 Poster: A snowHead
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Planning a last minute ski trip (because why not) with the aim to get my wife’s confidence back after a horribly busy new year in Mayrhofen (which we went into with our eyes open with two other families , it was good fun even if skiing not the best).
We got up early there and skied a few hours before it got too bad but after 10 am it got too much for her .
We do like a nice hotel with good service , delicious food , welcoming bar and a spa with a pool (ideally a in and out pool - don’t judge us) .
Has to be a decent location (no ski buses) close enough to lifts to walk.
Want a rental shop with decent kit on hand and a quality ski school for a few private lessons.
Narrowed it down to two hotels we have been to before (as the familiarity is good for her) - Alpin resort in Saalbach (Crystal) and Gran risa in La Villa (DIY).
Skied a lot in dolomites so very familiar area . Gran Risa is next to main gondola and was nice when we went some years back but has recently added a new adults only pool / spa.
Plus they renovated the bar so it’s very good.
But snow forecast is basically nothing (and they never got much so far this year). I know they make artificial well.
Ski rental in Italy I’ve found can be mixed and often old (they usually give you something rubbish until you push back).
And the instruction can be either good or useless (although they always looks stylish).
Saalbach only went once (Christmas week) and didn’t really see more than 30% of it so keen to go back but I remember some tricky bumpy busy blues .
Hotel is amazing - all inclusive and food and facilities were excellent . A short walk to lifts.
Saalbach has a foot due over the next week or so…so might be better . If it arrives .
Austria seems to hand out much better skis - often new that season . And the instructors feel more professional .
Both are likely to be equally busy (or not really busy that week).
Mountain restaurants probably equal (possibly slightly better in Alta Badia).
Apres more fun in Saalbach (although La Villa does have club moritzino at the top of the gondola  )
We just can’t decide !
Which would you pick if it was up to you and why ? Or somewhere else ?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Of your two I would go Saalbach which is a favourite. Haven't skied La Villa so you know that better than me but Saalbach scores for me because
Lots of easy options direct from the village. It will not be busy in the next few weeks and there are only a few choke points which get tricky late in the day. I suggest the Kohlmais sector and over towards Asitz for confidence building skiing. Bernkogel on the other side is a long and steepish (for a blue) main route back from Hinterglemm and is one of the few that get bumpy late on. (soul house at the bottom is worth a visit though)
Very good snow management and lifts. Everything is open already prettty much and there looks to be a nice top up coming this weekend.
Saalbach is in the centre of the area, La Villa looks to be a bit out on the edge
Generally like Austria for equipment, lessons, infrastructure etc
Whichever, enjoy it!
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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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Alpin resort in Saalbach is a brilliant hotel and has it's own ski rental shop and ski school (Snowacademy). The new snow has already arrived in Saalbach and more is forecast over the next 3 days.
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Interestingly, myself and OH having a similar debate at the moment.
We've stayed in Corvara and Hinteglemm a couple of times. Glemm by AvenidA is a nice hotel, stayed there a couple of years back, it is in Hinterglemm has a nice gym and spa the pool is outside though - its the top end of the town up near the Zwolfer. Would be a shuttle to the lift although the hotel provides this and I think it literally just runs on a loop throughout the day.
Our main consideration this year is how busy it might be around the Dolomites given the run up to the Winter Olympics in Cortina (starts 7th Feb I think). Because of this we have been leaning towards Saalbach / Hinterglemm.
We only have two options for timing, either the week of 31st Jan or 21st Feb, we'll likely decide based on snow / availability / keeping an eye on reports of how busy it is around Alta Badia etc. Be great to hear what you decide 
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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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La Villa gets my vote. Returning to Sport Hotel Teresa in Badia just down the road for the 5th time. Excellent hotel with indoor pool, wellness spa area (renovated last year), two saunas, hot tub. Best food ever. Friendly and welcoming staff. Hotel has its own free shuttle service to Piz La Ila gondola or to Sta Croce area. Hire skis from Skitop Badia - you can book online in advance. Excellent service and they collect from the hotel at the end of your stay. They also offer a free shuttle service to their skishop. Food on the mountain is all fabulous and excellent value for money. Lots of cruisey blues and well maintained pistes. Taking a small group there 7-14 March - there's still room on our return shuttle bus from Venice airport if you can match our flight times...
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| sheffskibod wrote: |
Saalbach has a foot due over the next week or so…so might be better . If it arrives .
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It is snowing there now if you look at the webcams, with it forecast to continue for a few days.
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We’ve stayed in La Villa 3 times and Corvara for many weeks so know the area well. We’re currently skiing in the dolomites. The pistes conditions are good but there isn’t much snow and nothing meaningful forecast so if I had to make a decision today based on there being snow forecast for Austria personally I’d go to Saalbach.
In a weeks times that decision could obviously be reversed but you’ve got to go with the info you have.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Done both
La Villa and those dolomites there have without doubt the best managed and widest artificial snow i have seen anywhere
Plus fabukous mountain food
And you have solved the La Villa issue by having a hotel right next to the lift!
Saalbach, well lots of skiing. Bus to Zell, bus to Kaprun (i love the Maiskogel), Bus to the Glacier
There was a good pizza restaurant up the high street. Goulash soup!
You have one hell of a problem ! 
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La Villa. If confidence building is the aim, this has got to be the right choice. Ste Croce is quiet and the run down from the top is fab, not to mention the view. Alta Badia on your doorstep.....
Saalbach is great but getting buzzed by beered-up blokes is a possibility. Maria Alm is nicer for peaceful skiing. Beautiful spot.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I much appreciate the help on this - although most suggested Saalbach (and the snow forecast was really swaying me) I ended up going with Gran Risa .
Decision based on a few factors:
1 - Its important my wife is happy and comfortable to get her confidence back - I know the area in the dolomites really quite well now - generally do not need a map and have some idea of which slopes to avoid . Local slope is a nice wide consistent blue and then up Piz la Ila is blues in all directions. Even in bad weather I wouldn't be worried . Saalbach I do not know well - worry is we take a wrong turn , or the weather is bad.
2 - Although the Saalbach hotel is lovely - if we were to stay out for lunch it would make it more expensive than La Villa as the Saalbach one is all inclusive. Now we can plan a day trip with a nice hutte at the lunch point and not worry about spending on lunch.
3 - Although the forecast is dry for the moment - I just had a look at the webcams and it still looks wintry - and it's cold so they will carry on making their superb artificial snow.
4 - I always wanted to re visit the Gran Risa following its refurbishment and extension . We had a great week there before some years back but the downsides (noisy crowded spa / pool with lots of kids and an old fashioned bar) have been sorted .
5 - As it's DIY - we will have a car . So we might be able to get trickier places easily (Cortina perhaps for a look around or even a little ski pre olympics)
6 - Thick hot chocolate with cream . Only the dolomites can do that !
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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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Never been to La Villa but visited Saalbach over Christmas for our first ever trip to Austria and can't speak highly enough of the place.
Sounds like the hotel fits the bill and you have prior knowledge of the place, so that's a massive bonus.
As somewhere to build confidence, I think it's all personal on what you feel comfortable with - I know my wife (who's fine on skis, but dreads red runs) did find some aspects of Saalbach steeper than expected - icy pistes didn't help - but then again loved bits like the runs into Fieberbrunn and the Azitz area.
@Klamm Franzer, have a friend who does a 6wk trip to the area and he really rates Maria Alm as a great area for anyone who likes steady blues. But he does it in a car (stays in Maishofen) so finds it easy to head over to there and Hochkonig, which he also really rates.
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| Klamm Franzer wrote: |
La Villa. If confidence building is the aim, this has got to be the right choice. Ste Croce is quiet and the run down from the top is fab, not to mention the view. Alta Badia on your doorstep.....
Saalbach is great but getting buzzed by beered-up blokes is a possibility. Maria Alm is nicer for peaceful skiing. Beautiful spot. |
Not really familiar with Maria Alm - any hotels around there which would fit my original brief (for next time perhaps)?
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You know it makes sense.
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The Hochkonigin has the most amazing pool and the Eder Sepp is rather nice but I can afford either of them 
A quick look on Google maps should give you an idea.
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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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| Klamm Franzer wrote: |
The Hochkonigin has the most amazing pool and the Eder Sepp is rather nice but I can afford either of them
A quick look on Google maps should give you an idea. |
Many thanks for these - both look amazing , fits my brief perfectly and the ski area looks big enough for a week.
I have added them to my google maps ski hotels list for a future trip.
Tricky to check prices as mostly booked up from now until
Mid march but I can’t imagine they are much more than where we are now going.
The Austrians (and the sud Tyrol bit of the dolomites) really know how to run a hotel. Often second or third generation owners and continuous investment mixed with incredible attention to detail and high levels of service.
We did cast our eyes across some possibilities in France (due to the dump of snow they are currently getting) but we know from experience you generally pay more and get less - plus drinks and food on the mountain are generally poor or expensive (and often both).
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Poster: A snowHead
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FAQ
I'd like to go back and see the place in the sunshine.
