 Poster: A snowHead
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I'm trying to organise a one week ski trip for next season, and quite fancy the Monerosa Ski area. Please let me know what you thought about the place and the accommodasion.
We would probably be going for the last week in January. Numbers are difficult to know at the moment, but likely to be between 6 and 12 of us, all aged between 40 and 55. Skiing standard is 'happy on red runs on good snow if it's not too steep' through to 'happy off piste in good snow if it's not too steep'. Off slope diversions are not important, as most of us will be skiing most of the time.
We would be looking for comfortable accommodation but not super posh, something like a good guesthouse through to 3 star hotel, probably half board. Easy access to the lifts would be a bonus but a 5 to 10 minute walk along the flat is not really a problem.
Nightlife is not important, providing there's somewhere with a bit of atmosphere to have 2 or 3 beers immediately after skiing.
From what I've read so far, it seems that Alagna is too hard core as a base for most of the group. Gressonay seems like the logical place because it's central, but it seems that there's more going on in Champoluc, and it also seems to have the biggest local ski area if the links over the tops are closed for any reason. Is this correct? The resort does look a bit strung out though.
I've found Ski2, http://www.ski-2.com, who seem to specialise in Champoluc. Can anyone offer feedback on them? The website talks about flexibility in arranging holidays of any length, and pickups from various airports to fit in with holidaymakers' needs. How does this work out in practise? it would be great if we could do an 8 night stay and manage 7 days skiing.
All opinions gratefully received.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Spud9 wrote: |
From what I've read so far, it seems that Alagna is too hard core as a base for most of the group. Gressonay seems like the logical place because it's central, but it seems that there's more going on in Champoluc, and it also seems to have the biggest local ski area if the links over the tops are closed for any reason. Is this correct? The resort does look a bit strung out though.
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I have never stayed anywhere apart from Gressoney, which (a few years ago) had not very much open in the evening, but the hotel bar had some atmosphere, and the guides used to meet here in the morning:
I'd certainly recommend it as a good place to ski, however I went for the off piste and didn't spend much time on piste. I've been 3 times and have had lifts shut due to the wind every trip. It would be interesting to here if I was just unlucky or if it is prone to wind.
We stayed at the DuFour, next to the lift 
http://www.hoteldufour.it/index_e.asp
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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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[quote="kitenski"]
Lovely Hotel and good location: I was there last season and probably will go again in 2013.
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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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Spud9, would probably suit your group. Ski2 seem to do a good job. If you're going DIY I'd suggest the hotel Castor in Champoluc. Champoluc definitely has more going on although none of the towns are particularly wild.
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Thinking of going to this area next year some time around end of Jan. Sounds ideal to me.
So it is same deal as Cervinia when there is a strong wind links to other valley (Champoluc) are liable to be close. So Gressoney would suit us.
Last edited by You'll need to Register first of course. on Sun 31-07-11 13:40; edited 1 time in total
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| saikee wrote: |
Thinking of going to this area next year some time around end of June. Sounds ideal to me.
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Snow might be a bit thin.
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Thank you for the feedback folks. Will check out the hotel recommended by snowball and kitenski. All further opinions gratefully received.
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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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rob@rar,
Thanks for pointing out the error. Jan should be OK I hope.
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saikee,
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| So it is same deal as Cervinia when there is a strong wind links to other valley (Champoluc) are liable to be close. |
I spent a season in Gressoney a few years ago and the only lift affected by the wind was Punt Indren on The Alagna side. This is a lift that takes you up to about 3200m and is the start of many off-piste itineraries. If you don't ski off-piste you'll probably never use it.
The links between Champoluc and Gressoney never once closed during the season that I was there.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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jzBun, you were lucky. We've seen the Col (between Champoluc and Gressoney) closed quite frequently due to wind.
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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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Spud9, you seem to have summed up the three areas pretty well. All three are very quiet compared to most other ski resorts but there is always a bar to drink in. Many of the hotels in Champoluc are a bit of a walk from the uplift but no worse than being the wrong end of town anywhere else. Gressony is strung out into 3 areas and I stayed at the top end of the valley but believe that the hotel there has changed operators since I went so I can't comment on what it is like now but it was excellent when I went (although there was very little other than the hotel at the head of the valley.
I have travelled with Ski-2 on a long weekend to Champoluc. Excellent service with a private transfer (even offer the option of a glass of fizz on the way) for 6 of us. It made for easy booking for a short stay.
Assuming the links are open (and they do shut them for wind quite often) there is loads of pretty easy cruising across the whole area with plenty of more challenging stuff to explore in Alagna area with or without a guide.
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Been for 2 family weeks and a 48 person bash all through Ski-2. Really good company, with excellent UK office and co-owner resident in Champoluc, so everything works, and problems are sorted quickly. Easy transfers in from Malpensa or Turin. Great skiing on upper grade blues and middle grade reds in a real high mountain atmosphere, many charming little refugios that all have similar traditional Italian offerings. Some good off piste from relatively easy to eyeballs out, and Simon will take you himself or organise a guide (I wouldn't do self guided).
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You know it makes sense.
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We've now booked the hotel Dufour as recommended in this thread (and elsewhere). 8 of us for 9 nights from Fri 27th Jan. A friend did the booking, he was impressed how helpful the hotel was when making the booking,; and by the fact that they would do bookings other than the standard 7 night deals.
I seem to have agreed to do this:-
http://www.guidemonterosa.com/heli-guides/heliskiing_monterosa/winter/en/index.htm?navId=2977 
It looks like we will be flying into Milan. Has anyone any recommendations for Milan-Gressoney transfers?
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