Hi Nelly,
I have sent a list of those definitely going on this holiday to the hotel. There are 17 of us. But it's a large hotel so I would think there will be room for you and your OH if you decide to come later on. And the same goes for anyone else who would like to join us :)
The most suitable flights are the Gatwick to
Verona ones, with EasyJet, out on Sunday 2nd back on Sunday 9th, still priced at £95 return including luggage but not skis/boards (which costs an extra £27 each way).
And we will be booking a private taxi to take those on these flights straight from Verona airport to the hotel in
Folgarida (a distance of about 100 miles), and back again (after they've been ski-ing for a week I mean!) - priced at around 100 euros per person return. We have 6 people so far who want to share this taxi, which means that we should be able to do it for 100 euros return. If we get more than 6 people we should be able to do it for slightly less, per person.
The EasyJet flight leaves Gatwick at 08-30 and arrives in Verona at 11-30, and on the way back it leaves Verona at 12-05 and arrives back in Gatwick at 13-05.
There are also several flights with RyanAir between Stansted and Milan Bergamo, priced at £100 plus luggage return. Ski/board carriage with RyanAir is £50 each way. I'm not sure whether luggage is an extra £25 or £35 each way - it varies for different flights.
The local tourist board operate a coach service between Milan Bergamo airport and Folgarida, called the Flyski Shuttle, but they tell me that the time-table for next ski season won't be available until September. Last season it cost 19 euros one way, and 32 euros return, and there was only one bus on the Sunday:
http://www.flyskishuttle.com/start.php?page=home&lang=EN
This shuttle bus also goes between Verona airport, and Folgarida, but we are planning on booking a private taxi because we don't think the shuttle times will fit in with the EasyJet flights.
We now have a more accurate idea of the total cost of this holiday, because ski lift passes etc. are now on sale.
The hotel have agreed group prices for the catered accommodation (breakfast and supper) and the hotel run a shuttle bus to and from the lift in the morning and at the end of the ski-ing day (although we think it's actually less than a 10 minute walk to the lift from the hotel).
Twin room = 700 euros = 350 per person
EasyJet Flights = £95 (plus £54 ski and board carriage if required).
Private return taxi transfer Verona airport to hotel = 100 euros
6 days Ski and boot hire = 70 euros, adult, mid-range quality.
Adult 6 day area Lift pass 380 Km piste = 257 euros
Total = £95 plus 777 euros
At the current conversion rate of 1.14 euros per pound, 777 euros is £682
Grand total = £95 + £682 = £777
We have 4 cars which will be driving out there and back, and those driving reckon they will be able to do it for less, per person, than those flying, once transfers and ski/board carriage are included.
The tourist board website have a gallery of Folgarida photos on here:
http://www.skirama.it/EN/photo-gallery-folgarida-marilleva/
They also have a photo gallery for the lift linked ski area of
Madonna di Campiglio:
http://www.skirama.it/EN/photo-gallery-madonna-di-campiglio/
Edit
Although you can buy an area lift pass for 380 Km, it includes ski areas that aren't lift linked to Folgarida, like
Passo Tonale.
There is another area lift pass which covers only the lift-linked pistes, 150 Km, and for an adult it costs 10 euros less at 247 euros for 6 days.
There is also a local area lift pass, for Folgarida and
Marilleva (about 75 Km piste) and for an adult it costs 187 euros for 6 days.
