 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi. First time poster here. Looking to go away for a week before Xmas - hubby and me plus a friend. Hubby and I have been skiing only four years and friend has been skiing almost two years but we are all regular visitors to an indoor ski slope out of season. Hubby and I have spent the last four seasons in Bansko simply because it was easy and compact as beginners but looking to spread our wings this season. Mainly for budget we have almost settled on Italy - in particular Bardonecchia with Sestriere as a backup. We looked at Livigno but the transfer seems like a long way and were put off from Cervinia with the reports of closures in high winds. I’m dithering and would really appreciate the advice of those with far more experience than me. Thanks very much.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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You wont go wrong with any of those, particularly with a Turin flight, very short transfer
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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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Thank you !
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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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Bardonecchia might be the better bet at your level, despite a questionable snow record. Sestriere and the adjacent resorts have fairly steep mountains, it will be very limited if the friend is not confident on red slopes. But if you all are, then sure, Sestriere is a good choice.
You could check Montgenèvre, too. A bit more expensive but the pre-Xmas week might have deals, and the lift pass is not expensive.
Edited to add that I wouldn't rule out Cervinia! You won't need the Zermatt link, and that's what's fairly regularly closed.
Last edited by You need to Login to know who's really who. on Sun 30-11-25 20:20; edited 1 time in total
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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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While there's risk everywhere and especially early season, feel that Cervinia offers much more than generally projected on here.
There's also Serre Chevalier easily available from Turin too. Their local transport bus company, I believe, organise direct connection to and from airport to facilitate. One of my family used this last season with good costing for travel.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Cervinia was one of my favoured options but all I had to go on was what research had identified. Thank you for replying … I shall have another look. Good thing is that we can be pretty flexible and book late as long as there is availability. I shall also check out Serre Chevalier.
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Thank you ski3; one of the problems for us is such limited experience other than Bulgaria where we know the differences between Blues, Reds and Blacks as we have done eight holidays there. All three of us ski throughout the year at an indoor centre but understand that the piste is a different beast and from what I can gather, different places classify in different ways. I’m recovering from shoulder injuries at the beginning of the year so am thinking that some long and easy Blues will be good for building confidence for us all. Thx again.
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Sestriere basically doesn't have those - a lot of the blues on the map achieve blue gradient only with zigzags. Cervinia isn't that great either for long blues. There's basically one or two. I'd really consider Montgenèvre!
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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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@Bigoldbird, you say you skied 4 seasons, but I assume that means 4 weeks.
Even so, you should be getting quite proficient now. I guess your friend will be a bit behind with only two weeks.
I did my second week in Montgenevre and loved the long greeny-blues off the Gondrans chair there. I remember struggling a bit on the red off the Rocher d l'Aigle chair on the way over to Claviere.
It's pretty snowsure being on a snowy pass at 1850m
https://www.bergfex.com/montgenevre/
I've skied Cervinia a few times too. There are good progressor blues runs on the left side of the bowl off the Cretaz & Pancheron chairs and also above Plan Maison off the chair there. Many of the reds are flattering and super wide too. If you could get over to the Zermatt side, the top part down to Trockener Steg is gentle, then back via the Klein Matterhorn and the longest vertical in the Alps down to Valtournenche would be a real achievement! 
https://www.bergfex.com/breuil-cervinia/
Cervinia should be good for snow in December as it's at 2050m.
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one of the problems for us is such limited experience other than Bulgaria where we know the differences between Blues, Reds and Blacks as we have done eight holidays there. All three of us ski throughout the year at an indoor centre but understand that the piste is a different beast and from what I can gather, different places classify in different ways.
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I'm a big fan of Bardonecchia, and think it is the most underrated resort that I have visited. However, I'd say both the blue and red runs are, generally, at the top end of their colour in terms of gradient. Nice long runs, generally through the trees, but it does require effort and not the long, wide, cruise-ey blues that you seem to be after. Don't want to put you off as I think you'd still have a great time there, but Cervinia might, in my opinion, provide the exact type of ski run that you appear to be after.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Thanks to everyone who took the time to reply. Lots to think about with some new ideas and not a lot of time to finalise plans.
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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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Worth looking at Pila - lovely wide pistes (ignore the red grading in the most part - they're not difficult). Not the biggest ski area but would be great for confidence building.
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Thank you @schnitzel_skier. I shall add Pila to the shortlist 
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