 Poster: A snowHead
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After spending the last three trips at Puy we feel that our kids are growing out of it and we would like to try somewhere else. We have two kids who will be 12 and 9 next year. Looking for a good family based resort. Thinking of going in February 2014 so thinking of avoiding France (because too busy with French holidays). Just stumbled across Folgarida on here which looks great. But wondering...
What's the transfer like (we have one child who suffers badly with motion sickness and mountain roads not good)
What is there to do in the evenings for this age group?
And what's the ski school like etc
And any other tips welcome
Or if you can recommend a small-ish resort for famill ski group I would be very grateful.
Many thanks in advance 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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kapow,
Transfer is around 3 hours but only a few hairpins on the last few km,s. Not a lot to do in evening tbh. Is school seemed very good but this could be just the instructor my kids had. Nice huts on mountain and good value.
Overall a nice place but relatively limited ski area and quiet in evening.
Mitch
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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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Thanks for your reply. I'm guessing there isn't much in the way of sledging etc in the evenings? Are kids allowed in the bar area? Or is there anywhere for them to go apart from stay in the hotel room?
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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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The three hours quoted is a little optimistic. Done it twice. 3:45 first time; 3:15 second time. The great majority of the journey is on good, straight-ish roads. Not too bad for adults who can enjoy the scenery but a bit tedious for kids. Our coach wasn't full so all the kids got together with their DS's, which in addition to helping pass the time, meant that they had made friends before we were even in the resort. Ski school was excellent. My eldest (9 at the time) was coping with reds by the end of the week. The resort is quiet at night; the torchlight procession and display by the instructors seems to be the highlight of the week. I can particularly recommend the Hotel Renzi for families. While children are allowed in the ground floor bar area, they are (quite reasonably) expected to behave themselves. However, on the first floor is a large children's area with a dance floor (Italian DJ/organizer), bar football and table tennis. The kids can let off a little more steam here. There are also lots of settees and armchairs for parents of younger children who might otherwise feel a little uneasy in the downstairs bar while their children are unattended.
I'd have to disagree about the 'limited' skiing. I'm assuming that after three trips your kids are pretty competent.The long blue back down to 1300 is a joy to ski 'con la famiglia', as is the red to 1400. There is also a black down to 1300 but our two weren't ready for it. There are some lovely reds between Folgarida and Marilleva; Mastellina springs immediately to mind. You can also get an extended lift-pass and ski to Madonna di Campiglio. Just bear in mind that the red that brings you back to the Folgarida sector has a reputation for being quite a bit more difficult than other reds in the area. Just as a yardstick; my kids are 12 and 8 and have skied for 3 weeks. I wouldn't hesitate to take them on that piste. Just one more thing; all the hotels (even the Renzi which is only 100m away) run free ski-buses to the gondola. This is a great help with young children, although if you are anything like me you'll be making the 'little bleeders' carry all their own gear now. 
Hope this helps.[/i]
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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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Thanks Gaz, that's helpful. I know it sounds a bit trivial, but is there one table tennis table? If there's nothing much else to do then that would keep my two happy for the evening, but I guess it's popular.
I am drawn to a small company. We've been so impressed with snowbizz previously that we'd like something similar but caters for the older kids. The skiing sounds perfect for us. Really want to avoid the large TOs and not confident enough to do DIY! Such a mind field!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Yes, just the one (or at least there was when we were last there in 2011). We got to use it without having to wait forever most evenings. The kids were a bit younger than what yours will be so half an hour was plenty for them (and me ). I don't recall there being much pressure for us to 'clear off and give someone else a go' though.
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kapow,
Haven't used them but 'folgarida.co.uk' seem to do an all inclusive package for the area which seems good value.
Pretty sure our transfer was only 3 hours by coach but maybe I,m forgetting exactly.
Its a nice place & sure you would enjoy if you went.
People are very friendly too.............mind you , most Italian places I've been to are as well.
Mitch
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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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Thanks,admin, food for thought. That would be ace to ski the last bit but no don't have own skis. How long was the train journey? What's the snow conditions like out there? And is the resort busy? (As we are thinking of this week next year)
Enjoy the ski!
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Thanks Mitchell, yes I found the website from doing a search on here. It sounds good! If not so much to do in evening then we might even get some quality family time together...or sleep! 3 hours transfer time isn't so bad with most of journey on motorway, but a shorter one would be a bonus
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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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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We've just booked!!! so excited!
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You know it makes sense.
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kapow, we had 5 trips to Puy with our boys, followed by one to another small French resort and then a couple in Folgarida. We loved Puy but maybe grew out of it. We wanted something that wasn't a massive resort and Folgarida delivered for us twice. My children were a year or so older than yours but we really enjoyed what for them were massive long runs in Folgarida compared to Puy (which we still love and talk about!). Everything felt just as friendly at Folgarida just a bit bigger. I'm sure you'll have a great time.
Transfer from the airport was a bit long, but not a major problem. Last year there was very little snow but the pistes were well groomed and as I say, we had a great time again. My sons and I loved skiing from the very top of the mountain to the bottom of the gondola non-stop.
It's certainly a good 'transition' up/onward from Puy.
Enjoy . . .
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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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johnnyh, thanks, that's good to know. Always a good testament to a place if people go back. I remember reading your posts about snowbizz previously too! Folgarida sounds perfect..
Thanks to everyone who replied to this thread, so helpful
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Poster: A snowHead
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kapow, I'm sure you will all have a great time. Been there twice and I would go back again.
You can get a great feeling of travel in the area on some terrific pistes - their management of the slopes is as good as I have found. It is well worth either taking the extension for the full Madonna di Campiglio area pass or, at the very least extending by the day should you wish to go further (the latter can be done from an office on the mountain, so you can really do that on the hoof, so to speak).
If it helps (and I appreciate it is a year away  ) here are a couple of Trip Reports I did...
2009
2011
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Thanks Chasseur, I read them, they were good to read. Thanks for sharing, lots of good tips there. We have definitely made the right choice
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FAQ
(arrive 07:25)
