 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi everyone, this is my first post, although I’ve read a fair few posts over the last few weeks and really enjoy learning from everyone!
Wondering if anyone could help me make some decisions please? I’m a complete beginner (I’m not counting the few days I did 30 years ago in Scotland!) but can remember how to do some basic snowplough linked turns as I found out when I went to an indoor slope recently. Eldest child (14) has been skiing with school for a week and loved it, and ended the week on mainly blue runs with a few easy reds. She’s at stage of learning parallel turns and wants to know how to use her poles properly. Youngest child (10) is a complete beginner.
I’m really taken with the idea of going on a ski holiday, after a few years of tricky curveballs and stress, I want to do some fun stuff and live a bit. I’d like to try to organise something for first week of Easter hols (can only go in school holidays). For us that means from 23rd/24th March (which I think is a week before some other schools). Also as Easter is early this year I thought this might be the best year to do it and see how we get on.
The things that are holding me back are
1. Budget - it would have to be one of the cheaper options
2. General confusion having never planned a ski trip before
3. It would just be me and the kids, no other adult to help. I’m worried I might be a bit out my depth
All these things in mind, I’ve had a look around and I’ve ruled out France as is too expensive. I’m therefore thinking Italy, Aosta area and Pila seems to come up as doable (although not pretty I know). It’s well priced, small and not too busy (I think?!), and transfer time when I google seems ok (but crystal says 2 and half hours, which seems a lot compared to google). Youngest gets travel sick so it’s a consideration . I can also fly there on a Sunday which is easier than an early flight on a Saturday for us.
I thought half board would be best so I’m not having to shop and cook and clean, so on this basis I’ve found 3 hotels in Pila with Crystal that offer half board and are well priced (Manchester flights, 24th March)
My key issue is I don’t know which to pick for easiest access to Ski School, which everyone I’ve spoken to says is pretty important as beginners. (On a separate note I don’t know whether to pick ski school through Crystal, or arrange our own? I’m guessing morning lessons are enough and then we pootle about ourselves in afternoon? Or is that too ambitious as mainly beginners?)
Some of the hotels say ski in ski out, but this could be hard if some of us are complete beginners. In which case one with ability to walk or bus to school might be best.
So, the main thing I guess I’m wondering, is if anyone could suggest which hotel might best suit our needs out of the following (I don’t yet know how to read a piste map, which presumably would help). In no particular order:
Hotel Chacaril (£629 pp)
Hotel Plan Bois (£635 pp)
Hotel Etoile de Neige (£702 pp)
I know this may be rather specific so I won’t be offended if no one can advise, just thought it’s worth an ask. Also if it seems like a dud, I’m willing to hear other ideas. Thanks all.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Gosh I hadn’t realised my post is massive
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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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Check out Interski if you’re interested in Pila, will prob be cheaper than Crystal and their prices include lift passes. Interski specialise in the Aosta valley and are high school trip providers, but they also organise normal family ski trips too.
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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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Thanks for that, I’ve had a little look. Seem to be ideal, but price wise it’s higher. The lift pass is included with inter ski and that’s the key difference with Crystal, but it’s £600 more per person. I think they also give a snack voucher for lunch. I thought maybe they included tuition for that price but I don’t think they do. Perhaps there’s other differences I haven’t realised
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@Lilaclou, ahh, they’re normally cheaper but I guess they don’t have as much availability left compared to Crystal. I’ve never been to Pila but sounds like it would meet your needs perfectly.
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I looked closely at Pila for a trip with grandson - we chose Passo Tonale in the end this year on cost alone but interested in Pila for future. I looked at all these hotels. They are all going to be virtually ski in/out. I believe Chacaril had the best reviews especially as its cheapest so would be my recommendation but as I say I've not actually been
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@Lilaclou, I skied around Pila for a couple of months two years ago so have a fair idea of the layout!
The Etoile de Neige I think fronts onto the lower learner area (possibly via a travelator thing?) and if memory serves there are ski school meeting points there (beginners using the little yeti and baby pila drags) so you couldn't go wrong with that (but all are close to the slopes and you don't have to ski out) No lugging stuff to the piste (possibly Checril would be more of a walk), easy place to end the day, a bar across the piste to sit in the sunshine.... ideal! Pila is plenty pretty, nice scenery and the buildings aren't particularly ugly, plus because you're high up you'll get a cracking view out over some of the biggest mountains in Italy. 
You and 10 YO will probably be on the middle blue (round Gorraz) to start, then work over to ski on Grimod and back down - which is great as you probably won't be stuck on the same beginner slopes all week. There are a few lovely easy reds for older daughter.
On ski school - are you thinking you and 10 YO have lessons together, then 14 YO has lessons to herself (in a group maybe?) If so, I'd price it up, Crystal vs the ski school - just email them, they were very helpful when I needed a couple of emergency lessons while there! Going with the ski school might be better to get the specifics that suit your family. 
Definitely get ski school in the morning, and then have relaxed afternoons; at that time of year it'll probably get a bit choppy in the afternoon so a nice lunch on a terrace might be more pleasant! Plus, if you want an afternoon off, you could pop down to Aosta on the gondola (though make sure you don't miss the last gondy or bus back up!). It's a very attractive town, some lovely cafes, Roman ruins etc if you enjoy that kind of thing.
I can't see anything wrong with your plan at all for a first ski hol. 
Edited to add - if you download the piste map off the pila website, the Etoile de Neige is just below where there's a blue number 20 on the map and a beginner lift. Chacaril is a little further down the road. Plan Bois is abovet where it says Baby Gorraz/the sign for the toilets.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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I've skied with kids, and skied in Pila, and I think your plan is excellent. Can't advise which hotel. But the transfer will include the time to get up in the gondola from Aosta.
With most ski schools you and the 10 year old will not normally have lessons together - you will be in an adult class, and the little one in a kids class. Yes, morning lessons all week will work well.
I'd agree with @ElzP - see what Crystal have to say about ski lessons for you all. And presumably you'll go with their ski and boot hire? For a first holiday that's probably going to be the easiest way to go.
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@Origen, I'd thought they may run the transfer buses up the hill (there's a road up and a car park) - may be wrong though!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Oh yes - hadn't thought of that. Daft of me, of course they do. It does take a while to get up there - we drove up one day, just to see. That would certainly lengthen the transfer. Even though it was not very snowy, it wasn't a road to take at any speed.
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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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That’s all really helpful information. Sounds like I’m on the right track then which is good to know! I’ll have a look at hotels a bit more, sounds like probably not much in it.
Re lessons, I’m probably a bit more confident than my 10 year old so probably slightly different abilities, but I know she’d much prefer to have me with her. I’m not sure we can afford private lessons though so might need to be group lessons for us (different groups I’m guessing). Maybe we could do just a few days of private and then we might be self sufficient? I have no idea though! Is there one main ski school there or a few to choose from do you know?
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@Origen, agreed!
@Lilaclou, 2.5 hours isn't a bad ski transfer time all in all (can't remember ever having a shorter one except when getting the train in Austria) and it may be quicker in reality - Crystal probably factor in a bit of faff and dropping at various hotels. The roads to Aosta are all excellent if memory serves. Maybe get some tablets for the travel sick daughter just in case (if that's a thing, am lacking in experience of children  )?
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You know it makes sense.
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@Lilaclou, two ski schools - Scuola Sci Pila or evolution. I had a nice gent from evolution and found communication with them good. So worth getting advice and prices from them and from Crystal maybe? Just to get the best match.
Three days of private MIGHT do you to cover the afore mentioned blues for the last 2 days - but realistically, would it be stressful for you to be a bit wobbly yourself, and have to be responsible for a wobbly daughter? I'd go full week group if you can. The lessons for the kids will probably involve much more fun stuff than adults lessons so hopefully 10YO would love it.
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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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Pila is a great little resort, we just spent a week there with the family of a friend of my son, who were complete beginners. My wife and I have been skiing 40 years and my son since he was three, so a range of abilities. We found plenty to keep us occupied for a week, including some seriously steep black runs, but most of the skiing is very beginner- and intermediate-friendly. Also about to get a lot of snow this week, which is important for Easter skiing.
Importantly, it's plenty pretty and the views are amazing. The other family did surprisingly affordable private lessons with Evolution, and the lower half of the ski area could have been purpose-made for people learning to ski. Lifts are manageable, queues were small even at half-term.
All three hotels are a very easy walk to lifts and skiing.
Basically much more affordable in every way than France. Not a great deal of apres-ski, though the Yeti bar is great for hot chocolates and the like immediately after skiing, it's open till about 6-6.30.
It's motorway all the way to the bottom of the hill from Milan or Turin, then thirty minutes up the okay mountain road.
I'd really recommend it to someone in your position.
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Poster: A snowHead
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In a car, it takes about the same time to drive up as take the gondola. A transfer may be arriving or leaving outside the hours of operation of the gondola though so could need to drive the whole way.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@Lilaclou,
Check if Ski Esprit have any bargins going - it is their last season of operation.
Look at Andorra, Slovenia, Romania, Bulgaria for cheaper options.
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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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Andorra is very wallet friendly, arinsal is very British, crystal transfer from Toulouse stops half way and isn't as gruelling as it looks .
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Thank you so much to everyone for helping and suggesting things, it’s much appreciated and has made me feel like my plan is not so mad and is actually fine! I’m going to ring a couple of places this week and ask a few questions about ski school etc so that will help too. Thanks everyone!
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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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@Lilaclou, hope it all works out! Do come back and let us know how you get on.
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I just got back from a week in Pila with the family, the two kids (9 and 7) on their second week of skiing and us adults being avowed intermediates. I would echo what others have said about the skiing and the scenery, its a good family resort with gentle slopes for the nervous snowplougher towards the bottom of the village, and good progression onto better blue slopes higher up, and a good number of reds.
We went with Crystal, and the transfer was about 2 hours. The hotels in Pila (at least the ones Crystal go to) are all in succession as you go up the road through the resort, so there is no messing about going this way and that for drop offs.
We were in the Plan Bois. There is a lot to like about it. It's in a good location, about 5 minutes walk to the ski school meeting place. You walk through the adjacent car park, up some stairs, put your skis on and you're there. The staff were friendly, even though not all of them spoke much English (and we speak no Italian). The hotel itself is cosy, with a nice lounge and restaurant area, the boot room is in the basement, and the ski hire shop is right below the hotel. The rooms are maybe a bit dated, but nothing to complain about - it's a 3 star hotel, and we weren't there to spend time in the room.
The only slightly odd thing was the food. 75% of it was great - tasty, plenty of variety on the starter buffet, and enough to fill up the greediest skier. But there was just some of it that just wasn't all that good - it had the feeling of being done a bit on the cheap, a bit like school dinners. They also had a tendency to run out of food on the dessert buffet, and there wasn't much choice on the breakfast buffet if you were up late. I wouldn't have a problem going back to the Plan Bois, there was a lot to like about it, but there was just this feeling that the management had maybe got into the habit of cutting a few corners on the food.
I did chat to someone in our ski school group, also with Crystal, who said that their hotel was a bit overrun with unruly kids, but I didn't ask which hotel that was unfortunately. You might be able to get some clues from Trip Advisor.
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We’ve been going to Pila with Crystal Ski for years. It’s a great, budget friendly resort. Transfer time is usually around max 2 hrs which goes in a flash if you’ve had an early start.
Apart from one disastrous stay at the Lion Noir we’ve always stayed at the Etoile de Neige & I wouldn’t stay anywhere else. You can walk up the bank to the baby travellator then on to Baby Gorraz lift or get straight on to Chamole which leads to the top of the blue that runs through the resort.
I’ve had a 121 lesson via the ski school at the telecabin but I’m sure they are all fine.
As an aside, following a nasty accident I can wholeheartedly say the piste rescue & Etoile were absolutely amazing in looking after me. We’re very sad not to be going again this year & keep in regular touch with the owner Angela, who together with her team there are a wonderful bunch of people.
FYI the Etoile will take you to get your kit when you arrive & you can leave it in the boot/ski room when done & the shop collects it.
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@Chuckles3, do you know if it’s easy enough to get from Etoile hotel to ski school? It just seems that bit further away and I can’t picture how it would work.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@Temesvar, all excellent and helpful information thank you. It’s really good to hear others’ experience!
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@ElzP, thank you. I’m hoping I make the budget work and it will be possible, and I’ll update. It’s much trickier than organising our usual camping holidays!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Lilaclou wrote: |
| @Chuckles3, do you know if it’s easy enough to get from Etoile hotel to ski school? It just seems that bit further away and I can’t picture how it would work. |
I believe they will drop you up there (or you are collected possibly). If you drop them a message at info@etoiledeneige.it they can advise.
Otherwise you take the 2 baby travellators outside the hotel, walk past the gondola & get on to the Baby Gorraz lift. The ski school is directly opposite where that finishes. When I was getting my ski legs back last season that’s the route I took to get the telecabin up to Grimondet for some easy, wide open piste practice.
I’m fairly certain transport is laid on though.
It’s a blue run all the way back down with just one slightly awkward narrow bit. I know lots of work is currently going on in Pila for a new gondola so things might be ever so slightly different at the mo.
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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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The new gondola work hasn’t really affected very much (as yet), except that the travels for at the very top (above Couis 1 chair) no longer exists, and neither does the black run (27) that it served. Red #9 from Couis 1 has been slightly remodelled to make it wider - in the summer it’ll be the access road for the top-station works.
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@Chuckles3, thankyou. I called them and they explained the bus can come and collect you if you’re a beginner, and take you back, which is great.
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You know it makes sense.
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@Lilaclou, Pila is a lovely little resort and I would have thought it would be ideal for a beginner family. For a first time, going with a tour company makes things easy, a lot of people here self-organise but separately booking flights, transfer, accommodation, lift pass and ski hire is seriously stressful until you know the ropes. And if anything goes wrong you will be grateful that someone else will be sorting it out.
Half board hotel accommodation is always a bit of a gamble with food, but as long as you are all a bit flexible and it is a buffet things should work out. (I am not sure whether there are any alternatives at Pila, we have only been via the gondola from Aosta but it didn't look as if there was very much apart from the hotels).
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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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| Lilaclou wrote: |
| @Chuckles3, thankyou. I called them and they explained the bus can come and collect you if you’re a beginner, and take you back, which is great. |
Excellent! Hopefully that’ll help you make a decision soon.
If it helps, a friend stayed at the Plan Bois in Jan. I’ll caveat by saying they are a very fussy eater & a veggie which can be an issue in Italy when in half board. Her exact WhatsApp to me was
‘Veg food useless i lived on salad buffet which wadnt near as varied as the old one at Etoile. Walls way too thin, shower sh*t, despite unbeatable location by lessie and comfy beds wouldnt return. The run to chamole very tight now, only one side of pilon it is chaos and awful for beginners.’
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Poster: A snowHead
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@Chuckles3, ah that is interesting! Yes that helps. Apparently the Etoile De Neige has a nice big hotel dog, so that’s swung it for me too!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@j b, yes I think for a first timer it’s easier for sure to do it as a package. If food is awful we will just have to have big lunches somewhere!
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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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| Lilaclou wrote: |
| @j b, yes I think for a first timer it’s easier for sure to do it as a package. If food is awful we will just have to have big lunches somewhere! |
The pizza restaurant in the row of shops on the road behind the gondola is fabulous (but it’s not open all day). If you go to Aosta for a trip, try the Victory Restaurant but ask to be seated downstairs - it’s done out like the inside of the ship. Food is great & very cheap!
Anything else, feel free to message me 
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@Chuckles3, ah that is interesting! Yes that helps. Apparently the Etoile De Neige has a nice big hotel dog, so that’s swung it for me too!
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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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As an instructor (with Interski) over the last couple of seasons, I agree with what everyone here has said. Pila is a perfect resort for your first trip. It's also really small, so even the furthest walk isn't really that far, and the way the pistes go you can't get lost as everything funnels down back to the centre. You'll have a great time! Once you're all comfy doing blue runs, I can particularly recommend the Ermitage piste restaurant. It looks like nothing much, but the local hot food is really delicious and home cooked, and they're super friendly. But really all the restaurants there are great in their own way. I love Pila - enjoy!
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@BlueSky, yea it does sound ideal for us, I just need to stop thinking and book it I reckon. Lots of money for us to spend but hopefully worth it. I need some fun times!
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@BlueSky, I’ve been chatting to my 14 yo who has been skiing for a week with school. She’s said she thinks there won’t be enough blue runs for her and might get bored. I don’t think she’s right but thought I’d ask? I know there are only a few blues and more reds, but I think she’ll progress onto some of the reds during the week (she did a few when she went with school). Are there some reds that are perhaps a little easier? If so, she’ll be happy with that I think. I don’t want a large resort as it will be too overwhelming for me and 10 yr old, so I think I need to prioritise that this time around.
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I know you’ve asked an expert but as an enthusiastic amateur here’s my take.
If your daughter gets her ski legs & wants to do more, the runs off La Nouva can be great - red 24 is brilliant (although I wouldn’t recommend run 4 to a novice due to nasty pinch point). The blue plus sized run at Grimod is brilliant for getting confidence.
Blue run 5 down to La Nouva can be a real challenge at times as it’s one of the busiest pistes in resort.
Without doubt, if you want to improve your skiing, Pila is the place to do it - most of the red runs are empty. The only ones that give me wobbles are the top of Couis 2 & the top of 3 (I won’t mention the steep bit on 14 where I had my accident …….. - in my husbands words, it’s the best run there, yet you b@llsed it up).
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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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@Lilaclou, if your daughter wants more than the blues and the easier reds - well that gives you criteria for choosing your next destination. She's got to get good at skiing the Pila blues first!
(And to be fair, a 14-year-old who has been on a one week school skiing trip will think she can ski blues when in all honesty all she has done is prove to her mates she can make her way from top to bottom somehow. With luck after another week of ski school she can ski those runs properly).
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@j b, exactly! Spot on! @Chuckles3, thanks for all the tips. It is a bit beyond my knowledge just now as a beginner but will hopefully make sense when I’m there. I’ll study all the suggestions carefully and figure it out.
Also, I’m pretty certain it’s a quiet week when we’d go, 24th March arrival. I checked the holidays calendar someone helpfully posted and I think it looks ok, but if I’ve missed something maybe someone could let me know? I don’t want to mess up and arrive to find it’s heaving!
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