 Poster: A snowHead
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Evenin' all, I was resigned on not going snowboarding this coming winter which would be the first time in 15 years. I have an operation due on my shoulder and thought they'd have given me a date by now but silence so I just thought I might be able to get in a cheeky trip with the wife. Something laid back and not full on incase my surgery does come up. I thought Italy would be nice as I've never been for snowboarding. So, here goes.
Must haves: Pretty town, a little apres straight off the hill, good food, nice runs with gentle slopes for the mrs (beginner), quiet but not sleepy, some off-piste for me to maybe get a guide for a day. Advanced+ runs for me to keep me entertained but ease of access for the mrs to greens and wider blues to get around together (tantrums willing)
Looking around most resorts seem 3 hrs from either Innsbruk or Verona which is long but would consider a hire car to maybe explore along the way (if worth it).
Cervinia, Sestriere, Cavalese, Kronplatz, Livigno, Selva Val Gardena, Val di Fassa looked at these but none stand out really. We're planning 5 nights if possible. What's the  collective thoughts on this?
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Tue 5-11-24 9:25; edited 1 time 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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@Gainz, if you could drop the 'pretty town' criterion, several of these would be promising, I think. With your wife's needs for gentle progression particularly in mind, Pozza di Fassa would be good.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder but Pozza is IMHO prettier than Livigno, Cervinia, Kronplatz and probably Selva Val Gardena.
The latter probably has the most skiing easily accessible and reachable but not much of it is easy for your wife, though great for you. Nearby Colfosco would tick your boxes but is probably significantly more expensive than those on your list.
Depends how much you'd be prepared to put up with uglyish and tantrums. 
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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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Cortina.
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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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Cortina is a bustling, lively, town but I'd not really describe it as "pretty". Great place for the "passeggiata" though, with more mink coats than you can shake a stick at. And if you want to buy an exquisite small statue, or work of art, after your coffee and cake, it's right 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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yes i have been thinking of another trip to Cortina. great food, quiet pistes on the whole and plenty of skiing for a few days
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Gainz wrote: |
Looking around most resorts seem 3 hrs from either Innsbruk or Verona which is long but would consider a hire car to maybe explore along the way (if worth it).
Cervinia, Sestriere, Cavalese, Kronplatz, Livigno, Selva Val Gardena, Val di Fassa looked at these but none stand out really. We're planning 5 nights if possible. What's the collective thoughts on this? |
I'll take them in the order you mentioned, except Cavalese:
-Cervinia & Sestriere have very little resort charm as they were purpose built. The ski areas are good though. Turin is the closest airport for these, about 1.5hr
-Livigno is a very long drive from anywhere. Innsbruck is closest, but there's the one way tunnel to negotiate. It is probably the most boarder-oriented of all the ones you mentioned
-Kronplatz, impressive lift infrastructure and Brunico is a pretty town near the base. Not as scenic as areas in the heart of the Dolomites further south. Best accessed from Innsbruck which is about 1.5hr away.
-Selva is a good spot right on the Sella Ronda, but is not a cheap option and the local slopes may be too intimidating for a timid skier. Ortisei may be better spot in Val Gardena with a pretty town and some easy skiing on Alpe di Siusi. Less than 2hrs from Innsbruck, a bit further from Verona
-Cortina is an easy drive from Venice airport, about 2 hrs. Not a cheap place to stay either. There are some really nice blues above Socrepes in the Tofana sector that your wife will love https://maps.app.goo.gl/Kdtj7J32ch7uFS8A6
-Cavalese is about 2hrs from Verona. It has a bit of a historic core and 3 nice ski areas within striking distance. The skiing on the edge of town up to Alpe Cermis is decent. Lovely pretty ski area a few miles out of town at Pampeago (marketed as Latemar-Obereggen). You also have Bellamonte 25mins away. Some lovely long blues here for your wife.
-If you drive past Cavalese further up the Val di Fiemme, it becomes Val di Fassa. Moena has the most charming centre (now bypassed) with access to lovely ski areas like Latemar, Alpe Lusia, Passo San Pellegrino, Carezza and the Sella Ronda at the head of the valley. Pozza is smaller and pleasant enough place, but the main road is busy.
The Dolomites aren't generally snowy enough for steep & deep snowboarding. You can get lucky with snow in March and there is some pretty extreme guide-necessary off-piste to exploit it, but sounds like you need to stay away from that with the dodgy shoulder anyway! 
Good food is pretty much guaranteed, it's Italy!! 
Get an evening flight home and you can have a few hrs in Venice or Verona on the last day.
Oh and no such thing as a green in Italy. It's a 3 tier system, beginner runs are blue, intermediates are red and advanced are black. So reds tend to be easier than French reds, but no guarantees!!
Another thing I would point out is that it is Fasching/Carnevale/Mardi Gras/Shrove Tuesday/Pancake Day holiday the week 1-8 March 2025. Areas that see a lot of Germans like Val Gardena and Kronplatz will be very busy that week. Italians sometimes a have a long weekend just before Shrove Tuesday, so 1-4 March. In Venice they make a big thing of it too for 2 weeks leading up to Shrove Tuesday, costumed people and lots of events. It might affect flight pricing, definitely hotels in Venice.
Maybe you could attend a masked ball... 
Seems like you need to work out where you can get reasonable flights to and take it from there
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Corvara. Rather expensive but probably you and your wife will want to return next year.
The views, the pistes, the easy lift connections to more challenging stuff for you
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Thanks guys that's some really good advice here. Corvara and Corotina look great and the idea of a few hours in verona or venice would please the mrs (of course it would!) I'll do some more research and narrow it down so will pop back here again soon. A masked ball is something I'd love to do even though it scares the pants off me!!
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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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@Gainz, I think either Corvara or Cortina would be a good choice.
If they prove too expensive, Kronplatz (Brunico) could be a more reasonable base, with slopes to suit both of you. It has a decent snow record later in the season. If anything it lacks the unique mountain scenery of the Sella Ronda, looking rather more Austrian in that respect (not at all shabby though!). With a car it would be easy enough to link into the Sella Ronda and enjoy the more northerly parts of that area. You being more advanced you could easily do a whole circuit and back on a full day skiing, starting from Kronplatz.
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Kronplatz is the mountain rather than the town.
San Vigilio / Sankt Vigil / Marebbe is prettier and more convenient than Bruneck / Brunico
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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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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@luigi, I will agree with all of that. If the OP wants a town with a pretty part and all of the facilities the Bruneck / Brunico.
If a smaller village then San Vigilio.
It does seem to be an area that covers other requirements. Close to Innsbruck. Mix of runs
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you could look at Madonna di Campiglio.
Nice town
Can ski right into the town centre for Apres but also some on the side of the piste (which is mainly civilised/tame rather than mad party)
good beginners area and blues to move on to for your wife but some genuinely steep pistes for you
2.5 hrs from Verona
plenty of decent places to eat covering all budgets (Michelin star to standard fare)
But
off-piste limited compared to some areas and you'd definitely need a guide
Decent size ski area but not a massive like Corvara/Selva etc maybe if you're wife is a beginner you wouldn't need a big area and for a short break there should be plenty for you
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