Best logistically easy Ski Resort in Italy (from IAD)?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm looking for an excuse to get to Venice. I assume there's decent skiing within 2 hrs or so.

Venice is awful now.

Why? Will it be awful for a couple days between Christmas and New Year’s?

[Anonymous]

I like Courmayeur. The bonus is that it’s an easy bus ride from Chamonix, and they usually have opposite weather from each other. We’ve had awful, whiteout, bulletproof ice days at Chamonix and saved a few vacations with a quick trip through the tunnel to beautiful Italian sunshine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm looking for an excuse to get to Venice. I assume there's decent skiing within 2 hrs or so.

We flew into Venice last winter and drove up to Cortina d'Ampezzo to ski, then came back to Venice for Christmas and several additional days of sightseeing. It was one of the best trips we have had as a family. Venice got a little busy between Christmas and New Years but nothing like high tourist season.

[Anonymous]

I never would fly to Italy for skiing. Due to global warming there was almost no natural snow anymore in the ski resorts in the last years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I never would fly to Italy for skiing. Due to global warming there was almost no natural snow anymore in the ski resorts in the last years.

The last 2 years have been bad for snow. Last year in particular. However it’s not due to global warming and this year and next could easily have more snow. Blaming the sudden lack of snow in a 2 yesr timeframe on global warming is about as stupid as a global waming denier saying it’s cold outside so there’s no such thing.

All of the suggestions here have been good. Zermatt/Cervinia is awesome.

Why the focus on Italy and not Switzerland? Why is France not in the picture?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cervinia, flying into Geneva. It's about 2 hours from Geneva airport which is a nonstop flight. We have been multiple times, I promise you this is the way!
There are also other great Italian resorts accessible from Geneva. The nearest is Courmayeur, it is just through the Mont Blanc tunnel, and it is great although smaller and more expensive than Cervinia. Other lovely options are Champoluc/Gressony/Alagna (all connected), La Thuile, Pila.

And yes, you can buy an international ski pass and ski down to Zermatt. You take two or three lifts to the top and ski down into Switzerland, it is very easy. The only thing to be aware of is the lift closing time, because you need to get back up to Klein Matterhorn in time, in order to be able to ski down to Cervinia. If you miss the last lift (my friends have done this!) you will have to find somewhere to stay overnight in Zermatt ($$$$), pay for a very long and expensive taxi ride - it is about 3 hours by road, or get a helicopter. The latter is amazingly probably the cheapest option, but still not a great plan.

My favorite mountain restaurants in Cervinia are Bontadini and Chalet Etoile - enjoy delicious pastas, wine, desserts, etc. I can't wait until the winter holidays!

All of this is right about international skiing - but also keep in mind, wind holds can mess up your ability to go over the top. Some times the crossing is closed all day. Sometimes it closes early, etc. they won’t just trap you without any heads up - but you may want to understand the logistics more before thinking you’re going to ski between the 2 countries every day. It’s also logistically difficult with several gondolas required to get to the top in order to ski down the other side.

Skiing in europe is just a vastly different animal than skiing out west.

[Anonymous]

When we ski in northern Italy we fly London to Innsbruck. We’ve also done Munich (about a 3.5 hour drive) and stopped over night halfway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When we ski in northern Italy we fly London to Innsbruck. We’ve also done Munich (about a 3.5 hour drive) and stopped over night halfway.

My mistake, we flew into Munich for Kitzbul - which I highly recommend! (But Austria, not Italy).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We did Cervinia last year and it was awesome (arrived Milan, departed Geneva).
Re-upping this thread because I cannot seem to find a similar place to go this year. We had a great alpiney/lodgey inn with 1/2 board in Cervinia with decent size triple/quad rooms (6 adult-size people total). Can't seem to find similar/better lodging at other resorts. Or a great resort(s) to focus on.
Our preference is for Italy (because food) but willing to look into France or Switzerland. But seeing much more individual chalets, which are beautiful, but we don't want to be cooking for a ski vacation.
Need within 2 hours (up to 3 hours) from airports Geneva, Milan, Venice, Zurich (or any United destination).

Can you pls share the inn you visited in Cervinia? It sounds great.

[Anonymous]

https://matterhornalpinecrossing.com/en

Fyi, A new gondola opened between Zermatt snd Cervinia in July 2023.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:https://matterhornalpinecrossing.com/en

Fyi, A new gondola opened between Zermatt snd Cervinia in July 2023.

Looks like we’re going back to cervinia. Skiing was great last Christmas but we never made it over to Zermatt. A couple days in Milan too. Wonderful trip.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm looking for an excuse to get to Venice. I assume there's decent skiing within 2 hrs or so.

We flew into Venice last winter and drove up to Cortina d'Ampezzo to ski, then came back to Venice for Christmas and several additional days of sightseeing. It was one of the best trips we have had as a family. Venice got a little busy between Christmas and New Years but nothing like high tourist season.

Can you recommend a place to stay at the ski area?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm looking for an excuse to get to Venice. I assume there's decent skiing within 2 hrs or so.

We flew into Venice last winter and drove up to Cortina d'Ampezzo to ski, then came back to Venice for Christmas and several additional days of sightseeing. It was one of the best trips we have had as a family. Venice got a little busy between Christmas and New Years but nothing like high tourist season.

Can you recommend a place to stay at the ski area?

We stayed at an AirBnB just outside Cortina so I'm afraid I am not much help with lodging recommendations. There are multiple ski areas through the Dolomites (two are directly accessible via gondola from Cortina) close to various towns/communities in the area -- often there is a lift or gondola in the town. So there are lots of lodging options between AirBnBs and hotels at various price/luxury levels.

[Anonymous]

wow for premium economy, Venice is $1000 more per ticket than Geneva from United IAD for last week of the year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm looking for an excuse to get to Venice. I assume there's decent skiing within 2 hrs or so.

We flew into Venice last winter and drove up to Cortina d'Ampezzo to ski, then came back to Venice for Christmas and several additional days of sightseeing. It was one of the best trips we have had as a family. Venice got a little busy between Christmas and New Years but nothing like high tourist season.

We’re doing exactly this.