 Poster: A snowHead
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We have now skied Swiss, Austrian and French resorts and apart from a day trip to Cervinia, we haven't as yet tried Itlay. So I am looking for suggestions for Italian resorts for end Feb/March. Our requirements for 4 adventurous, Intermediate adults are:
Preferrably picturesque village
Lively Apres, but night clubs not required
Large ski area, or small resort with easy access to large ski area
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Hi IncogSkiSno, have not skied there for a few years, but would recommend the Dolomite area - one of my top two favourite ski resorts is Madonna di Campiglio in the Brenta dolomites. It is excellent for intermediates, has a SCGB rep if needed, excellent mountain restaurants. ( I can recommend a good hotel if you are really interested ). The village is Ok, a very Italian resort, apres ski would not describe as lively but " sophisticated ". Ski area is from memory 150kms and is linked with Folgarida and Marivella. Mostly, below tree line so you are skiing through pretty tree trails for most of the time. I am sure you would enjoy it!. I am hoping to go there either next season or the one after.
BTW - how is Roxy doing?.
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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.
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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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Somewhere like Claviere could be good. It gives access to the Milky Way area (albeit from one end rather than the middle) without having to stay in the monstrosities that are Sauze and Sestriere. The village is small so apres is limited (although we spent every night having a whale of a time in the same place). It certainly has a few draw-backs but is good on the whole.
I've always wanted to go somewhere in the Dolomites and have had many people recommend them to me as fantastic. So that's another option.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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IncogSkiSno, I would always recommend Arabba ... apres not too lively - but fine if you can make your own in the bars. No night clubs.
Lots written about the Dolomites in general, Arabba and other resorts on  if you do a search.
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HappyMouffe and I are going to Arabba, but we've not been before so no other helpful comment...
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| Hoppo wrote: |
| HappyMouffe and I are going to Arabba, but we've not been before so no other helpful comment... |
Arabba is in the Dolomites and has some pretty steep and deep offpiste terrain. It is also connected with the Sella Ronda circuit which would take an intermediate skier about a 1/2 day to complete and the route ( clockwise or anti-clockwise ) goes through many of the dolomites resorts ( though not Madonna which is in the nearby Brenta ). Would recommend that route for a days skiing and you are literally connected with many 100s klms of pistes. A good base is Selva val Gardenia.
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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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Don't go to the Dolomites unless you want to die of boredom propping up some piano bar in the evening, if you're lucky.
Cervinia would be a good option.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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The Apres in Sauze is very good as are a lot of restaurants . . . but it can be marginal for decent snow, you're dependant on a couple of crucial links and there are a lot of drags and the ones to get back to Sauze from the bowl towards Sestriere can develop horrendous queues/scrums. Other than that it's fine !
Cervinia is a great ski area and you're linked to Zermatt. Not stayed overnight there so not sure what the Apres is like.
Livigno could be another option. That's pretty lively.
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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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IncogSkiSno,
I have been to 3 Italian resorts. Here is a brief summary.
Passo Tonale:
Transfer 2 hours from Bergamo
1900m - 3000m with glacier
Pretty snow sure
Not pretty. Exposed on mountaion pass.
Good value
Now linked to Ponte di Ligno
Livigno
Transfer 4.5 hrs from Bergamo (Not as bad as it sounds. 1 hr food break included)
1800m - 2800m
Snow sure
More scenic than Passo, but not choclate box
Good value
Skiing on both sides of valley
Great Apres ski
Madonna
Only skied here for 2 days on seprate trips
Transfer - probably 2 hours
1500m - 2700m
Good snow
Stunning Scenery
Great lift system
Don't know about apres, but would think it is more reserved than Austria.
If you had Livigno's Apres ski in Madonna I would go for Madonna
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Stallion's family have a pad in Madonna di Camp. - give him a call! 
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You know it makes sense.
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| Nickski wrote: |
| Livigno could be another option. That's pretty lively. |
Duty free resort. But the transfer time is 4 to 5 hours!!.
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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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I don't think anyone's mentioned Courmayeur yet. It's a small town, not a village, but it's very charming. The food is first class, on the snow and in the town. The apres ski is reasonably sophisticated (Italian, rather than ski resort). It doesn't have a huge area, which may rule it out for you, although I understand that in the right conditions the off piste is very good, but the whole of the Aosta valley is at your disposal if you have a car, as is Chamonix.
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Poster: A snowHead
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richmond, Thanks for your suggestion, but I shall rule it out for this trip. We are staying in Thollon over NY which is within driving distance of both Chamonix and Courmayeur should we decide to give them a try. . . SZK watch out I could walk through that door of yours yet 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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IncogSkiSno, apart from the apres, which is nothing to write home about, Champoluc or Gressoney in the Monterosa area would suit: large area with plenty for your standard of skier/boarder, and picturesque. Cervinia is another option, but not that picturesque, and adventurous skiers can head for Zermatt when they get bored (and they will).
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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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IncogSkiSno, Did Sauze a couple of years ago, snow wasn't great, resort seemed ok but nothing special. Last January went to Canazei and I thought it was wonderful. With the Sella Ronda you've got access to an enormous skiing area, providing plenty of variety for all levels, and I’d suggest the scenery in that area is second to none. Canazei itself is essentially a traditional village rather than purpose built resort (I seem to prefer this). I gather the lift system used to be a bit ropey, but that’s been updated and certainly compares to, or is better than the 3 valleys area, There are numerous restaurants and bars, and I didn’t find any absence of nightlife. It’s not that popular with the British – some might think that’s a blessing. You tend to find quite a lot of eastern Europeans there, and the English language isn’t very common either, although that didn’t seem to pose a problem.
Hope this is useful.
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IncogSkiSno, have been to Sestriere - not pretty as it's in a wide open bowl and not many trees but you would probably enjoy the skiing. When the link to Sauze is open, the reds over there are great fun. The restaurants are generally pretty good. In Sestriere itself, there are some nice hotels. We stayed at the Cristallo which is just over the road from the lifts (2 mins walk via the ski lockers). Transfer from Turin only about an hour and a half, maybe 2 hours max. Usually fairly quiet during the week but can get busier at the weekend. I've not been since the Olympics so don't know about any improvements, although I'm sure there's lots. Have a look on the Ski Club website - there's quite a lot of feedback info
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FAQ
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