Hi all
My family and I have skied 3 times in Borovets and whilst hubs and kids (11/15) are pretty confident to ski most routes there im still struggling with confidence in the blues (which are relatively limited in Boro). I always use a private instructor which helps but we've generally been at half term when the relatively narrow blue slopes are pretty crowded.
We're thinking of trying Italy and going 1st week of Jan where it will be a bit quieter and I believe Italy has some decent long cruisey blues which I think will be good for me to build confidence and gives the family a bit more range to ski when they're not with me. I would have an instructor again but I'm looking for the best area to stay in.
I need to be able to get around the blue runs on my own too so decent links for a few runs would be great. If I get on a red before the weeks out Id be buzzing
We usually stay in a hotel half board but prices seem much higher compared to Borovets so apartment is fine if there are plenty of places to eat in walking distance. Kids are 15/11 and don't need crazy apres but we enjoy a few drinks out in the evening.
Best recommendations please! Thanks in advance!
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
@Jennicog, Welcome to Snowheads. You will get recommendations for Corvara (do a search on the site) btu there are plenty of other places that folk will recommend
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?
Thanks, I'll have a search in Corvara... appreciate it!
Welcome! If looking to book accommodation, I recommend searching on the local tourist information website, which for Corvara is https://www.altabadia.org/en/
Definitely cruisey blue ski heaven, and stunning scenery to boot
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Cervinia has much to offer for consideration.
Admittedly not a clear first choice, but with very good mix of available slope for all of you to use.
I've found the teaching from ESI particularly good and very capable.
The mix of different sized hotel in the village is also very good and convenient to use, with great slope access.
Often decent tour op deals available there via Turin flights, not an arduous transfer either.
Passo Tonale has some great 'progression' skiing & all the slopes are pretty wide. No narrow cat track style pistes that I recall anyway. Start off on a pretty flat and short blue and work your way up in increments. There is a very nice 4km blue to work up to, with great views, although it is not that challenging at all. If you've been skiing before you could probably do it on first or second day in resort. It is pretty wide all the way down and with some relaxing flatish bits.
The reds are quite flattering as well, with plenty of width and there are a few shorts ones to start off on to break the psychological barrier. There is also a glacier with a blue and a long red if the family are more confident.
It's also pretty good value, even for Italy.
Madonna Di Campiglio is another option, although it is a much bigger area and more expensive. It really does have it all though. All pistes are marked with both maximum and average gradient so you know what you're getting into. The linked resort of Folgarida is also nice and can be skied on it's own for a week.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Although Italy offers great value in many ways, well-located half board hotels are not cheap . And there is much less choice of well-located self-catering than there is in France. There are plenty of French resorts with much better skiing than Borovets, but with plenty of blue runs and most will have a choice of apartments, for different budgets, which are virtually ski in/out. But if you want to try Italy, Corvara is a good suggestion and the Dolomites scenery is unbeatable. The first week after New Year would be a good week to choose.
After all it is free
After all it is free
I've been to Borovets twice in the dim and distant past.... I don't think it's the easiest place to learn. The piste conditions arent well managed and I seem to remember quite a few reds. Italy is a better choice. It sounds like you are looking at something at the budget end, especially having kids with you. Whilst Corvara is great it's very expensive, id forget the Dolomites if cost is a priority. I ski mainly in Italy and in your position I'd be looking at.
La Thuile, great blues up at the top
Sauze dOulx
Bardonnechia ... cheap and 30% blues
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Sorry @Gaz_H but I disagree on Sauze for a nervous intermediate. I love the place, been a few times, but it’s relatively red heavy with not enough blue options. Above Sportinia there’s 3 or 4 suitable blues which tbf are nice, but anything below Sportinia is red which makes getting home without downloading by chair pretty difficult.
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Hi,
are you looking for DIY or via a tour operator? also any budget limitations?
The Dolomites in Eastern Italy are beautiful but at the start of January won't be that quiet as a number of Eastern European countries have Christmas day on 7th Jan. Western Italy will be quieter, last year we were in val d'Aosta for the start of Jan then went over to the Dolomites and there was a noticeable difference with the west being almost deserted.
A bit of a brain dump, all in the Dolomites and most already mentioned, we've skied the first two with mixed ability groups including nervous novices and everyone enjoyed it. Ski schools were both great.
Alta Badia (Corvara is already mentioned but there are also Colfosco and La Villa) - Dolomites scenery, lots of blues, access to massive ski area. Corvara not cheap, La Villa noticeably cheaper. Meeting up can be a bit difficult if different abilities head off in different directions. Corvara has a few bars and restaurants, La Villa less.
Madonna di Campiglio - good scenery, mid sized ski area with variety of runs, including good blues, nice little town for Apres (quite upmarket), slopes unlikely to be quiet mid day but not too bad earlier and later. Quite easy for mixed abilities to meet up during the day.
Kronplatz - long wide blue runs plus reds and great lift system, many runs are from the top of the same mountain so it makes it very easy to meet up. Downside is that all runs from the top of the same mountain... so there isn't a massive amount of variety. Apres depends where you stay.
Passo Tonale - cheap(er) and cheerful, plenty of blue runs, some apres, maybe a bit dull for novices as there aren't a wide variety of blues and they tend to run parallel to each other on what can be a wind swept pass (we went when i was a novice and still had a good holiday there for very little money)
Others will be best placed to comment on the western Italian resorts.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Gaz_H wrote:
I've been to Borovets twice in the dim and distant past.... I don't think it's the easiest place to learn. The piste conditions arent well managed and I seem to remember quite a few reds. Italy is a better choice. It sounds like you are looking at something at the budget end, especially having kids with you. Whilst Corvara is great it's very expensive, id forget the Dolomites if cost is a priority. I ski mainly in Italy and in your position I'd be looking at.
La Thuile, great blues up at the top
Sauze dOulx
Bardonnechia ... cheap and 30% blues
I'm not sure Sauze would tick all the necessary boxes. It has only a couple of blues (one of which is a very flat road and one is pretty narrow and very busy, on account of the scarcity of blues), and whilst the reds are very 'kind' reds, they may still pose a problem if the issue is one of mindset (ie - you basically have to ski red if you're skiing in Sauze). The other big factor is that it has been far from snowsure at the start of the season for quite a few of the most recent years. There will be stuff to ski, sure, but there may well not be much open. We were there in a year with terrible snow in January, and it was dire - we had to do the same runs over and over again, and they weren't in great condition.
I am a HUGE fan of Sauze - I love so much about it and have been there 6 times, and recommend it far and wide. But I don't think it meets the criteria for this brief. Apart from the cost aspect!
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.
Plus however many for Alta Badia. It's the place in Italy where Brits who can't ski, go to ski and it's beautiful.
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
In terms of cost, I don't think there is a huge difference in staying HB in somewhere like Passo Tonale and staying HB in Bulgaria. Crystal has them about even.
I would say overall, Italy is much better value than Bulgaria.
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Bear in mind first week in January is one of the cheapest weeks of the whole season, so it’s maybe worth looking across the whole of Europe if Italy isn’t an absolute given. But the OP did say Italy so I won’t start suggesting other places!
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Jennicog wrote:
Hi all
My family and I have skied 3 times in Borovets and whilst hubs and kids (11/15) are pretty confident to ski most routes there im still struggling with confidence in the blues (which are relatively limited in Boro). I always use a private instructor which helps but we've generally been at half term when the relatively narrow blue slopes are pretty crowded.
We're thinking of trying Italy and going 1st week of Jan where it will be a bit quieter and I believe Italy has some decent long cruisey blues which I think will be good for me to build confidence and gives the family a bit more range to ski when they're not with me. I would have an instructor again but I'm looking for the best area to stay in.
I need to be able to get around the blue runs on my own too so decent links for a few runs would be great. If I get on a red before the weeks out Id be buzzing
We usually stay in a hotel half board but prices seem much higher compared to Borovets so apartment is fine if there are plenty of places to eat in walking distance. Kids are 15/11 and don't need crazy apres but we enjoy a few drinks out in the evening.
Best recommendations please! Thanks in advance!
Which week exactly? And do you mean Jan 2026 or 2027?
New Year week is very busy in Italy (and everywhere in the Alps, it's the busiest week of the entire season). Jan 1st 2026 falls on a Thursday, so it will be very busy until Sunday 4th. The following week it will ease off as most will be back at work though as @richb67 there is an E European contingent in NE Italy that will be there that week as it coincides with Orthodox Christmas, though Russians and Ukrainians are less visible in recent years for obvious reasons, you still get some Romanians & Bulgarians trekking across. Week commencing 10th should be the quietest in January, according to this...
Are you looking to book a package with a UK Tour Operator? Or book everything separately yourself? This will affect recommendations as the TOs only go to certain resorts.
If you can afford Corvara, do that, it's probably the nicest resort in Italy and has a lot of easy blue terrrain as well as more challenging runs for the others. I can't promise empty runs though as all the Sella Ronda resorts are popular throughout the season, but you can find quieter spots away from the circuit.
If you need it to be cheaper and quieter, let us know the budget, as there are other options, some of which have been mentioned.
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
All the usual suspects mentioned here.
If you want to progress as a nervous skier, look no further than Livigno.
Home of the widest slopes in the Alps, up to 12 piste basher tracks wide. And quiet. Did I already mention absence of hordes and idiots who try to ski you over?
Plus however many for Alta Badia. It's the place in Italy where Brits who can't ski, go to ski and it's beautiful.
Hey, I wish I’d been told that before booking!!
I’m also in the recommendation for Passo Tonale camp. I’ve been quite a few times (also been to Borovets years ago) and sometimes I’ve got decent half board hotels for not a lot more than Bulgarian options. In fact I’d say Italy as a whole is very good for half board hotels. Equipment hire in Italy also seems to be a lot cheaper than other Alpine countries.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Being a non-Brit (I'm Dutch) it's always fascinating to see how these resort advice threads unfold.
Seems the number of resorts the British dare to go is extremely small. And some peculiar ones too.
Nothing wrong with Sauze d'Oulx, but you will hardly see any Dutch (or German) going there.
Borovetz? My wife worked there one winter as a tour operator rep. Can't think of one good reason to go there, except if you want to be ripped off by the local maffiosi.
There's far better resorts in the Balkan, like Kolasin. And some in Turkey as well, you need to fly anyway.
Passo Tonale idem. Wonder why, of all those nice resorts in Italy, you would go there.
Bormio. Livigno. Sulden.
When in Dolomites, Civetta and Sexten.
Bardonecchia.
La Thuile. Cervinia.
For anxious skiers the best are
1. Cervinia (stay in Vatournenche)
2. Livigno
3. la Thuile
Being a non-Brit (I'm Dutch) it's always fascinating to see how these resort advice threads unfold.
Seems the number of resorts the British dare to go is extremely small. And some peculiar ones too.
Nothing wrong with Sauze d'Oulx, but you will hardly see any Dutch (or German) going there.
The simple answer is that , other than a dedicated few, most people go using organised package tours rather than jumping in their car. Therefore, the choices are predictable because that's where the tour operators offer.
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.
The Dutch flock to their own list of resorts too.
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Hi @Jennicog,
As @Onnem, suggests.... La Thuile was the first place that popped into my head for easy confidence building blues.
I went there a few years ago and there was an appartment complex just a few metres from the gondola. It was very good value for money (then).
Courmayer could be an alterantive ... its a much smarter town... with a great earring shop.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Thank you all so much for the input, its so nice to get advice from those who have been to these places - the choice is quite overwhelming! To address a few points raised:
I generally DIY all our holidays unless its a cruise/caribbean type offering so Im not averse to DIY though with some of the resorts there seems to a fair transfer involved (were not bothering with a car) so perhaps there is an advantage to booking a package in that respect.
Italy as our preferred location is just because we love Italy (we have travelled a lot in Italy and we find the hospitality, food and value for money fantastic. I know there is a wider choice perhaps with France but feel like its much more expensive to eat and drink there in comparison to Italy? Please correct me if Im wrong!
After a good research today, I like the look of Cervinia and Corvara but finding a place to stay seems trickier than expected (perhaps weve left it late?) and seems Madonna di Campiglio may be a good shout for us, I've been watching the runs on YouTube too and they seem to be pretty nice and wide and theres plenty of them and lots of scope for the rest of the family too! Were actually going to delay until the week before half term now, 7-14th Feb 26 . Ive found two reasonably priced hotels (Residence Ambiez and Griffone) and good Jet2 flights out of Manchester. Hopefully there are plenty of ice, reasonably priced eateries around.
Can anyone comment on transfers and places for ski hire and of course, a great patient instructor? I feel excited rather than nervous after looking into MdC today!
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.
@Jennicog, MdC is a great choice, you'll love it there, it is la Dolce Vita on snow.
As you say the blues are wide and flattering and there is a large ski area for the others.
It is popular with the beautiful people of Milan, they even made a song about it...
Good idea going the week before Half-Term as 17th Feb is Carnevale in Italy and can be that bit busier.
Ambiez is above the resort at Pradalago, where the runs cross the valley, so very handy for the blue slopes on both sides of the valley, but a 15min walk into town where the restaurants are, but a lot easier walking in soft boots than ski boots!
Grifone is below the centre, the pistes don't run down there, so everything will be a walk unless they have a shuttle.
I would say Ambiez is a better location for you.
A few have stayed in MdC recently and might be able to help out with restaurant and instructor recommendations. If no reply is forthcoming here, best to start a new thread asking specifically for this.
Will you need transfers from Verona?
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
Luigi,
Thanks so much! Great to know on the locations for Ambiez, we don't mind a nice evening walk so that suits us!
Yes please send recommendations our way, that would be much appreciated! And definitely for an instructor, that would be so helpful!
Thank you
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
we've been to MdC 6 or 7 times but haven't used those hotels.
transfers - where are you flying to ?
these guys are good for private transfer, they are a UK based agent https://www.verona-airport-transfers.com/ and make the arrangements for you. I think they do other airports, it's not cheap but when I did a price comparison 2-3 years ago they were the best I could find and you have a UK based person to speak to.
there is also a shuttle bus which goes via various airports https://www.campigliodolomiti.it/en/how-to-arrive/by-flyski-shuttle but we've never used it
driving is the quickest and cheapest way to get there but not everyone likes to do this
ski school and rental
we always these guys https://www.scuolascicampiglio.com/en/ I can recommend "Giorgio Z" as being incredibly patient with good English. They have a rental place under the ski school office in the middle of town
Hotels
Style Grifone is a better location for the town as you can walk into the centre, one year we stayed in the Italo which is almost next door. It doesn't advertise a shuttle bus but it's on a ski bus route which we used and worked well. You could walk to the nearest ski lift but it was just far enough to be a pain. We rented from Olimpic sport which is right across the road and they were great, good gear and helpful staff, this was during Covid so 3-4 years ago. There was a discount from our hotel so I'm sure Griffone will have the same.
Residence Ambiez is a bit out of town so check they have a shuttle bus as you might be a bit stranded in the evening, it is a great location for skiing though, right by a meeting place and various ski lifts.
Eating out
there are lots of places with a variety of price ranges... everything from Pizza and burger to Michelin star.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
@luigi, can you walk from Ambienz into town? I've done the other way in summer but seem to recall it was either on the main road or up a path which is a piste in winter!
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
richb67 wrote:
we've been to MdC 6 or 7 times but haven't used those hotels.
transfers - where are you flying to ?
these guys are good for private transfer, they are a UK based agent https://www.verona-airport-transfers.com/ and make the arrangements for you. I think they do other airports, it's not cheap but when I did a price comparison 2-3 years ago they were the best I could find and you have a UK based person to speak to.
there is also a shuttle bus which goes via various airports https://www.campigliodolomiti.it/en/how-to-arrive/by-flyski-shuttle but we've never used it
driving is the quickest and cheapest way to get there but not everyone likes to do this
ski school and rental
we always these guys https://www.scuolascicampiglio.com/en/ I can recommend "Giorgio Z" as being incredibly patient with good English. They have a rental place under the ski school office in the middle of town
Hotels
Style Grifone is a better location for the town as you can walk into the centre, one year we stayed in the Italo which is almost next door. It doesn't advertise a shuttle bus but it's on a ski bus route which we used and worked well. You could walk to the nearest ski lift but it was just far enough to be a pain. We rented from Olimpic sport which is right across the road and they were great, good gear and helpful staff, this was during Covid so 3-4 years ago. There was a discount from our hotel so I'm sure Griffone will have the same.
Residence Ambiez is a bit out of town so check they have a shuttle bus as you might be a bit stranded in the evening, it is a great location for skiing though, right by a meeting place and various ski lifts.
Eating out
there are lots of places with a variety of price ranges... everything from Pizza and burger to Michelin star.
You only have to mention it and a snowHead comes along with the answer!
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
@luigi, thats why this forum is amazing
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?
richb67 wrote:
@luigi, can you walk from Ambienz into town? I've done the other way in summer but seem to recall it was either on the main road or up a path which is a piste in winter!
It looks like there's a footpath along the main road, but not sure what state it would be in in winter or how well illuminated, so although it's really handy for the skiing, on reflection it's probably better suited to those who have a car and/or are self catering.
As you suggest,they may be better at Grifone if it's an easier (snow-cleared & illuminated) 10min walk into town in the evening and if the skibus passes by to get to the lifts in the morning. I notice there are also a number of restaurants in that lower part of the resort too.
Nice authentic hotel with warm care and absolutely fabulous food, read the reviews.
La Thuile is perfect for your specific requirements. Endless super wide slopes, loads of good quality snow due to vicinity to Mont Blanc, cost 30% lower than in France, espresso for € 1, and the best food on the slopes you can imagine.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Onnem wrote:
To find hotels and B&B's use booking.com or tripadvisor.
Nice authentic hotel with warm care and absolutely fabulous food, read the reviews.
La Thuile is perfect for your specific requirements. Endless super wide slopes, loads of good quality snow due to vicinity to Mont Blanc, cost 30% lower than in France, espresso for € 1, and the best food on the slopes you can imagine.
I like La Thuile a lot, I went over every day for lunch when I stayed at La Rosiere. As you say the food & coffee is cheaper and better in Italy!
The runs into resort are steep, but once you're up at Les Suches, the blues on that plateau are great. Nervous skiers would just need to download the gondola at the end of the day.
Looks like a nice hotel, but it's 3.5km from the lifts and they won't have a car, does a bus run up there?
I think Madonna is a great choice. You'll have a blast
Transfers - always more expensive than you think lol.
Renting a car is pretty cheap from Bergamo or Milan. Not sure about Verona. I like having a car but not everyone does.
The bus type collective transfers are probably a false economy if there are 4 of you as you're charged p.p so you'll probably end up paying as much as a cab if not more. A taxi will also be there when you want it to be. It's worthwhile getting a good few quotes, including from local companies and your hotel might be able to help. The tourist office will also have a list.
Public transport is probably doable. I like public transport if the resort has a station but MDC doesn't so would be quite a faff.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
I haven’t been everywhere yet but I have done TRs for quite a few of the areas mentioned. Unfortunately I’m far too verbose, especially after a beer or glass of wine and have no editor so if you want to read about them, set aside an evening! The other issue is that Italy is literally half of the Alps so your resort choice is dictated by flights. Turin, ‘Milan’ (Malpensa, Linate and Bergamo), Verona, Venice, Treviso, Innsbruck and Geneva have accessible resorts to get to.
San Cassiano (part of Alta Badia) 2018
https://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?p=3224865&highlight=san+cassiano#3224865
Think this place would suit you quite well. B&B. Costs abt €2K for 4 for a week nowadays. Short walk to gondola from apartment, Pizzeria across the road and supermarket 5mins walk. Blue run heaven but you have to eat lunch on the mountain every day because there are about 50 of the world’s best restaurants up there. Haven’t managed to try them all in 2 weeks.
If you’re in the U.K. alas that web hosting site has now deemed far too racy for your eyes so you’ll either have to use a VPN for the later 2 TRs or take my word for it that the scenery is amazing. The photos for the earlier ones bit the dust in a website cost cutting exercise too. You must go to see for yourself!
Always found driving in Italy very cheap (if not always without it’s challenges) as there is a massive oversupply of hire cars at the Milan and Venice airports throughout winter, definitely consider it an option for getting to resorts, especially with 2 large children.
After all it is free
After all it is free
Luigi,
On La Thuile.
Regarding accomodation, booking and tripadvisor both show (almost) all, there must be at least 10-15. And in January, there is lots of vacancies.
Regarding skiing down. There's the green slope, in what is the Saint Bernard pass road.
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.
@Jennicog, I notice that you are using Manchester Airport to get out there. I'm Northwest based.
Just be aware that some of the suggestions, whilst great, aren't the easiest from Manc, especially on DIY. I'd check Verona (I haven't looked) but it's always been more difficult.
My general rule to make my DIY choices are Malpensa, Venice, Geneva, Munich and Zurich as these provide multiple flights per week from Manc.
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
@Gaz_H, thanks Gaz, yes we're finding easyJet ryanair and Jet2 going out in Feb so great options...all on a Saturday but pretty cheap still!
FAQ
Poster: A snowHead
