Cross Country skiing in Italy Please help
 

My husband and I are arriving in Florence Italy (dates flexible) and want to go xc skiing. We would like to take the train and could include a bus for a nice romantic trip. Are there town's where you could xc ski to restaurants and shops from a hotel/cabin? What are the best months for xc in Italy?

Hi Skitripper - For scenery I'd head for the Dolomites!

There are a number of xc ski areas, but I would think the Alpe di Siusi area is hard to beat. You could base in Ortisei/ Santa Cristina, Castelrotto or one of the nearby resorts for lift access to Alpe di Siusi/ Monte Pana.

http://www.dolomitisuperski.com/en-U...-ski-86EN.html

http://www.valgardena.it/en/ski-trails/page163.html

There are also a number of hotels up on the Alpe di Siusi itself.

Hope this helps ...

Steve

Thank you Steve for your quick reply we possibly don't have to fly into florence what would be the best route to this area? Also we've always wanted to xc right out of our hotel to cafe and resturant is this possible anywhere?

Where are you flying from? The nearest regional airports are Bolzano, Innsbruck and Verona (- for flights within Europe). If you are flying from outside Europe your options for direct flights will be Munich, Milan, Venice ...

For xc skiing right from your hotel you'd need to stay up on the Alpe di Siusi itself rather than in one of the resorts I mentioned.

Let me know I can be of more help ...

Steve

You are so nice thank you for the help. We just started xc last year and Love it. We live in Oregon and ski the back country at Willamette Pass and the Mt. Bachelor area. Could you recommend a good hotel up on the Alpe di Siusi? I also noticed the Alta Badia area. Were not to fussie people in our 50's but can cut a rug and have fun. Been looking at Ortisei pretty heavy. Have to make up my mind soon. You help is really appreciated.

Oh Steve I guess we can fly in to Verona and bus over to the Val Gardena area. Correcta moondo?

I think from Verona you would take the train to Bolzano and bus from there.

But I have to second Steve's recommendation of Alpe di Siusi. It is a high alpine meadow above the Val Gardena, and you could ski right from your door.

There are two areas up there with hotels and you have many to choose from. Look at the photos on this websie and then go to the accommodations list:

http://www.seiseralm.it/en/l-alpe-di-siusi/alpedisiusi/

Look at the ones with a Compatsch or Saltria address, as the others may be high mountain refugios.

Enzian is right. From Verona, it's train to Bolzano - then bus.
Alternatively from Innsbruck, it's train to Bressanone - then bus.

If you choose to stay up on Alpe di Siusi itself, be aware that public transport access is limited - so you may have to get a taxi up there to your hotel from Castelrotto.

I can't personally recommend a hotel on the Alpe di Siusi as I usually stay in Ortisei (- which has lift access to the Alpe di Siusi).

Enzian has given you a link for hotels Alpe di Siusi hotels in Saltria/ Compatsch.

Here's a link for Ortisei/ Val Gardena
http://www.valgardena.it/en/

Let me know if I can be of more help ...

Steve

Correction

It seems there is now a skiers' bus service from Verona and Innsbruck airports (- as well as from Bergamo)

For details see:
http://www.flytovalgardena.com/new/orari_en_winter.htm

I believe there is also a weekend service from Munich airport.

Hope this helps ...

All great new's and Thank you both so for all the insight. Could you recommend any Ortisei Hotel personally as well as must have resturants

Also I noticed that one of the hotels in Ortisei backed up to the old railway. Do they xc on that like they do in Cortina D'amezzo?

I don't think you will be able to 'xc from your door' in Ortisei (- if that's your No.1 priority you will need to base up in Saltria or Compatsch).

If you choose to base in Ortisei you will need to take the Alpe di Siusi/Mont Seuc lift for your day's skiing (- but you are up there in minutes).

I have stayed in the Villa Park in Ortisei for several years. It's an attractive Tyrolean-style B&B (3*)

http://www.hotelvillapark.com/

But you are spoilt for choice for hotels and guesthouses in Ortisei. What are you looking for - and how much do you want to pay? I can suggest others ...

Steve

The Villa Park looks great sent in a request for there new Bio room. Talking spoilt we would like a balcony, bathtub, robe, slippers, whirlpool, internet, bar, resturant. Price under 220 euro.

Now I've been thinking all of these Garni's, Hotel's, ect.. are so close we don't need to think of half boards do we? We could just pick and choose dinning options, is this what is common? is this what you do?

The Villa Park is just a B&B (- no restauant, bar, whirlpool ...)

It sounds like you're looking for something more in the 4* category. Hotel Grones, Genziana, Adler ... You may find this link useful -

http://hotel.valgardena.it/en/hotelListW/?ResortType=HT

I prefer a B&B as I enjoy eating out somewhere different each night (- very easy in Ortisei) - but it depends what you want ...

Steve

Another one you might want to check out is Hotel Cosmea (- 100m from the Alpe di Siusi lift - so very convenient)

www.hotelcosmea.it

It doesn't have a pool, but offers free access to the Mar Dolomit indoor/outdoor pool nearby (- great if you want to swim in the snow ;) )
www.mardolomit.com

Links for those I mentioned above:

www.hotelgenziana.it
www.grones.info
www.adler-dolomiti.com

Hope this helps ...

Steve

Come around to your way of thinking Steve. Going to go with the B&B as I mentioned put in a request for your Villa Park. I also requested Hotel-Garni Planaces as it offers free pool & suna at the Mar dolomit. What am I missing in other B&B Choices? Is the Hotel Maria a good one if so what Piazza do I request? Oh and I found a link at La Rondula Residence that showed me an active map of how the lifts, toboggan run, and and escalator to the Alpe di Suisi work (too cute) :) Your suggestions are beyond my ability to thank you enough. Kindly Melissa

Correction. Hotel Maria is halfboard. It's snowing here:)

Villa Park - like Cosmea and Planaces - also offers free pool entry at the Mar Dolomit (- as do many Ortisei B&B's).

Villa Park and Planaces are next door to each other - 200m from the centre and 400m walk from the Alpe di Siusi lift. I like the ambience and owners at Villa Park - but both are good. For lift access Cosmea is excellent.

I don't know Hotel Maria but it's right in the centre - as is Garni Snaltnerhof.

All the above are good and conveniently situated - you're spoilt for choice :)

Steve

Thank you again for all of your great help. I've put in requests for rooms at the Vill.a Park and Planaces and have not heard back how long does it usually take? Should I telephone?



Kindly, Melissa