A friend and I are planning a YOLO (You Only Live Once) ski trip. We've decided to go to the Italian Dolomites and to go for about 8 weeks between (approximately) mid-December 2025 and mid-February 2026. His partner and my wife & 2 children (15 & 12) will join us for Christmas and another week mid-January... birthdays on 17 January. We're going to be driving and plan to stop off in Brugge "to break up the journey" on the way home.
We're looking for a self-catering apartment, chalet / hotel (with half-board, not B&B). We'll need to work out where we can go to do our laundry, if there aren't facilities in our accommodation.
Does the SnowHeads community have any advice? Thanks in advance...
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
@alexpresland, sounds wonderful!
We looked at doing something similar - no tips on areas from me but if you wanted to do either the whole 8 weeks ot two blocks of 4, airbnb had apartments in various towns around the area and you can filter for places with a washing machine.
Don't know what your budget is, but there were cheaper places around Moena in Val di Fassa which may suit if you have a car, and also round the beginning of the Val Gardena before Orteisei. Often there's a decent discount on airbnb for 4 week bookings.
When we've done the same kind of thing in Austria and Aosta, we started looking approx a year to 8 months in advance.
Closer you are to a lift, more expensive it gets!
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?
Although Selva tends to fetch a premium compared to other towns in the area, I've heard that long term SC lets are quite reasonable. I've spoken to a few Brits over the years whom have taken a let for the whole season and the numbers always sounded like decent VFM.
We did a 6 week stay two years ago, and really loved it. It was two of us and our dog, with various friends and family coming at different times. We stayed in Ortisei, as it was a town with ski access to the Sella ronda, also Alpe di siusi, and very good bus services to bigger towns, or resorts, if we needed. It also had amazing winter walks (for the dog). This was the accommodation we stayed at https://www.petlin.it/en/. A three bed apartment, sleeps up to 8, washing machine, two bathrooms. It was perfect for us. The location meant about 6 min walk to either Alpi di Suisi or Seceda cable cars. To our surprise we skied a lot at Alpi di Suisi especially with friends who were less experienced skiers. The area is really quiet and has lots of fun things to keep people amused eg free slaloms, big hit with everyone.
It sounds a great plan, and I feel you can't really go wrong wherever you choose to stay in the Dolomites
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
@alexpresland, great choice!!
However, I can see a slight flaw in your plan...if you are planning on staying in one spot, you are going to have to pay for somewhere to sleep 6 for the duration, when for many weeks it will just be two of you, so you will be paying over the odds for capacity you don't need??
I suppose a way round this would be to book somewhere for 4 nearby for the two weeks and you join your family there and leave the other couple in the other place.
Though if @rachelb's recommendation is offering a discount for a long stay and not too pricey, maybe that's a way forward. Though with them listing the 3 bed units at €4500 for the New Year week of 2024/25 alone, I'm not that hopeful, unless money really is no object!
I would also suggest that 8 weeks would be too long in one spot, I would want to split it up a bit, at least two centres, but maybe that's me!?
As @ElzP says, the closer you are to a lift, particularly a Sella Ronda lift, the more you pay. Val di Fassa is the cheaper corner of the Sella Ronda and areas away from the Sella Ronda are generally less pricey, except Cortina. If you're willing to commute to the lifts each day, you can save quite a bit, but it's a lot less convenient obviously.
Thanks for all your great feedback @ElzP @Mollerski @rachelb @luigi - all really useful.
Thoughts so far from the feedback:
* My friend and I like the idea of potentially splitting up our time into two locations
* We were looking at getting additional / changing accommodation for the weeks that there are more of us for the very reason of not having too much space
* I'd rather only drive when we're going to a different resort (or doing an airport / supermarket run) so we'd want to be near a bus route / within walking distance of lifts
* New year pricing sounds a little crazy. Money is an object... which is one reason why we're planning to head home just before February half-term.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
alexpresland wrote:
Thanks for all your great feedback @ElzP @Mollerski @rachelb @luigi - all really useful.
Thoughts so far from the feedback:
* My friend and I like the idea of potentially splitting up our time into two locations
* We were looking at getting additional / changing accommodation for the weeks that there are more of us for the very reason of not having too much space
* I'd rather only drive when we're going to a different resort (or doing an airport / supermarket run) so we'd want to be near a bus route / within walking distance of lifts
* New year pricing sounds a little crazy. Money is an object... which is one reason why we're planning to head home just before February half-term.
The UK Feb half term in itself doesn't actually mean that much in the Dolomites, as UK visitors are a very small minority. It might affect flights out of the UK and package holiday pricing, but as you are self driving and DIY accommodation, not a big impact.
New Year is by far the most expensive week in the Dolomites and Italy in general, then Xmas week, then all of Feb into 1st week March is high season. Good news is the week before Xmas, the rest of January & March is low season!
A week to watch out for are the German Fasching holidays for Val Gardena, Alta Badia & Kronplatz. It doesn't necessarily affect the already high price, but it will be busy on the slopes and availability gets harder. This is a moveable feast and falls 14-21 Feb 2026, which might actually coincide in 2026 with UK HT.
The Danes seem love Canazei and upper Val di Fassa, so their winter school holidays is one to avoid, tends to happen mid-Feb, so it could all collide that same week, so you probably are best getting out of there!!!
Perhaps a PM to @rachelb to see roughly what she paid for the 6 week stay might give you a better idea of budget?? I reckon it could easily be five-figured sum, prices have only gone one way since then and you are looking to be there two of the most expensive weeks of the season.
After all it is free
After all it is free
One other thing. Dolomiti Superski season passes are ridiculously good value. I know, because I bought mine today.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
Cool spot! Not too far from the Armentarola drag that gets you over to San Cassiano. A little bit off the beaten track, but you wouldn't need to use the car to commute.
Run 9a is one of my favourite mellow runs in the area...
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.
luigi wrote:
You don't qualify for Superseniors yet then??
Getting closer by the year.
This year we currently have booked 2x9 day trips and 1x7 day trip. The season pass effectively gives us the 7 day trip for free. There's always then the temptation to sneak out for another week which is tricky to resist.
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
@alexpresland, this one is a bit cheaper, in a nice village, walking distance to the cablecar up to the small and very scenic local Catinaccio area and pretty handy for everything in Val di Fassa, a short drive away. So you will need the car, but probably around 700km of skiing within 20mins drive: Sella Ronda, Catinaccio, Carezza, Pozza-Buffaure, Alpe Lusia, Passo San Pellegrino, Latemar...
It's cosy and the tourist tax is on top (might be the same for all accommodation actually). Close access to Piculin gondola at the back end of Kronplatz ski area, you might even be able to ski down to the gondola and back to the apartment if there's enough snow. There's a free ski bus from there up to Badia to join back end of Alta Badia ski area that links in to Sella Ronda...or it's a 20min drive up to La Villa gondola to cut out the middleman
A month on the Alta Badia NE side and a month on the Val di Fassa SW side as a two centre combo would give you good coverage of the Sella Ronda linked areas and quite a few areas surrounding it. If you wanted to do it as cheap as possible, this would be where you need to be thinking...or just suck up the higher pricing in Val Gardena and other resorts directly on the Sella Ronda to have the convenient location
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Saying that, I found this very cosy studio apartment in Santa Cristina in Val Gardena for a fairly reasonable price if you don't mind sharing Austrian twins with your mate!!
I think it's too far to walk to any lifts, but only a short drive or maybe a ski bus passes nearby...
You'll have to play around with the options, but as with any ski accommodation there's usually a trade-off to be had with price, quality and location.
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Found a nice pic of the view on the Sella Ronda at Belvedere ski area above Canazei Val di Fassa...
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Just a quick reply to say thanks for all the suggestions, ideas, etc. My friend and I used them in a planning session on Saturday, with the help of a bottle of wine.
@luigi Love that view and can't wait to see it again with my own eyes!
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?
alexpresland wrote:
Just a quick reply to say thanks for all the suggestions, ideas, etc. My friend and I used them in a planning session on Saturday, with the help of a bottle of wine.
@luigi Love that view and can't wait to see it again with my own eyes!
A nice Valpolicella or a local Gewurztraminer...or maybe it was a fruity Grappa for added decision-making capabilities?!
I wanted to come back to you all and give you an update. Thank you again to everyone for their really helpful input. It has taken the last month to find somewhere, agree costs, and book. We wanted to avoid the booking.com, vrbo.com, etc. type sites and book direct with a person. Who knew that it would be that difficult?! One chalet company came back to us with an unhelpful "not available; please ask us about other dates" in response to anything we sent them. Others didn't bother replying. Because of these issues, we gave up on the great idea of splitting our time between two locations.
We've booked with Villa Hotel Agomer between Alba & Penia in the Canazei valley. It is beautifully located with 2 lifts just a little more than across the road, one of which takes you pretty much straight onto the Sella Ronda. Emanuele has been really helpful discussing our requirements by email (including my family visiting for a 2-week and another 1-week stint), and I really appreciate the time he's given to us on this. Deposit now paid! Emanuele's response to the parrot-owning-supercomplainants on TripAdvisor is well worth a read!
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Wow! Didn't think you'd end up in a hotel!
Is it an apartment with cooking facilities or just a room?
But that is a great location, those two lifts offer great access to the Sella Ronda one side and the Ciampac-Buffaure circuit the other, plus if you have the car, you can also try some of the smaller quieter, but worthwhile ski areas along Val di Fassa like Carezza, Alpe Lusia, Passo San Pellegrino and Latemar. If you drive across the Fedaia pass, you can get to the Marmolada lifts or the WW1 circuit or drive a bit further to Civetta.
The other two spots you should try and get to are Kronplatz and Cortina, particularly Cinque Torri and the Hidden Valley, but there are some high passes to drive over on the way.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
luigi wrote:
I can just about imagine it in the snow...
Nice one! That photo doesn't show the proximity of the lift...
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
luigi wrote:
Is it an apartment with cooking facilities or just a room?
It is a hotel and we're booked in half-board.
luigi wrote:
But that is a great location, those two lifts offer great access to the Sella Ronda one side and the Ciampac-Buffaure circuit the other, plus if you have the car, you can also try some of the smaller quieter, but worthwhile ski areas along Val di Fassa like Carezza, Alpe Lusia, Passo San Pellegrino and Latemar. If you drive across the Fedaia pass, you can get to the Marmolada lifts or the WW1 circuit or drive a bit further to Civetta.
The other two spots you should try and get to are Kronplatz and Cortina, particularly Cinque Torri and the Hidden Valley, but there are some high passes to drive over on the way.
https://openskimap.org/#9.61/46.4689/11.8224
Nice. Thanks for the pointers. Most of them were already "on the list".
luigi wrote:
Have fun! I'm off there next week
Have a wonderful time!
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
alexpresland wrote:
Nice one! That photo doesn't show the proximity of the lift...
Yeah, it's about as close as you can get without camping out in the lift station!
At the top of the Col dei Rossi lift is the view I posted further up.
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.
alexpresland wrote:
It is a hotel and we're booked in half-board.
Even better, no washing up...unless that's part of the deal with Emanuele!!
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
alexpresland wrote:
luigi wrote:
Have fun! I'm off there next week
Have a wonderful time!
Cheers! Can't wait! When I said next week I mean the 18th, just wish I was going tomorrow, looks like a cracking week of sunshine ahead!
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
@alexpresland,
Very convenient spot but don't expect much sun in midwinter. The Alba cable car is much the best way into the Sella from the Val di Fassa but still gets busy high season.
Sounds like you've landed on your feet with half board have a great time.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Yeah, the valley is quite deep and shady at that point, beautiful spot though with lots of forest and the Gran Vernel looming at the head of the valley. Alba is pretty quiet, but there's a bit of life in the bars down at Canazei, esp at New Year when the Italian revellers arrive en masse!
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
@T Bar, Thanks for the insights. If we want sun then we'll go to the top of the cable car! Oh look, they've got ski runs up there too!
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
@alexpresland, you'll be on the slopes from dawn till dusk!
You get the 'enrosadira' at sunset, when the mountains turn pinkish in colour...
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?
alexpresland wrote:
I wanted to come back to you all and give you an update. Thank you again to everyone for their really helpful input. It has taken the last month to find somewhere, agree costs, and book. We wanted to avoid the booking.com, vrbo.com, etc. type sites and book direct with a person. Who knew that it would be that difficult?! One chalet company came back to us with an unhelpful "not available; please ask us about other dates" in response to anything we sent them. Others didn't bother replying. Because of these issues, we gave up on the great idea of splitting our time between two locations.
We've booked with Villa Hotel Agomer between Alba & Penia in the Canazei valley. It is beautifully located with 2 lifts just a little more than across the road, one of which takes you pretty much straight onto the Sella Ronda. Emanuele has been really helpful discussing our requirements by email (including my family visiting for a 2-week and another 1-week stint), and I really appreciate the time he's given to us on this. Deposit now paid! Emanuele's response to the parrot-owning-supercomplainants on TripAdvisor is well worth a read!
Hi.
Emanuele’s replies to the damning reviews are astonishing (TripAdvisor translate all of them), wit/sarcasm on steroids, lots of loud laughter here.
I wanted to come back to you all and give you an update. Thank you again to everyone for their really helpful input. It has taken the last month to find somewhere, agree costs, and book. We wanted to avoid the booking.com, vrbo.com, etc. type sites and book direct with a person. Who knew that it would be that difficult?! One chalet company came back to us with an unhelpful "not available; please ask us about other dates" in response to anything we sent them. Others didn't bother replying. Because of these issues, we gave up on the great idea of splitting our time between two locations.
We've booked with Villa Hotel Agomer between Alba & Penia in the Canazei valley. It is beautifully located with 2 lifts just a little more than across the road, one of which takes you pretty much straight onto the Sella Ronda. Emanuele has been really helpful discussing our requirements by email (including my family visiting for a 2-week and another 1-week stint), and I really appreciate the time he's given to us on this. Deposit now paid! Emanuele's response to the parrot-owning-supercomplainants on TripAdvisor is well worth a read!
Thank you for sharing the reviews. Absolutely priceless!
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
@alexpresland, that’s a great location, I’ve been to Alba 4 times in past 3 season, just about to book again for this.
If the larger lift is busy in the morning, take the Buffare lift and do a few warm up laps, then ski down go up to Belvedere.
Thank you for sharing the reviews. Absolutely priceless!
I thought Monty Python were the masters of Parrot comedy, but Emanuele takes it to a new level there with his guests from hell!
The auto-translation only adds to the fun, but the wife's black leggings, worn for 2 weeks solid, smelling of 'onions' and the husband pepper poisoned 'orifice' had me rolling around!!
Emanuele ain't gonna take no guano off anyone!!
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
It really has made me want to stay there so I can congratulate him in person.
After all it is free
After all it is free
Can I hijack the thread slightly, I’m booked to stay in Alba 2nd week of March, I’m flying in on the Friday and will have the Saturday to ski a different area, I’ve booked myself into a hotel in Canale Agdoro for the Friday and Saturday nights, it’s on the road to San Pelligrino area and close to Alleghe, any thoughts on which area I should ski on the Saturday, would driving and doing the hidden valley be easier than from Alba ?
All thoughts welcomed.
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.
geoffknight wrote:
Can I hijack the thread slightly, I’m booked to stay in Alba 2nd week of March, I’m flying in on the Friday and will have the Saturday to ski a different area, I’ve booked myself into a hotel in Canale Agdoro for the Friday and Saturday nights, it’s on the road to San Pelligrino area and close to Alleghe, any thoughts on which area I should ski on the Saturday, would driving and doing the hidden valley be easier than from Alba ?
All thoughts welcomed.
The closest skiing to Canale d'Agordo is at Falcade, or you could drive up to the pass to start at the Passo San Pellegrino end.
Next would be Alleghe for the Civetta area.
Both worthwhile areas if you haven't skied them before.
It's a 50 min drive up to Passo Falzarego for the Hidden Valley, it's definitely doable and probably slightly easier than from Alba as you go up the valley rather than over a pass, still a pretty winding road beyond Caprile though.
The weather would probably be a factor in the decision. No point doing Hidden Valley if it's not clear. Alleghe has a fair bit of tree skiing if it's snowing. PSP is a bit exposed, though the Falcade end has some trees lower down.
So snowy, Alleghe. High cloud PSP. Clear day, HV.
Canale is a quaint mountain town, lots of old buildings huddled across the river from the main road. Its claim to fame is being birthplace of Pope John Paul I, the one before the long-serving Polish Pope John Paul II. He only lasted 33 days into his papacy!
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
@luigi, thanks for the advice, I’ve watched YouTube videos on all the areas, I’ll let the weather dictate where I go, all three are new areas for me to explore.
When I’ve driven through Alleghe on my way to Alba, the cue for the gondola has always looked very busy.
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