Ski Blog | Italy

Luxury for all the senses is now again possible in the Italian UNESCO-DOLOMITES.

Stay safe, stay well!

Tucked away from the crowdy and busy cities, to find peace somewhere - also during this After-COVID19-period - seems strange, but it is possible! 

We must admit, the last months weren’t that easy for anybody of us, no matter where we are from, North or South, East or West. We had to face extended time within our own houses, and for those who had gardens or at least a terrace or balcony, life suddenly seemed to be more comfortable.

Here in the Italian Dolomites, we experienced the same as you did in the UK, even if we were perhaps that lucky that the British people are, who are living in the countryside. In March, April and May, the days were sunny, and we were looking out of our windows – or balcony or terraces. Even if our hearts were a little bit sad because of the entirely white, but empty slopes of our Skiing Mountain Kronplatz – Plan de Corones, but finally we saw nature growing. The landscape was becoming green, strangely sooner than ever. 

It is true, living in the mountains was a slight, comfortable advantage during COVID19 period. We could walk first around our houses, then to jog in the fields, and finally walk in the surroundings of our Hotel and our Moutain Lodge. After a while, we could go further and use the hiking paths and forests, lying just right behind our houses, and afterwards, when the authority did allow it, finally climb up our Mountains again. 

It is true, we live in an ideal ambience, very near to the UNESCO-DOLOMITES, with lots of opportunities to explore, experience, enjoy and relax. 

What we appreciated most: be in nature, more ofter with nobody around us, and in case we did meet somebody, we did use and still do use all security rules in order not to get the Virus. Who actually “has gone” from our Italian Province South-Tyrol – Südtirol - Alto Adige. And we hope, forever.

We have good news: we have reopened our doors for our tourists! 

To pamper your palate with finest Mediterranean and Alpine culinary creations in stylish dining rooms - in the perfect distance one from each other - or come to balance with healthy, fresh cuisine, prepared with locally sourced ingredients, all this is again possible!

As we have our SPA area and stylish wellness embedded in nature, it is again possible to enjoy top-notch spa amenities in a great variety of vast open spaces and within a unique combination of luxury, design and exclusive concept.

5 STAR PREMIUM SPA HOTEL Winkler and also – in an even more exclusive ambience – our LUXURY MOUNTAIN CHALET with 5 Suites, Butler- and Concierge Service PURMONTES offer a wide range of sports and leisure activities and now in summer two private outdoor guides, in wintertime – again from December 2020 - ski programs in the Dolomiti Superski Area, at Kronplatz – Plan De Corones or in the Ski Resort 3 Peaks Dolomites or even in Alta Badia, as you like, and finally ski-free explorations of nature in winter. 

Hikes and bike tours in summer, springtime and autumn are a must, and for children and teenagers, we are famous for offering a special one-year entertainment program. 

With our being very serious and aware in general, we think that we can help you in recovering soon from this extraordinary hard period lived during the last mounts. We hope that you will trust us in that we will do our best in making your holiday in the Italian South Tyrol and UNESCO-DOLOMITES with our appreciated cousin, definitely a memorable one!

Independent Ski and Snowboard Hire

Altitude's ski rental partner Skimium are one of the largest ski providers in Europe. But despite their size and market leading prices, they maintain a personal touch. And by booking with the code ALTIT17 you can save a massive 60%!

The stores that are affiliated to skimium.com are independent stores located in the heart of the ski resorts. At these winter sports specialists, who all have a great reputation, you’ll find a wide range of the highest quality material that is available for either sale or rent. You can also find a variety of technical clothing and accessories and the men and machines that provide a highly professional workshop service. In the true mountain spirit, you’ll be looked after and advised by professionals that are passionate about their sport! 

skimium.com in a few words: it’s EASY, it’s the COMFORT of ordering from your own home and the BEST PRICE advantage through ordering on the internet (up to 20% discount off the public prices that are communicated in the stores), but it’s not only that...  

SKIMIUM IS EVEN MORE:

A wide selection of all the different categories of equipment in order to satisfy the requirements of all types of people, all types of ability and all types of desire.

An on-line Advice Guide enabling you to select the material that is the best suited to your ability, your desire and to what you want to do.

Only 25% deposit required, no administration fees.

Get the most of your skiing holiday with your family and friends with at least a further discount of 5% off the store prices for any reservation that includes at least 4 (or +) pairs of skis or snowboards.

Benefit from the Professional Advice to get the most out of your equipment.

A Commitment to guaranteeing your Safety, through our on-line advice service.

A Direct and Personal Contact with your rental store.

THE STORES THAT ARE AFFILIATED TO SKIMIUM.COM ARE COMMITTED TO:

Operating a Transparent Pricing Policy:

Benefit from the most advantageous prices by reserving on the internet

A Technical Charter:

A selection of the most reputable brands

Up to date material (no more than 3 seasons old)  

Equipment that is checked and prepared before each individual rental (sharpening, repairing of bases and waxing of boards; shoes are dried out and treated) 
The equipment is adjusted by professionals according to what you are going to do, your ability and your size  
 

A Customer Services Charter:

A friendly and personalised service 
Expert advice 
A product range dedicated to Women 
Your kids treated like little Champions 
Comfort for the duration of the rental period

HOW DOES IT WORK?

RESERVING YOUR SKI EQUIPMENT ON SKIMIUM.COM IS VERY EASY AND ONLY TAKES A FEW MINUTES: 

Today:

Select a skimium.com store in the resort where you will be heading to and indicate the date of your first skiing day along and for how many days you want to rent the equipment for.
Choose your material from a wide selection of skis, snowboards, shoes, boots and helmets.
You can consult our ‘How to choose the right equipment’ guides to help you find the material that is best adapted to your ability and to what you want to do.
Validate your selection and enter the personal details about yourself (height, weight, sizes...) and your preferences so that your material can be personalised just for you.
Confirm your reservation by paying a deposit of only 25 %. A confirmation email with the reservation form (with all the details concerning your order and other practical information) will be sent to you immediately.
Print and retain your reservation form and start getting ready for your holidays with peace of mind that your equipment will be waiting for you when you get there.

When you get there:

With your reservation form and a proof of identity, go along to the skimium.com store to settle the balance and collect your material that has already been prepared for you, once the adjustments have been checked.
Your skimium.com advisor will be extremely happy to welcome you and advise you on the use of your material.
Get your skis on and make the most of your holiday!

For further information, feel free to refer to our General Rental Conditions

Skimium.com is a partner of Decathlon

Skimium, the exclusive ski hire partner of Altitude Holidays. Save over 50% off ski hire this winter

WHO ARE WE?

Skimium.com is a partner of Decathlon

The stores that are affiliated to skimium.com are independent stores located in the heart of the ski resorts. At these winter sports specialists, who all have a great reputation, you’ll find a wide range of the highest quality material that is available for either sale or rent. You can also find a variety of technical clothing and accessories and the men and machines that provide a highly professional workshop service. In the true mountain spirit, you’ll be looked after and advised by professionals that are passionate about their sport! 

skimium.com in a few words: it’s EASY, it’s the COMFORT of ordering from your own home and the BEST PRICE advantage through ordering on the internet (up to 20% discount off the public prices that are communicated in the stores), but it’s not only that...  

SKIMIUM IS EVEN MORE:

·       A wide selection of all the different categories of equipment in order to satisfy the requirements of all types of people, all types of ability and all types of desire.

·       An on-line Advice Guide enabling you to select the material that is the best suited to your ability, your desire and to what you want to do.

·       Only 25% deposit required, no administration fees.

·       Get the most of your skiing holiday with your family and friends with at least a further discount of 5% off the store prices for any reservation that includes at least 4 (or +) pairs of skis or snowboards.

·       Benefit from the Professional Advice to get the most out of your equipment.

·       A Commitment to guaranteeing your Safety, through our on-line advice service.

·       A Direct and Personal Contact with your rental store.

THE STORES THAT ARE AFFILIATED TO SKIMIUM.COM ARE COMMITTED TO:

Operating a Transparent Pricing Policy:

·       Benefit from the most advantageous prices by reserving on the internet

A Technical Charter:

·       A selection of the most reputable brands

·       Up to date material (no more than 3 seasons old)  

·       Equipment that is checked and prepared before each individual rental (sharpening, repairing of bases and waxing of boards; shoes are dried out and treated) 

·       The equipment is adjusted by professionals according to what you are going to do, your ability and your size  

A Customer Services Charter:

·       A friendly and personalised service 

·       Expert advice 

·       A product range dedicated to Women 

·       Your kids treated like little Champions 

·       Comfort for the duration of the rental period

HOW DOES IT WORK?

RESERVING YOUR SKI EQUIPMENT ON SKIMIUM.COM IS VERY EASY AND ONLY TAKES A FEW MINUTES: 

Today:

·       Select a skimium.com store in the resort where you will be heading to and indicate the date of your first skiing day along and for how many days you want to rent the equipment for.

·       Choose your material from a wide selection of skis, snowboards, shoes, boots and helmets.

·       You can consult our ‘How to choose the right equipment’ guides to help you find the material that is best adapted to your ability and to what you want to do.

·       Validate your selection and enter the personal details about yourself (height, weight, sizes...) and your preferences so that your material can be personalised just for you.

·       Confirm your reservation by paying a deposit of only 25 %. A confirmation email with the reservation form (with all the details concerning your order and other practical information) will be sent to you immediately.

·       Print and retain your reservation form and start getting ready for your holidays with peace of mind that your equipment will be waiting for you when you get there.

When you get there:

·       With your reservation form and a proof of identity, go along to the skimium.com store to settle the balance and collect your material that has already been prepared for you, once the adjustments have been checked.

·       Your skimium.com advisor will be extremely happy to welcome you and advise you on the use of your material.

·       Get your skis on and make the most of your holiday!

For further information, feel free to refer to our General Rental Conditions

Start saving now with Altitude Holidays and Skimium!

Where’s the snow?

Are you panicking yet?  Have you got a Christmas ski holiday or New Year ski trip booked and been scared by the media that you won’t have any snow when you go skiing?

Yes it’s the usual annual media free for all - writing scare stories, overhyping, sensationalising and making things up!  Really? The press do that? Surely not I hear you say!  Afraid so I say!

It seems to happen every year – either at the beginning of December or nearer Christmas depending on what they have to fill up their grubby pages with.

Right now if you believe the press you’d think it was a disaster but there are loads of resorts opening early.  How does that work then?

It will snow – it always does.  It’s just a case of when does it arrive? Sometimes it comes early and sometimes later – last year for example Christmas skiing wasn’t great but over one weekend it dumped and New Year week was powder snow heaven!

Not so great if you were out at Christmas of course but the panic and concern for New Year skiers was gone overnight – well unless you were stuck in a snowy traffic jam for 12 hours!  You can’t win can you?

Anyway we can’t control it and if you skied at a certain time last season it doesn’t mean that the weather and snow will be equally good or bad at the same time this season!

Yes I do really get phone calls asking to go the second week in March as last year the snow was…… anyway that’s a different story!

Whenever and wherever you go we hope you get a load of snow!  

And if you don’t then remember you are on holiday and get out and explore the resort and fill your days with all of those off slope activities you keep meaning to do every year but never do because you don’t want to miss a days skiing. Enjoy! 

Edinburgh’s turn for Into The Mind

This is a guest blog from Emily Millns from www.subzeroevents.com 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

After the success of the UK premiere of Into the Mind last week we are looking at a sellout at the Edinburgh premiere!

On the evening of Monday 14th October, Sub Zero Events in association with Sherpas Cinemas will be taking over the Pleasance Theatre in Edinburgh. Joining us are some great sponsors; Freeze Pro Shop, Syndicate, Sno Limit, Snow Camp & Hillend just to name a few.

There’s a raffle prize for everyone (almost) including:

• Salomon Jackets, pants & helmets,
• Fall line magazine subscription & gloves,
• Black Diamond back packs and hats,
• Syndicate goodies,
• Freeze pro shop - Oakley goggles
• Planks hats,
• John Mogul t shirt & leather gloves,
• Beginner lesson for 2 at Hillend,
• Coloud headphones,
• Arc'teryx Quintic 28 pack & hats,
• Recco t-shirts & avalanche DVDs,
• The North Face pack,
• Teva pack & boots,
• Blues 40% off voucher for Fischer vacuum boots,
• Stupid clothing goodies.

With stunning cinematography and groundbreaking storytelling techniques, the Sherpas (based out in Whistler, BC) blur the lines between dream state and reality, and immerse you into the mind of a common skier as he attempts to climb and ski the ultimate mountain.

Be the first to catch the film on the big screen, check out the sponsors, enter the raffle and do some shot skis. The event kicks off at 7pm and we will be partying apres ski style until 1am.

Tickets are £12 in advance from www.subzeroevents.com

See you Monday for a snow sports filled evening! 

Winter is Nearly Here! Ski Shows, Early Snow & Winnie The Pooh - WE’RE EXCITED!

The clocks have gone back, the Ski Shows (Birmingham, London and Freeze) have all been and gone, the weather is getting colder, the ski mags are dropping on the doormats and we are excited!  That must mean that summer is over and winter is nearly here!

So what will this season bring?  What will the season be like for snow?  What has changed in the resorts?  Where will the best places to ski be?  What are the best ski and snowboard deals available?

As ever there is a load of new skis, snowboards and kit available and technology makes leaps and bounds – we particularly liked these new hi tech googles that wouldn't be out of place in a James Bond film!

We have loved the pictures and reports of early snow across most of the Alps which bodes well for the season though this can change very quickly as we wrote about in a blog last season.

What are your plans for this winter? Hopefully you will be able to make it out there for a ski holiday at some time this season – do check out our special deals and offers page on our website to find some ski accommodation that suits you and your budget!

The more it snows
(Tiddly Pom)
The more it goes
(Tiddly Pom)
The more it goes
(Tiddly Pom)
On snowing.

And nobody knows
(Tiddly Pom)
How cold my toes
(Tiddly Pom)
How cold my toes
(Tiddly Pom)
Are growing.

We may just be a little excited! How about you?

END OF SEASON REVIEW - 30 April 2012

So most resorts are now closed for the winter and nearly all still have snow - what a season it has been!! Arguably the best in living memory!

How was this possible when the press who always love a negative story were writing doom and gloom stories about no snow at the beginning of December?

Fortunately the weather doesn’t read the press and nor do we!  We ignored them and got on with skiing and organising holidays across the Alps and were lucky enough to get in plenty of skiing ourselves.

We here at Altitude skied Courchevel, Le Grand Massif (Flaine, Les Carroz, Samoens, Morillon),  Morzine & Avoriaz in France and in Italy the Monterosa (Champuloc, Alagna & Gressoney) and all in amazing snow conditions from the powder of Courchevel at Christmas through to the spring snow in April!

The snow was amazing we had some great adventures including a very scary 50m abseil, watching friends jump off snow covered roofs and of course skiing some great runs both on and off piste!

Whilst we should remember the good times we can’t forget the sad news through the season the coach accident carrying children back from a ski holiday, the tragic loss of life in the Belgian coach accident, Sheffield Ski village burning down, the sad loss of life in accidents through the season all reminders that we should make the most of every minute we have on the slopes!

Hope you had some magical moments on the slopes this last winter – have a great summer!

And if you have snow withdrawl symptoms you can always check out our Facebook, Twitter and YouTube accounts!

SKIING IN THE MONTEROSA, ITALY - 26 – 28 MARCH 2012

Destination Italy – we packed up the car and left France for a three day break in Champoluc part of the Monterosa ski area in Italy.

I had skied there several years before for just a weekend and have been keen to get back ever since.  Now was an opportunity to return with a couple of mates who were as keen as me to ski the area made up of Champoluc, Gressoney and Alagna which is a self proclaimed ‘Freeride Paradise’

So with180km of piste and 37 lifts and skiing at a maximum height of 3275 metres we were excited to be skiing somewhere we didn’t really know with so much potential.

Through the Mont Blanc tunnel and into Italy we were soon winding our way up alongside a river but as we got nearer there was still no sign of snow even in this one of the best seasons in living memory!  We arrived in Champoluc which is at 1570 metres and there was no snow anywhere to be seen – we had just come from Les Carroz which is at 1150 metres where you can ski back to the resort!

A little concerned we checked into the small B&B ‘Le Vieux Rascard’ we had booked online to a very warm friendly Italian welcome, sorted out our kit and headed towards the lifts.

Once up and on the way it was apparent that there was plenty of snow higher up!  We headed towards Alagna and found some great spring snow,the pisteswere empty, no queues for the lifts and the snow typically spring like – this was great! We managed to find our way back across the valleys to Champoluc for an après ski beer, shower and out for something to eat.

The resort is mainly centered around one main street with all the shops, bars and restaurants off this.  It was empty!  No one around! I know it’s getting to the end of the season but it’s still only March –there’s the best part of a month to go yet!  Where is everyone?

On our second day we headed to Gressoney and explored the slopes here in the middle valley of the Monterosa. We found some amazing off piste with perfect spring snow conditions, a lovely little restaurant with the most amazing collection of old ski and mountaineering paraphernalia I have ever seen. That evening we found a pizzeria and a local bar for a couple of beers that had a little more life than we had found the night before.

And all too soon it was our last day and we headed to the highest point of the ski area today the Punta Indren at 3275m - there is a telecabine that takes you to a the highest point and some off piste skiing. Lacking in local knowledge we had to be careful where went and following tracks is a recipe for disaster so we skirted round areas, watched other skiers and made our own way down finding some more fresh tracks in some spring snow! Half way down has to be the most up market refuge in the Alps!! Great Italian pasta and service once more!  By the time we got to the bottom the temperature was rising and the pistemap was showing 16 degrees at the end of the day! Very warm!

Thick viscous hot chocolates, strong Italian coffees at mountain restaurants, cold apres ski beers in the setting Italian sun, warm friendly Italian service this short trip was leaving us wanting more and more! 

We loved the skiing here and want to come back when there is a load of fresh snow to get even more from the off piste, there are some great flattering runs across the area and would be suitable for all levels of skiers and boarders. 

Off the slopes we loved the service and friendliness at the B&B, in the restaurants and the bars.  We are intrigued as to why it was so quiet in the evenings and whilst we aren’t looking for a different nightclub each night a bit more atmosphere in the bars would have been good – oh well we’ll have to come back at a busier time to compare! That’s a shame!

You can see photos of our trip on our Facebook page here.