 Poster: A snowHead
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@Tjhodgson_145, glad you had a good time in Courmayeur. Strangely enough, Courmayeur isn't known for any of those three things - compared to many other ski areas accessible from Milan, it's among the smallest, quite expensive, and prone to poor weather. So, based on your criteria, you'd enjoy almost any other western Italian ski area even more than Courmayeur!
Could you maybe give a bit more detail about your requirements, such as your ability / type of pistes or terrain you like skiing?
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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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@denfinella, there does seem to be a mismatch, I didn't comment earlier for fear of seeming rude. Neither do you need to go through a tunnel to drive there from Milan, though you would from Geneva.
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j b wrote: |
@denfinella, there does seem to be a mismatch, I didn't comment earlier for fear of seeming rude. Neither do you need to go through a tunnel to drive there from Milan, though you would from Geneva. |
sorry you're right! We flew into Geneva and the tunnel was closed!
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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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denfinella wrote: |
@Tjhodgson_145, glad you had a good time in Courmayeur. Strangely enough, Courmayeur isn't known for any of those three things - compared to many other ski areas accessible from Milan, it's among the smallest, quite expensive, and prone to poor weather. So, based on your criteria, you'd enjoy almost any other western Italian ski area even more than Courmayeur!
Could you maybe give a bit more detail about your requirements, such as your ability / type of pistes or terrain you like skiing? |
Yeah I had read it can be prone to high winds but we have blue skies every day.
Sorry by large ski area I meant the Aosta area, not just courmayeur.
So we're looking for intermediate level and above, and prefer fast and long reds given the choice.
We're looking to go for 5 days of skiing so the area doesn't have to be huge, like the sella ronda, but I do tend to get bored of resorts on the 3rd day so like variety.
Thanks
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 You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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In which case - assuming this time you are coming from Milan or (closer) Turin - Sestriere or one of the other linked Via Lattea resorts would seem to suit. Plenty of good reds, and after you've spent three days skiing out Sestriere, Sansicario and Sauze d'Oulx you can then head further afield and take the link to Claviere and Montgenevre.
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@Tjhodgson_145, OK that makes more sense. Did you visit other ski areas when you were staying in Courmayeur?
From Milan I'd suggest looking at the Via Lattea (as @j b says above), La Thuile, Monterosa Ski (not massive, but bigger than Courmayeur, with other areas on the same lift pass), Livigno (again, not massive, but other areas covered by the same lift pass) or Madonna di Campiglio (perhaps bit pricey).
As it's February, avoid heading through the Mont Blanc or Frejus tunnels to France, as French ski areas will be very busy for most of the month. Via Lattea and La Thuile are both cross-border ski areas with slopes in both Italy and France, but I don't think they tend to get as busy as fully-French areas.
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1. St Moritz
2. Laax
3. Andermatt
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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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Whitegold wrote: |
1. St Moritz
2. Laax
3. Andermatt |
Isn't Switzerland expensive compared to Italy?
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 snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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j b wrote: |
In which case - assuming this time you are coming from Milan or (closer) Turin - Sestriere or one of the other linked Via Lattea resorts would seem to suit. Plenty of good reds, and after you've spent three days skiing out Sestriere, Sansicario and Sauze d'Oulx you can then head further afield and take the link to Claviere and Montgenevre. |
Yes true, we could just head back there.
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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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denfinella wrote: |
@Tjhodgson_145, OK that makes more sense. Did you visit other ski areas when you were staying in Courmayeur?
From Milan I'd suggest looking at the Via Lattea (as @j b says above), La Thuile, Monterosa Ski (not massive, but bigger than Courmayeur, with other areas on the same lift pass), Livigno (again, not massive, but other areas covered by the same lift pass) or Madonna di Campiglio (perhaps bit pricey).
As it's February, avoid heading through the Mont Blanc or Frejus tunnels to France, as French ski areas will be very busy for most of the month. Via Lattea and La Thuile are both cross-border ski areas with slopes in both Italy and France, but I don't think they tend to get as busy as fully-French areas. |
We went to La Thuile twice and skied over to La Rossiere but due to the sun the snow was terrible. it was also noticeably busier on the French side due to us having to go in half term.
I think ill take a look at just a different Italian resort maybe, we stayed at a fantastic place in Courmayeur for the money. Breakfast every day and a short walk to the gondola. was ideal.
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@Tjhodgson_145, I had guessed from your earlier post that you might already have explored La Thuile and possibly Pila, which is why I suggested Sestriere. But are you implying you have been there too?
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 You know it makes sense.
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Tjhodgson_145 wrote: |
Whitegold wrote: |
1. St Moritz
2. Laax
3. Andermatt |
Isn't Switzerland expensive compared to Italy? |
Yes but don't worry about Whitegold he's basically harmless but just generates random ideas that frequently bear little relationship to facts as recognised by most people.
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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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Fly to Innsbruck and goto the Dolomites. If Innsbruck not an option, use Venice
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 Poster: A snowHead
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j b wrote: |
@Tjhodgson_145, I had guessed from your earlier post that you might already have explored La Thuile and possibly Pila, which is why I suggested Sestriere. But are you implying you have been there too? |
No we didnt. But that was one of the places I was recommended for this year, I chose courmayeur due to price of accommodation as we ended up booking quite late from memory. Whereas this time im trying to be prepared. My gf can take the Friday off so planning on flying out the Thursday and returning mid week of half term which makes things significantly cheaper.
ill take a look at Sestrière accommodation. Thanks for your help thus far!
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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SnowMonkey69 wrote: |
Fly to Innsbruck and goto the Dolomites. If Innsbruck not an option, use Venice |
Did dolomites in 2022 and was great - unfortunately theres no flights that suit us for feb next year to Venice.
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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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Tjhodgson_145 wrote: |
SnowMonkey69 wrote: |
Fly to Innsbruck and goto the Dolomites. If Innsbruck not an option, use Venice |
Did dolomites in 2022 and was great - unfortunately theres no flights that suit us for feb next year to Venice. |
For the Dolomites, did you check Innsbruck? Verona? Treviso? Bergamo? Milan Linate? Even Trieste? Or Bologna??
Or as was pointed out in another thread...Bolzano?
https://www.skyalps.com/en/flights-packages/london/england
Even if you have to do a longer airport run to Stansted in the UK, the saving in time and money on the short transfers at the other end might make it a good option.
Last edited by Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see? on Wed 22-11-23 10:49; edited 2 times in total
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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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Tjhodgson_145 wrote: |
denfinella wrote: |
@Tjhodgson_145, glad you had a good time in Courmayeur. Strangely enough, Courmayeur isn't known for any of those three things - compared to many other ski areas accessible from Milan, it's among the smallest, quite expensive, and prone to poor weather. So, based on your criteria, you'd enjoy almost any other western Italian ski area even more than Courmayeur!
Could you maybe give a bit more detail about your requirements, such as your ability / type of pistes or terrain you like skiing? |
Yeah I had read it can be prone to high winds but we have blue skies every day.
Sorry by large ski area I meant the Aosta area, not just courmayeur.
So we're looking for intermediate level and above, and prefer fast and long reds given the choice.
We're looking to go for 5 days of skiing so the area doesn't have to be huge, like the sella ronda, but I do tend to get bored of resorts on the 3rd day so like variety.
Thanks |
If Milan Malpensa is the only airport option, then try Cervinia?
Pretty amazing intermediate skiing there with the links over to Zermatt. You can ski Switzerland without the expense!
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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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@Tjhodgson_145, Mr P and I really loved Champloluc and the Monterosa area. We spent Christmas and NY there in 2014 and then went back for a long weekend we liked it so much. The village itself is attractive with lots of accommodation-mostly hotels- most close to the main lift. The on and off mountain restaurants were fantastic. The piste mileage is not as huge as the french mega resorts though the geographical spread is- the whole Monterosa ski area is far bigger than Courmayeur. There are some cracking long red runs too.
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 You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Tjhodgson_145 wrote: |
SnowMonkey69 wrote: |
Fly to Innsbruck and goto the Dolomites. If Innsbruck not an option, use Venice |
Did dolomites in 2022 and was great - unfortunately theres no flights that suit us for feb next year to Venice. |
Try the Innsbruck route then - under 2 hour transfer to Selva
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We’ve flown to both bergamo and Bologna for Alta badia while it’s 4 hours or so it’s mostly easy motoway, and less tiring than wiggling from Venice
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You can do Val Gardena quite painlessly on the train from Innsbruck and Verona. Slightly longer journey from Venice, Bologna, Bergamo and Milan. I've also done Munich and Salzburg.
There are even direct flights from London to Bolzano now.
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