Record ski season for Italy

February 6th 2009

The Italian ski season continues to be one of the best in years, with more fresh snow reported at many resorts and moderate to heavy falls forecast across the Alps and Dolomites this week, so if you haven’t booked yet, now is the time for March and April.

The Alps and Dolomites have been deluged with snow two years after experts predicted the demise of skiing in Europe. Many resorts have had more than half a metre of snow recently in less than 24 hours and more is forecast in the next few days and weeks. The conditions have been described as the best for 30 years by many experts, with pistes in tip-top condition throughout resorts and off-piste magical.

The place to head for in Italy for powder this week is Gressoney where there is a whopping 360 cm of snow - expect waist deep powder! Across the rest of Italy the conditions are excellent following snowfalls at the beginning of this week and even more snow is forecast at the weekend.

On 6th Feb, Italy topped the snow charts, with a record 6 out of 10 resorts in the top 10 in terms of snow coverage. Gressoney having the most snow with 360 cm on upper slopes and 160cm on lower slopes. Here is a glance at the snow coverage in our favourite resorts:

Worried about the cost? There is still a way to get your fix of snow without hurting your bank balance and this is self-catering! Sharing an apartment, can now save considerable amounts of money, giving you the opportunity to not only save on accommodation but also food and drink by eating in or preparing a packed lunch. On the way to most resorts, there are many large and low-cost supermarkets (Auchen, Lidl), where you can beat resort prices and buy wine for as little as 1.50 eur a bottle!

For those wanting to eat out, many Italian resorts continue to be far more reasonable than their French and Swiss counterparts. Reports in the media of Lasagna costing 17.00 eur and beer 10.00 eur a pint in Chamonix in France, makes Italian resorts look unbelievably inviting. The average price of tea on the mountain in the Milky Way is 1.50 eur, Beer 5.00 eur (large), Wine 2.50 eur (large glass), Pannini 3.00 eur and Lasagna 6.00 eur. In restaurants, you can still buy a pizza for between 6.00 and 8.00 eur!

Skiing in March and April is also far more reasonable than peak season over Christmas / New Year and February and there are still bargains to be had. Here is our round up of late season ski accommodation that won’t break the bank:

Sauze Central (Sauze D'Oulx) - only 20m from the lifts, this central apartment sleeps 5 and there is 15% discount on March 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th – only £505.00 per week

Villa Chez Nous (Sauze D'Oulx) - lovely 2 bed, sleeps 6 people in the quaint old town. 20% discount on 14th, 21st and 28th March – only £635.00 per week

Aosta Residence (Gressoney) - This one bed bed sleeps 6 people confortably with a mezzanine floor. March and April are only £625.00 per week.

Chalet Sestriere (Sestriere) - This one bed sleeps 4 and is conveniently located close to the lifts. From 28th March, the price per week is only £625.00 per week.

Residence Agata (Marilleva) - lovely new 1 bed apartments sleeping 4. Resort linked access to Madonna di Campiglio. From 14th March only £410.00 per week.

Prato Nevoso Residence(Prato Nevoso) - one bed apartments sleeping 4 right next to the slopes. Reduced ski pass rates in March and free pass, hire and lessons for children! Only £565.00 per week, 14th and 21st March.