5 ideas for skiing in Italy
From France, you can cross the border on skis in order to skiing in Italy. Two resorts offer this possibility: La Rosière and Montgenèvre. The other option is to treat yourself to a stay directly on the other side of the Alps, in the Aosta Valley or the Dolomites. A review of some of our favorite ski resorts and our preferred hotels.
Skiing in Italy from France, there are 2 solutions:
La Rosière: Our Favorite Franco-Italian Resort
La Rosière is the only resort on the southern slope of the Haute Tarentaise valley. It has managed to retain its traditional architecture, with modest buildings covered in stone and wood. La Rosière's unique feature is that it shares its ski area with its Italian neighbor, La Thuile, in the Aosta Valley. Together, they form the San Bernardo ski area. To cross over to Italy, you can choose one of the two parallel chairlifts. Challenge your partner to a race and see who reaches the top first. You'll arrive above the Petit Saint Bernard Pass, adorned in its winter coat. For lunch, step into one of the many Italian restaurants. Enjoy a platter of local cured meats, a pasta or stew dish with polenta, or consult our list of recommendations. Good hotel and restaurant recommendations in La Thuileand on the ski slopes here, everything is served with flair, please!
Sleeping in La Rosière The Hôtel ILY
This is the brand's first French establishment I.L.Y Hotels (A contraction of "I Love You"!). The building, which looks like a large chalet, is located in Les Eucherts, the new trendy neighborhood. The Hotel ILY It offers 47 rooms and 22 very spacious suites, ranging from 56 to 137 m². The highly successful decor, designed by the architecture firm Bachmann Associés, aims for a chic mountain style, featuring light wood, designer furniture, soft colors, and cozy textiles in the rooms. The hotel has everything you need, with its restaurant Le Bonami where local products are featured, its large terraces for dining in the sun, and its bar. A particular favorite are the common areas and the lively, warm fireplace area facing the bar. After skiing, you can enjoy the lounge, its sofas, as well as the spa, which opens widely onto the mountain peaks with a large pool, 3 indoor and outdoor jacuzzis, and Pure Altitude treatments. In addition, there is a ski room, a kids' club, and a concierge service. What else?
I love you La Rosière
227 Rue des,
73700 Montvalezan
04. 85. 97. 97. 97
Learn more about I.L.Y La Rosière
Montgenèvre: At the Gates of Italy
Montgenèvre is a resort in the Southern Alps, located between the Clarée Valley and the Susa Valley. The resort offers access to the international Milky Way ski area. Skiers can thus enjoy 400 km of slopes, on both sides of the Italian border. The different buildings in Montgenèvre illustrate the history of the resort's evolution. The beautiful bourgeois houses date from the early 20th century.e century, while a few less attractive buildings are reminiscent of the development of winter sports in the 70s-80s. Montgenèvre has the advantage of benefiting from the beautiful sunshine of the Briançon region and a fully pedestrianized resort center. For access, Turin International Airport is a 1 hour and 15 minute drive away, and the Oulx TGV station (in Italy) is only 20km away.
Sleeping in Montgenèvre Le Chalet Blanc Hotel & Spa
This 4-star establishment is located at the foot of the slopes at an altitude of 1,860 meters. Outside, the large building adopts mountain codes, in a chalet style. Inside, wood is prominent, with modern furniture and lighting fixtures for a contemporary touch. The rooms and suites are comfortable havens ranging from 16 to 47m2. At the restaurant of White Chalet,The chef advocates for seasonal cuisine using products from the short supply chain in Briançonnais. At the bar, enjoy a cocktail accompanied by tapas. The hotel displays an eco-responsible approach based on a charter and an anti-waste policy. The White Chalet it includes a small relaxation area with a steam room, sauna, and whirlpool. In the cabin, you can indulge in an original custom Shiatsu treatment (Japanese technique).
Le Chalet Blanc Hotel & Spa
Obelisk Square
05100 Montgenèvre
06. 73. 56. 86, 94
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Skiing in Italy: Our Favorite Transalpine Ski Resorts
Courmayeur: at the foot of Mont Blanc, Italian side
The Courmayeur resort is located in the Aosta Valley, on the southern slopes of Mont Blanc. The village of 3,000 inhabitants boasts harmonious and traditional architecture. For skiers, the Chécrouit and Val Veny ski areas offer over 100 km of slopes. It is also the departure point for the Skyway Monte Bianco, a panoramic cable car that takes you to an altitude of 3,466 meters in just 18 minutes. From there, you can enjoy a contemplative break or ski, discovering off-piste routes such as the legendary Vallée Blanche. Cross-country skiers can enjoy the 35 km of trails in the Nordic ski area in Val Ferret, at the foot of the Grandes Jorasses. Courmayeur also has a thermal spa, thanks to the multiple areas of the Pré-Saint-Didier thermal baths, with their three large outdoor thermal pools overlooking Mont Blanc.
Sleeping in Courmayeur: Hotel Le Massif
Hotel Le Massif It is located just a stone's throw from the ski lifts and the streets of the historic center, where numerous luxury boutiques are nestled. Branded «The Leading Hotel of the World,” the 5-star hotel is eco-built and uses renewable energy. The interior design combines the elegance of Italian design with alpine inspirations found in the 80 rooms and suites. The hotel houses 2 bars and 3 restaurants, including LM38 where the menu is created by Michelin-starred chef Alfredo Russo. The spa offers a true wellness journey, centered around the large outdoor pool. The experience is completed by a Turkish bath, a sauna, a whirlpool, and an outdoor sauna. Children are also pampered with a kids' club and dedicated animators.
Hotel Le Massif
SR, 38, 11013 Courmayeur AO, Italy
+39 0165 189 7100
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Monterosa Ski: High-altitude skiing
The Monterosa Ski area is located between Aosta Valley and Piedmont, in the heart of the Italian Alps. It gets its name from the summit of Monte Rosa. It is also the second highest massif in Europe, with an altitude of 3,250 meters, consisting of the Gressoney, Ayas, and Alagna Valsesia valleys. Monterosa Ski connects no fewer than 7 resorts, offering a mix of high-altitude skiing and preserved, authentic resorts. The ski area boasts 120 km of slopes. It’s the ideal place for a ski safari, with beautiful views of the surrounding peaks. The sites within the domain offer a multitude of winter sports: ski touring, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing...
Sleeping at Monterosa ski: Hotel Camp Zero
In Champoluc, one of the resorts in the Monterosa Ski area, Camp Zero is the perfect resort for a ski trip. Built in a clearing, it features a modern architectural approach, entirely clad in wood. The «sporty chic» tone is set right from the lobby, with a giant climbing wall. The hotel has 30 suites, all duplex with terraces. Within its 55m2 cocoon, you'll find the bed and bathroom upstairs, and a living room and a second bathroom downstairs. Ice axes, crampons, and other turned-wood objects (Valdostan art) adorn the walls of the common areas. At the restaurant, there's also a blend of creativity and traditional products. This luxury retreat also houses a spa and a 25m swimming pool.
Hotel Camp Zero
Strada Regionale 45, 16, 11020 Champoluc AO, Italy
+39 0125 938300
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Alta Badia: in the Heart of the Dolomites
Why not add the Dolomites to your (skier's) list of achievements? In this mythical mountain range north of Venice, there are various places to stay. We set our sights on Alta Badia, particularly for its ski area, which offers 130 km of skiing. Here, you can enjoy magnificent landscapes. Food lovers are not left out either, with numerous restaurants in the villages and on the slopes where you can savor the succulent South Tyrolean cuisine. The «Dolomiti Superskipass» is perfect for the insatiable. This single pass provides access to 12 resorts and nearly 1200 km of slopes. As a local curiosity, many residents here speak Ladin, a language spoken since Roman times.
Sleeping in Alta Badia: Hotel Cappela
The Cappela Hotel is located in Corvara, in the south of Val Badia, in the heart of the Dolomites. This 5-star establishment features modern architecture. A facade covered by a gable roof is reminiscent of Tyrolean chalets. The renovated rooms have a refined decor, with natural wood flooring and a private balcony. Some rooms and suites are equipped with an infrared sauna and a terrace. The hotel has three restaurants where you can taste the best regional products, prepared in international and Mediterranean dishes. In terms of well-being, the spa houses a large swimming pool and several saunas, including one suitable for families. Children are pampered with a 125m2 playground (painting corner, climbing wall, foosball, table tennis table, etc.).
Hotel Cappela
Pecëi St., 17, 39033 Colfosco BZ, Italy
+39 0471 83 6183
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