 Poster: A snowHead
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I go to the Dolomites most every year in March, and have always stayed in San Cassiano. I love it there: it's quiet, affordable, 5 minute walk to a lift, has everything I need (bakery, gelato, grocery store, a couple good quality shops and a place to walk after dinner). I also have made some friends at my hotel, which is fun. So why consider moving? Because the skiing I like isn't at Alta Badia and I'm tiring of wasting my first hour getting to Arabba, Val di Fassa or Val Gardena, or taking a taxi up to Falzarego. I want blacks and reds.
I can live with a slightly bigger village but quiet is very high on my list, and I don't care at all about nightlife (which is sort of anti-quiet). I have a car but I already drive from MUC to other places besides the Dolomites, so parking it for the Dolomites week is preferred.
What village(s) meet my criteria? Canazei? Plan di Gralba? San Christina? _____?
TIA
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I am NA based and love skiing in the Dolomites, in few days time I will be there for the second time this season, my fifth trip to the Dolomites (fourth in last 3 years) ...
IMO, you have 2 top spots on your list already - Canazei and Santa Cristina. In case of Canazei, hamlet of Alba just up the road from Canazei would get my nod for advanced solo skier - good positioned for easy access to Arabba or Val Gardena, Belvedere bowl or Ciampac/Buffaure, quiet with enough facilities like grocery stores, few restaurants and retail shops. No ski down from Belvedere side but great "end of day" run from Ciampac - nice, shaded, cold and long proper black run. I stayed at Edy's (thanks to great suggestion from Luigi) and loved it, their restaurant/pizzeria is pretty good. Neighboring Canazei is bigger, more going on with restaurants, retail and fun but not a party town.
In the past I've stayed in Santa Cristina, IMO another great choice for easy access to good skiing like Seceda/Col Raiser, even Seiser Alm but skiing is more mellow on that side. Just a bit more livelier than Alba but definitely more posh with some nice restaurants and a ski bar at the bottom of Saslong WC run. Santa Cristina would cost you bit more but not as much as nearby Selva (5/10mins bus ride to Ciampinoi gondola) Loved the bus system and convenience in Val Gardena vs. Val di Fassa (€20/week). And finally - Selva ... the most "ski town" feel in the valley, nice hotels, restaurants, retail shops and decent apres ski scene ... but busier. This time (since my wife and daughters are going) we decided to stay in Selva. My previous stay in Selva was in 2015 and after going few seasons to La Thuile (loved it), Val D'Isere (pricey 2 seasons) and St. Anton (regret it) there was something that always drew me back to Dolomites and now finally I know why - that place is truly special !
So, check out Alba/Canazei and Santa Cristina/Selva ... Colfosco might work as a base that would allow you quick access to Val Gardena or Arabba but skiing in Colfosco is mellow (but nice).
On all my previous trips I've used train/bus (twice from MUC) and did not find it difficult to move around without the car. this time car is needed 
Good luck finding you next base in the Dolomites.
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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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I would put Arabba on the top of your list (there is a reason it is the base for the Birthday Bash) -- barely a village more of a hamlet, but is higher, some north facing slopes for later in season and 'harder' skiing
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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i was in Arabba last week. It is VERY QUIET. there is legit, ONE bar in the middle. Peter's Bar.
one shop "Despar"
That's it.
(3 ski hire places ?) - Mister X at the bottom of the Burz lift is under-rated for lunch.
it's known for red runs and black runs.
i probs shouldn't share this, but i found cheap accomodation on VRBO in the Hotel Portavescovo building - and it's where the Snowheads bash takes place
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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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as "albob" says - it's barely a village.
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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, Arabba ... obvious choice that flew over my head ... Not much of anything but good access to great skiing.
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Arabba does have a grocery and a paper shop !
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Thanks for the intel thus far.
@Cheapski, Alba looks good as does that hotel. Slightly concerned about road noise; some of the reviews mentioned it. Was that an issue for you? There is a similar hotel a bit behind it that also looks good, Chalet Vites. Being right there for Ciampac, a favorite, is definitely appealing.
@tekkers & @albob, Arabba also a good thought. I love lapping Burz in late morning when it's soft and empty. I've "flown over" Arabba many times, it seems to be in a bit of a hole. But I like how there are a bunch of lifts and good pistes right there. Any particular hotels to look at? I'd prefer smaller, family-owned half board situations especially if dining options are limited.
Thanks.
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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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@Scooter in Seattle, yes, hotel is right next to the road but I did not have any issues with road noise. Chalet Vites is 4*, looked very nice.
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Arabba should be at the top of your list, especially if you head over there already for some of your skiing. The Porta Vescovo and Padon areas are great, north facing, high and very challenging, very quick access to Marmolada and also over to Belvedere.
Hotels I'd recommend are Hotel Porta Vescovo (where the bash is) and Hotel Pordoi.... not the same quality but in a great location and both are HB. There are 3 bars that I know of, at least 3 ski shops and a bunch of other functional shops
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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As you come from so far, why not book 2 nights each in 3 hotels (assuming not a busy period) to let you test which is your favourite for next time? A minor faff to change, but an investment for the next visits.
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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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@Gaz_H, thank you. Yeah, the location is undeniably good. Those two hotels could work, though I may be looking for something just a bit nicer...anybody know anything about Garni Serena or Chalet Barbara? I prefer HB but can live with B&B in a nice spot.
@Orange200, I definitely would consider something like that if they let me rent for less than a week. My place in San Cassiano used to allow that but now they don't. And the Dolomiti Supersun (now Springdays, I guess) deal includes lifts which I don't need since I have Ikon.
I should be there right now but I bet on NA this season. BC and Wyoming were decent, but otherwise: damn!
Thanks.
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Bumped so @turboblackbeard can see these responses
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You know it makes sense.
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Hotel recommendation in Arabba: https://www.sporthotelarabba.com/en/arabba-hotel/1-0.html
I stayed here a few years back. Very good location. You can get the spring deal without the lift tickets. Very quiet. Half board with choices. Easy access to skiing. For access to Marmolada and Porto Vescovo, it's hard to beat. It's worth a look.
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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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| Scooter in Seattle wrote: |
Thanks for the intel thus far.
@Cheapski, Alba looks good as does that hotel. Slightly concerned about road noise; some of the reviews mentioned it. Was that an issue for you? There is a similar hotel a bit behind it that also looks good, Chalet Vites. Being right there for Ciampac, a favorite, is definitely appealing.
@tekkers & @albob, Arabba also a good thought. I love lapping Burz in late morning when it's soft and empty. I've "flown over" Arabba many times, it seems to be in a bit of a hole. But I like how there are a bunch of lifts and good pistes right there. Any particular hotels to look at? I'd prefer smaller, family-owned half board situations especially if dining options are limited.
Thanks. |
This is our hotel of choice in Arabba
https://www.hotelevaldo.it/en/
Its about a five minute walk to the centre but uphill.
They run a minibus or sometimes two if things are busy to the lifts in the morning and back if the afternoons.
Excellent food and facility's
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Poster: A snowHead
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I’ve stayed at both Hotel Evaldo and Sporthotel in Arabba on a half board basis. Both excellent, great food and good spa facilities.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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After using Arabba as a base, I went back to Corvara. Main reason is that you end up on the Sella Ronda for a good percentage of your skiing when you start in Arabba. Direction Passo Campolongo and direction Passo Pordoi. I've gotten to the point where I will give up heavily trafficed pistes and the resultant scraped off conditions, in favor of quieter runs and better snow. I like the steeper runs in Arabba and will head over there early from Corvara to get to them before the traffic builds up and snow conditions deteriorate. I also like to have better access to Cinque Torri from Corvara than afforded by Arabba. I really like the ski in, (almost) ski out that we have in Corvara.
Still toying with Canazei or Pozza di Fassa as a base to get more access to the Val di Fassa. It's probably another case of the grass is always greener.
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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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@choucas, I often recommend Val di Fassa for its access to the other side of the valley (also a bit cheaper than resorts directly on the Ronda).
I've always liked the look of Corvara -
May I ask which Hotel you use ??
----- edit ---
No ski in - ski out in Canazei/Campitello/Alba
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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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We stayed in Arabba a couple of weeks ago and can also recommend Hotel Evaldo. One of those places that is better than it needs to be if you know what I mean? And as one of the other posters has said its distance from the lifts is not a problem... the minibus works really well, and they make it clear that they *want* you to use it (as opposed to some places advertise a minibus but it's rapidly very clear that they see it as a nuisance!)
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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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What about San Vigilio ? Kronplatz ski area is small but it does have some tremendous and very long black runs , plus the reds are worthwhile too.
(Even the blues lower down get steep - much more challenging than an Alta Badia blue).
It’s pretty and quiet . And a very short drive to La Villa (15 mins) where there is a large carpark next to the gran risa lift for access to the wider area.
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