J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by admin

Skier-from-Oz... mid-November is very early for Italy; few resorts open before mid-December, but if you're planning to come over then anyway I guess an early start may give you an advantage in the walk-in job market!
You might find some more info on Natives which is a resort workers site, but your best bet will probably the bigger, higher resorts like Cervinia.

Hi Louise... think you'll be hard pushed to make it to 1850 on a lift by 9 but, according to the Courchevel Shuttle Bus Timetable here you can get a bus at 08:25 that'll have you there for 08:50 - how's that? 8) And no need to ski before your lessons either!

You'll have a great time - Courchevel has some very scenic, very long, easy runs once you find your feet (and some more serious skiing for next year too!).

Ciao, Dave

Your guesthouse is now in our directory under Ski Chalets and is also listed on our Lofer Ski Resort Page.
Could you add us to your links page please? 8)
Cheers

Hi John... sounds like Andorra might fit your bill. I've not skiied there myself but it has a reputation for value and a rocking apres ski.

Ask over at Snowheads, as a I think some of the posters there know Andorra well (tell 'em I sent you ;) ).

Cheers,

Monte Rosa is a great ski area, particularly for skiers able to venture off-piste. We've skiied in the Aosta Valley a number of times but only for one week from Champoluc.
1. You would have to be very unlucky to have bad conditions for the last half of March.
2. Not likely to be crowded - it's after the school "half term" breaks and well before Easter. You may find roads busy at the weekends as the area is popular with day/weekend trippers from Turin, but there's a lot of mountain so it's rarely busy.
3. The links between the valleys are good but can shut for high winds and/or high avalanche risk - though both are more likely in January/Feb than March. Alagna has the best off-piste although all the valleys have plenty - so I wouldn't worry too much about choosing one over the other.
4. Be prepared for anything, especially if going off piste... do be aware that Europe is very different to many US resorts; the off-piste is very easily accessible (especially true of this area) but it is assumed that you do your own risk assessment. Almost nothing away from the piste is marked or fenced off so don't assume the absence of a barrier means it's safe. There are cliffs quite close to some of the connecting runs.
5. No suggestions for apartments but can recommend the Hotel Castor in Champoluc! The locals are very friendly and helpful, though not all speak English.
6. There are some buses but check the resort sites for timetables.
7. Turin (Torino) is closer and has easier public transport links but Milan is perfectly feasible.
8. Definitely. See 4 above but apart from the safety aspect, the mountain area is relatively undeveloped - so local knowledge will find you the best skiing.

Welcome - Austria is lovely in the summer - you can find links to the Tourist Offices of all the major resort villages in our Austrian Ski Resorts section.
BTW- please do not post personal contact details in the open forum, thanks.

Welcome - please do not post personal contact details, thanks.

AmericanInItaly wrote:I am studying abroad in Venice, Italy from January 8 thru May 3, 2006...

You trying to make us all jealous? 8)

You're going to be in the right place at the right time, so make the most of it! You have most of the Dolomites within easy reach (see our list of Ski Resorts near Venice for brief details), plus the resorts of the Aosta valley not too far away.

I don't know the Dolomites well but staying in Italy is probably your best bet for skiing on a budget; avoid the February half term and you can find reasonably priced accommodation pretty much anywhere near the slopes.

You may find the smaller Italian resorts a little lacking in nightlife - Cervinia and (more expensive) Courmayeur are fairly lively though.

Hope that helps to get you started... :)