurant next door was very pleasant a few years ago.

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

Everyone is different but for me Alta Badia every time but typically we like to get out the door and ski off to somewhere for the day.

If you have ski school every morning so have limited time and like longer blacks it's a closer call. We only spent a day at Kronplatz but will go back for another day, it's a strange resort compared to others in the area as it's primarily one mountain with many lifts taking you to the top and giving different run downs. We're not advanced skiers but a couple of days would be enough for us.

The AB area is popular with improvers / early intermediates because it has plenty of long blues.

So From AB you can easily do the following for a day (we've done all of these)

get the bus or drive to Kronplatz
Ski to Marmolada and Arabba for steeper slopes
Ski to the nearest part of Cortina (Tofana - short shared taxi ride needed)
drive to the further part of Cortina (Misurina)
Ski to Val Gardena (and do the fantastic run down to Ortisei)
Ski hidden valley & Cinque Torri
Ski to Canazei
Ski the Sella Ronda and spend a few hours in one of several resorts mentioned above.
drive to Alpi di suis (ca 45 mins to an hour)

snow reports

Thank you all for the replies.

Ultimately Ive chosen to stay in La Villa (Alta Badia) as it is our first time in the Dolomites so I would definitely like to try the Sella Ronda circuit.

I definetely will check out those long runs in Kromplatz on one of the days I am there.

Has anyone taken the Corvara Express from Venice Airport. First time booking flights & transfer seperate from the package and couldnt believe they were charging €700 for a private transfer

@Adrii, I know this doesn't answer your question...

but we always rent a car, it's an easy drive, the stereotypical Italian driving experience is only really true for big cities and car rental always used to be cheap, Covid seems to have scuppered that for the moment but who knows for next year. Worst case scenario and there is snow you can take the long route via Trento and Brunico that misses out the high passes.

Also, have you tried your hotel or the local tourist board ? in some resorts hotels club together and arrange shared transfers for guests.

Finally IIRC not many of the Cortina express buses actually go on to Alta Badia but it should be easy to get a taxi from Central Cortina as it's a proper town, again the hotel will be able to help.

You know it makes sense.

Hi, We've skied that area a few times and I think you have made the wisest choice to do an away day to Kronplatz. Very straight forward from La Villa.
As for airport transfer - we usually rent a car but have found for December we might opt for a private transfer as the car hire prices are through the roof (we're going for 2 weeks, twin centre La Villa and Selva) ). I also looked into the Cortina Express, it will take you from the airport to Cortina, you then get another bus (or taxi) to La Villa but unfortunately it is only going once a day when we arrive and departing 4 hours after we land. We are heading from Marco Polo to La Villa on Dec 10th, if (by a miracle) you're the same dates then private message me and we could maybe share a transfer?

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

@Adrii, We usually pay about 240Eur for a minibus (7 px) each way from Venice to Arabba. Try Venicecabs.

A snowHead

@johndory. Thanks for the offer but we are going later on the 21st January; hope you have a good time though.

@richb67. I have already bought the coach tickets but I will definetely ask my hotel for next time. Thanks for the advice Smile

Cant refund these tickets as their customer service is non-existent. Accidentally paid for extra baggage cause it wasnt specified that 1 hand baggage & 1 hold baggage was included in the ticket until I got the ticket, and they have ignored every form of communication from me including whatsapp, whatsapp call, email, facebook chat etc... Then again it is rather cheap at €78 return and baggage was €5 a piece.

A snowHead

@Adrii - no worries at all. Can I ask who you have booked the coach with?
@MorningGory - thanks for the tip, I've emailed them. I've been getting quotes form the Dolomites end - never thought to try Venice end!

Bot more tricky for us as we need taking to La Villa then picking up again from Selva.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

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@Adrii, if you are going on 21.01.2023 then be aware that there is an event at Kronplatz that week.
Depending on your views you might want to go for this. Or avoid this.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Good call @JHS, that will take Erte off the table, a nice black. Leaving four others, though.

Help!!

Reccomendation - Alta Baia or Kronplatz

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