 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi All
We are heading to Pila at Xmas , driving and staying in Aosta after landing in Milan.
Looking for some pearls, specifically at the mo on rental car firms. When looking on Zest (handy for the free extra driver ) , the cheapest headline rates are from firms I have not heard off - those being "Noleggiare" & "Moventur" & "Sicilybycar" & "Optimorent", none of which I have heard of. Are they any good, are they offshoots of the majors ?
But Noleggiare do seem to change extra for both chains and winters with chains being 1/3 of the winters (Moventur dont have either option went booking via Zest) . I am minded to get at least one option here. In terms of driving, I dont see us driving up to Pila, but we may want to drive to the odd other resort included on the Aosta valley ski pass. Thoughts?
As always, thanks in advance for any advice.
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Sun 3-11-24 14:42; edited 4 times in total
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I've used Sicilybycar on a couple of occasions without any problems.
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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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| T Bar wrote: |
| I've used Sicilybycar on a couple of occasions without any problems. |
ditto, used them twice this year decent cars, no problems
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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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@T Bar, @richb67, thanks both, was that out of Milan MXP/LIN or some other city?
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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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@ster,
It was out of Venice Maro Polo.
(Last time at least, I know I have used them at least once before that but can't remember, might have been Milan.)
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Rome and Bari.
TBH They were so cheap I was a bit dubious, but an Italian friend said they are a well known and reputable option and they were fine. In reality no different to Avis or Hertz, they were cheapest company i was willing to risk.
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I've noticed that car hire prices in Italy seem to be higher this year than in recent years.
Not used any of those you mention, so can't comment, sorry! 
Last edited by Then you can post your own questions or snow reports... on Tue 15-10-24 23:03; edited 2 times in total
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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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Noleggiare slipped a whole lotta extras past me. Tricky part is you sign on a digital pad before seeing the final contract. Then the extras you have agreed to are blotted out when you receive your copy. Argued it back via credit card company but a pain
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@ster, another plus for Sicilybycar, I’ve used them from Venice without any issues, came with chains included in price, I have an annual excess insurance policy and have never been hit with charging for extras.
I’d agree that driving to the other resorts is worthwhile, Courmayuer being the easiest as it’s lower, La Thuile has hairpin bends but is ok as long as it’s not snowing.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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RE hire cars and chains from Milan -
I booked a car from Hertz through booking.com (for some reason) where snow chains were specifically mentioned.
I double checked this at the Hertz desk in Milan airport but when we actually got in the car, there were only snow socks.
What followed was some amazing mental gymnastics from an irritated Hertz employee that snow chains and snow socks were the same thing.
I tried to explain that one is chainy and the other socky but the only option put forward was for us to pay several hundred euro more for something that is apparently the same and wait a 'period of time' which wasn't workable.
Afterwards I moaned to booking.com that I didnt get what I paid but they just stated that they had contacted hertz and confirmed I had been provided with snow chains at which point I realised its not worth the life force to argue.
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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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| WinBoard2 wrote: |
| Noleggiare slipped a whole lotta extras past me. Tricky part is you sign on a digital pad before seeing the final contract. Then the extras you have agreed to are blotted out when you receive your copy. Argued it back via credit card company but a pain |
You have to decline all extras if you've prepaid and have a voucher, but sounds like a bunch of shysters!! 
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| worthy wrote: |
RE hire cars and chains from Milan -
I booked a car from Hertz through booking.com (for some reason) where snow chains were specifically mentioned.
I double checked this at the Hertz desk in Milan airport but when we actually got in the car, there were only snow socks.
What followed was some amazing mental gymnastics from an irritated Hertz employee that snow chains and snow socks were the same thing.
I tried to explain that one is chainy and the other socky but the only option put forward was for us to pay several hundred euro more for something that is apparently the same and wait a 'period of time' which wasn't workable.
Afterwards I moaned to booking.com that I didnt get what I paid but they just stated that they had contacted hertz and confirmed I had been provided with snow chains at which point I realised its not worth the life force to argue. |
Socks are easier to fit, but probably one use only as they're not as durable if you hit snow mixed with tarmac. So might be an issue if you needed to fit them multiple times!
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You know it makes sense.
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| Quote: |
| In terms of driving, I dont see us driving up to Aosta |
But you're staying there @ster 
Don't know if you've been before, but it's a lovely little town to stay in for Pila skiing - quite quaint, cobbled streets, reasonably priced food and drink, lovely Roman ruins and a mini Arc de Triomphe from 55BC or something. And a lovely Christmas market (in the ruins of the Roman theatre) when we were there a few years back.
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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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| Quote: |
But you're staying there @ster
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Obviously a slip of the finger.....  There's no great drama driving up to Pila - though not one for summer tyres if there's much (any!) snow around on the way. You will presumably drive to the big car park at the bottom of the lift - Aosta is indeed a pleasant town but the walk to that car park is dreary and no fun, even in comfortable footwear. The huge supermarket next door is confusing. At least, I found it confusing - did miles wandering round looking for stuff.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@richb67, cheers but can we stay on (my) topic, amazingly there is a thread to recommend tv series so your post might be better there.
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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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| luigi wrote: |
Thoughts on chains vs winter tyres? Winters will be better if you want to drive up to Cervinia at Xmas. I got away with summers, but I went in mid/late Feb and it didn't snow hardly at all while we were there. Most include chains with summers. You must have winters fitted or carry chains onboard by law in Aosta Valley Dec-April.
Thoughts on visiting other resorts? Definitely. You'll pretty much ski out Pila in a day. Courmayeur, La Thuile, Cervinia and Champoluc/Monte Rosa are definitely worth visiting if you don't mind the commute. Double check the pass prices. I found the Aosta Valley pass was more than day passes to each resort! |
I would prefer winters but we wont be heading all the way to Cervinia, I envisage we will stay in the Aosta valley and at most head to two others than Pila.
Thanks for the tips re the legal requirement, I didnt realise that, and for the pointer on the day pass prices, very strange though.
Sicilybycar give chains free I note. I might just go with them given they are getting a much better write up than those other local brands, which matched their relative rating on Trustpilot, and have chains for safety sake (no option with them to get winters) but try to keep to cleared roads.
Its odd that Hertz doesnt seem to be coming up much if at all at either MXP or LIN, having looked at rentalcar.com & Zest, I might try direct to see their pricing, or maybe they really have none.
Thanks all, good food for thought on the original question.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I always use brokers (expedia, economycarrentals dot com) and always get cars very cheaply (as little as €6 a day). In my understanding chains / socks or winter tyres are mandatory in Winter car rentals in Italy so if people are charging you its a scam. You very very rarely actually need Winter tyres or chains and if you just book the car a day or two beforehand you will know what the weather is like and what the chances of you driving in snow will be. Road to Aosta is mostly Autostrada or very good road, relatively low and kept open.
It is hard to get Winter tyres through brokers, though you can probably "upgrade" when you get to the desk. The business model is to get you in with the cheap car then offer you a more expensive one or try and get you to pay more for insurance with a lesser excess. If there was heavy snow in forecast I would just book a car with Winter tyres directly through an established firm.
Also FWIW I would much prefer socks to chains. They go on super easily in two minutes and work well. Chains are a pain and you dont want to be fighting with them on the side of a snowy road with cold hands and no light.
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| ster wrote: |
I would prefer winters but we wont be heading all the way to Cervinia, I envisage we will stay in the Aosta valley and at most head to two others than Pila.
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Aosta is only 600m, so snow doesn't tend to fall much or linger very long. You can get the long gondola up to Pila from the edge of town.
But Courmayeur is 1200m & La Thuile is 1450m and an access road with a few hairpins, so that obviously makes a difference if you were to get snow.
I drove right up to 2050m at Cervinia. Car park was gritted snow, but roads were pretty dry on the way up, just a bit of frost in shady spots.
That was mid-Feb Half-term though 
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@luigi, good to know about Courmayeur and confirmed by my chat with Interski at the snow show, so its definitely on the list. We'll see about La Thule, re weather. I'd rather save the time and just ski at Pila than schlep up to La Thuile and need to put snow chains on.
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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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Unless its very snowy, the roads to La Thuile & Courmayeur & Champoluc will be clear. If its very snowy, you are better off skiing Pila anyway as its mostly tree lined so you can see where you're going. My humble opinion was that the extra 10 mins drive up to La Thuile over Courmeyeur was worth it for the more extensive skiing. La Thuile is quite exposed so at its best on a clear still day, and head any warnings about heading back to Italy if you've gone over to La Rosiere and the wind starts to pick up.....
Re Winters tyres, they tend to only come as standard on a more expensive class of car in Italy. A set of chains in the boot is the standard offering. Thankfully never had to fit them.
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Right enough on cars, I think I am all good there thanks everyone!
Anyone know of an instructor for a few private lessons (for a young adult & a teen) at Pila?
Good English a must.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Anyone?
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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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Alas, the request for private instruction wasn’t very successful so off to the ski school/ski bro., but any other tips to share?
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Their new gondola up to the top of Coulis is part opening in December. So the top bit should be operational (which will be a a big improvement on the old 2 man chair) and then linking it all up to the Pila base, with intermediate stops, to be done in the Spring / summer along with the very swanky looking restaurant etc at the top.
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You know it makes sense.
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I was there last Feb half term. In terms of lunch stops, the ones in the main Pila village were always a bit busy for us, I don't know if it would be any better at Christmas. The La Sosta restaurant did good pizza. We had most of our lunches at Lo Baoutson on blue 15, which was more of a snack bar than a restaurant, but did good pulled pork buns. We were told Ristorante Societe, off blue 5 by the reservoir, was a bit more upmarket, but never went there.
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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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In 2023 I took the train from Torino to Aosta and had a good experience renting from Padorent. Good car (a Fiat wagon , forget the model name), helpful folks. Car came with snow tires. Have a great time and I hope the snow is flying for you.
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FAQ
