 Poster: A snowHead
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Hello, all! I've so enjoyed the conversations and advice in these forums - thank you to all of you who participate. I will be in the Dolomites mid to late February (I know it's a bit high season, but it was our only free week). We will be staying in La Villa (Hotel Antines). We chose this simply because the options were overwhelming, and I basically threw a dart at a map. And it seemed a little quieter, more quaint than other towns. (No idea if that's true or not) LOL. We will have 5 ski days, though depending on my knees, I may take one day off. We'll see. I'm inquiring about some of the logistics for a successful trip full of experiences. I'd appreciate any feedback/advice on the following:
*Renting a car in Venice - I know snow tires are not a given, but I'll keep watch as we get closer. I don't think there's too much to worry about here as it seems the route can be adjusted accordingly based on weather conditions.
*Has anyone stayed at Hotel Antines and can speak to their services? The reviews are wonderful. We decided on half-board - this is a departure from our normal vacation mode, as we would typically want to try different places. But the food looks fantastic, and I thought we'd likely be eating lunch on the mountain every day at a different place, so the included dinners might make our evenings a little easier/more relaxing.
*Will do the Sella Ronda, because we'll be there, and I feel like it's a thing we must do - but any other recommendations that are easily navigated from La Villa would be great. I'm intermediate-advanced, spouse is advanced-expert. I've had a season off, so will likely need a day or two to get my ski legs back (though I'm training hard in the gym to get ready!).
*Since we'll have a car, I'd like to explore other areas included with the Superski pass. I'm looking at Kronplatz and San Casiano, but is that feasible or ludicrous? Are there better options to maximize our on-mountain time? I've never been to that part of the world, so I know the maps don't tell you the full story.
*Is it typical to rent skis when you get there or well in advance (book online?)? Full disclosure - I haven't rented skis in years, so I'm a little apprehensive of the quality and tuning but I don't feel like lugging my own across the world. I'll be taking my boots, though.
*Would it be worth it to send the spouse off with a guide one day to hit some more challenging terrain?
Any other must-see, must-do, must-eat bits of advice? Any cautionary tales, or something I'm missing? We are so excited! We've never skied in Europe so we're looking forward to an entirely new (on-piste) experience. We'll wrap the trip by dropping off the car and spending 2 days in Venice during Carnival. 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Have stayed in La Villa 3 times, and would be going again next week if we'd got our backsides in gear before some other lucky person booked our normal AirBnB. Grrrrr.
Everyone will say do the Hidden Valley and the horse tow back, although another post says it's not open yet due to lack of snow. Should be Ok by late Feb. La Villa is ideally placed to get ahead of the queues en-ski, or drive to the bus starting place at Armentola.
With a car you can drive up to the Cinq Torre area and spend a day there without worrying about the links home. Large free car park there. All but one of you can ski home via the hidden valley; the unlucky one needs to drive the car back down again.
Again with a car you can drive up to the Cinq Torre car park, and then get the gondola all the way to Cortina, spend a day there, and then get the gondola back.
If skiing back to La Villa, don't miss the last lift up into town (#57 on the piste map). It's a long walk up the hill from the river valley to street level. 
You can get a bus to Kronplaz (about 30 minutes IIRC) or again drive there in perhaps 20 mins.
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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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@kimberjoih,
So much to ski impossible to say what is the best.
But to address some of your questions.
I would not worry about ski rental other than the expense I don't think you will get anything other than good skis though I can't vouch for each individual place my experience of the dolomites is good quality rental kit.
Using your car to explore? Kronplatz gets some good reviews, I haven't been in several years of skiing the dolomites as there is so much to do that I haven't felt the need to drive to do more, we might try it this year. San Cassiano is readily reachable by ski from where you are.
If you want a long day out the WW1 tour is very scenic and takes in the hidden valleyy and the Cinq Torre. It is very doable from La Villa though an early start is adviseable and you have to take a couple of busses.
There is said to be excellent and challenging off piste skiing with a guide if the conditions are good which they are not always otherwise you can find much of the skiing quite easily yourself.
Have a great time. I'm back to Corvara early Feb myself.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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I always do a day or two at Kronplatz, and based on your description of your abilities I highly recommend it to you. I think there is more good piste skiing there than any of the resorts around the SR and its less crowded since it isn't on the SR. There are also two cool museums at the summit. You might be better off at the main base rather than Piculin; there's some easier stuff right off the top for you to warm up on before tackling the super long top-to-bottoms.
I stay in San Cassiano but as for you driving there, I wouldn't say its a must-do. There is only one lift there so you'd want to be early or prepared for a bit of a wait.
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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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@kimberjoih, There is loads of Skiing to be had in the area, as it is your first time, there is no need to go to far afield
"I'm looking at Kronplatz and San Casiano" -- Kronplatz - drive there : San Cassiano is next door to La Villa
Your main area will be the Alta Badia (also know as 'Blue Heaven') - plenty of Skiing there.
Everything in the Dolomites is top class - including the Ski Hire equipment
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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We've stayed in La Villa twice and are back for a week this year. It's small but has everything you need. That hotel is in a good location.
Quick brain dump.
Don't worry too much about winter tyres, if the weather is bad just take the long route around via Trento, you avoid any passes.
With a car you can reach many places very easily ca 45 mins to Cortina (free parking at the bottom of the Tofana lift by cafe toilets etc or on the road a few miles before that) or maybe an hour to Ortisei. It's easy to drive/bus to Kronplatz but the car park at the Picol gondola can get busy so don't leave it to late. The ski bus is easy but the last return is a bit early. We've always taken a car but can easily pass a week without using it. The car park at Lagozoui for the hidden valley is no longer free and has a barrier, not sure about the one a mile or two down the road by Col Gallina.
There are plenty of ski hire places and your hotel should be able to get you a discount. If you don't like what they show you just ask for something else but it's not a budget resort so the gear should be decent, worst case just go somewhere else. Last year some of our group used ski service Renato and it was good stuff, looks a bit dodgy from outside though so don't let that put you off!
San Cassiano has virtually nothing there and is a 20 minute ski from La Villa 
Rifugio Prolangia is good for food but if it's a typical local HB you'll be doing well if you can that breakfast and lunch, we normally just have a late morning snack.
If you're wife is looking for something more challenging you could head over to Arabba for a few hours. Views from the Rifugio at Porta Vescovo are incredible and it's a good meeting point, you could do a couple of runs of reds and she could do some blacks.
A very good day out is ---La Villa to Corvara to Val gardena (via Dantercepies or one of the lovely flattering runs next to it), then St Cristina (via Saaslong black or red), up to Seceda then the La Longia run to Ortisei (the best in the area IMHO). Back the way you came or via the Anti clockwise SR. There are plenty of options for little off shoots.
For planning purposes allow an hour for each side of the SR but try not to stick blindly to following the signs as that's what everyone else does so it can get busy. In a day you can ski the SR and investigate at least one area that you ski through (Arabba, Val di Fassa, Selva).
I know it's a bit blasphemous but I'm not a massive fan of the Hidden Valley as it tends to be too busy and the pistes can be icy. Last year I was wiped out twice by other out of control skiers, the only times it happened in 4 weeks.
Most importantly, just enjoy the skiing and beautiful scenery.
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Thanks, all! I like the La Villa to Corvara to Val Gardena idea!
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@kimberjoih, of course staying in La Villa you're very close to La Crusc/Santa Croce, well worth a visit to the top and with some nice tree lined runs down. https://lacrusc.org/en/destination
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