 Poster: A snowHead
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Looking for some feedback.
For 2012, have been offered a few hotels in both Selva (Sella Ronda) and Madonna Di Campiglio (Brenta Dolomites).
For logistics reasons I think I’ll only take one extra resort in addition to F. Both areas have logistic advantages and disadvantages. The cost of running tours in both areas is approx the same. I have skied extensively in both areas and I know that I’m biased (?) so thought I'd ask around.
So assuming a fully inclusive cost of about £590 PP (flight, lift pass, 3* hotel near piste, transfers, equipment, etc) which area would you go to.
Yeah I know that you can DIY and save money by stopping at the YHA in Moscow or Reykjavik then hitch hike over every morning, but as I said the selling price would be about the same, so it’s just about which resort in preferable.
Not trying to flog anything here BTW as may decide to take niether.
Any ideas
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Selva for me every time. And that's despite having had one of the best ski days of my life in Madonna di Campiglio. But I think the ski area is too disjointed. I can deal with that for Chamonix given what it has to offer, but normally I would not go to Madonna for a week.
But as a rule I would avoid Selva at half term and New Year, the queues are pretty long (even longer than in other places, I felt). Of course I DIY-ed, staying in Santa Cristina and driving the car to where queues were shorter 
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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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Wayne, I skied one day in Madonna back in 2006 when I was staying in Passo Tonale. I really enjoyed skiing there and have been looking at possibilities for going back there for a full week ever since. I've been put off by the usual TO suspects due to price and flights only from Gatwick and Manchester. At that price, it's certainly within my remit if the single room supplement isn't excessive.
Having said all that, I haven't yet skied Sella Ronda and I would love to some day. Again, the same flight restrictions are the offputting bit.
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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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Ah come on Wayne, ! Nice touch but list the hotel you are thinking of taking in Selva and then let us decide if you are cheaper! After all it could be the Crown hotel next to the two main lifts or it could be down the valley towards Moscow!!! If it were the Crown I would book with you, if it is near Moscow, convenience and the DIY trip would be the winner!
In relation to your question, my vote would be for Selva!
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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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| horizon wrote: |
| Of course I DIY-ed |
Shame on you 
| queen bodecia wrote: |
| the same flight restrictions are the offputting bit. |
I understand what you mean, but if you think about it from an airline's point of view, running flight from Newcastle or Southampton or Beflast to say Verona or Rimini is never going to be a good earner.
Oh and me and Mrs W are off on summer hols soon and we have to fly from Gatwick, so it bugs me as well. We can't the major airlines fly from Wigan International.
| Roy Hockley wrote: |
| list the hotel you are thinking of taking in Selva and then let us decide if you are cheaper! |
I didn't say I was cheaper ? only mentioned the approx price to show that both resorts will cost about the same, so any preference you may have wouldn't be based on cost, just asking which resort you prefer.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Have skied both and loved them, but Selva has the edge.
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Easy, Selva
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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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Wayne, I understand that but I always restrict my outbound airport to a 2 hour drive. Anything further is a level of cost and inconvenience I don't want to consider. This tends to be why I end up with TUI every year. They seem to have the best choice of regional departures.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Wayne, There are Easyjet flights from Liverpool to Insbruck during the winter with a 2/2.5 hr transfer to the Sella Ronda resorts.
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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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riverman,
Flights are not really the issue.
I understand that  's are not really representative of most people who go on ski holidays but it does give any insight in to "type" of resorts that people would choose if given a choice, being that sale cost from us is about the same.
When I say not representative, I mean that the vast majority of UK tourist are what could be described as lower intermediates. They may want to ski off piste, down bumps, through the trees, etc but in reality they are happier with a resort that suits their needs rather than aspirations. I assume that most people who join in with a ski forum have a higher than average skiing ability skills set than others, being that they are obviously quite interested in the sport, well enough to join in a ski forum anyway (hope that makes sense).
I know the TO's get a hard time on here sometimes, from mild comments up to having a Pandora dropped on us, but at the end of the day we "are" the ski market in the UK, even if a skewed forum input has it differently. Most, almost all if you want to look at it like that, people use TO's, basic fact. From our stand point, whilst we are not that financially reliant on our winter income (like many smaller TO's are) we still don't want to try and sell a product that won't sell. Skiing make up less than 5% of our group’s income. But on that point, it is growing as it was less than 3% only a year or so ago, so it may continue to grow. Hope so – I live therefore I snowplough.
Madonna has its plus points as does selva. My personal choice would be * * but that's not the point. So I was just interested in people’s views on two quite different ski areas/resorts, and baring in mind that some SH's are not really our target market, it's still good to get at least a few considered opinions.
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Wayne, You are partialy right. I tend to do far more DIY than TO's. The main reason is that I am based in Ireland and we are confined to either Inghams, Crystal, Topflight which are overpriced for on the whole poor accommodation. Or Highlife, an upmarket and expensive "independant TO". It is far easier to book flights at sensible times and contact hotels or chalet operators directly. Driving is not an issue and either we hire a car/mini bus or get local taxi operator to pick us up! The third option is use our own place, but when we go on a boys holiday we want something different every year!
I am open to an independant TO but as you can see from my location it can be difficult to "marry into" charter flights out of the UK!
Good luck with the venture, but do not take the organisation to Selva!!! The less people go there the better AFAIC!!
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You know it makes sense.
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I've not been to either but of what I know of them Selva would be my choice especially at that price. Isn't Madonna part of the same area as Folgarida anyway (ie you can ski between the 2)?
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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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| Roy Hockley wrote: |
| Wayne, You are partialy right. I tend to do far more DIY than TO's. The main reason is that I am based in Ireland and we are confined to either Inghams, Crystal, Topflight which are overpriced for on the whole poor accommodation. Or Highlife, an upmarket and expensive "independant TO". |
We have quite a few booking flying out of dublin. But I do understand about your cost point. We "have" to add on a flight supp of about £60, for the simple reason that flights from there cost more to buy in.
We have an office in belfast and one of the guys there travels with a company called McNeil ski and I think tey also run trips out of Dublin. They run lots of tours so you gould give them a call and see what they can do for you.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Wayne wrote: |
Why can't the major airlines fly from Wigan International.
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Pie in the Sky airlines.
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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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