Italy is home to some of the finest slopes in all of Europe. With the alps (the skier’s dream) situated in the north of the country, the resorts are plentiful and snow-sure. With such a luxury of choices available to choose from in terms of location, the embarrassment of riches could potentially be overwhelming if you are looking to set up the dream ski holiday.
In this blog, we will be discussing the finest ski resorts available in Italy, the key things you need to know about each resort, and advice for booking your ski holiday. We also have advice on selecting the best luxury ski resorts the world over, including France, Austria and Japan if you haven’t decided that Italy is where you would like to be this winter.
We have selected the top five luxury ski resorts in Italy for your perusal. In no particular order, the resorts are:
Cervinia Luxury Ski Resort
The stunning resort of Cervinia is home to the largest mountain in Europe. Known to the locals as ‘Monte Cervino’, The Matterhorn is renowned the world over for being a top-class ski resort. When partnering with Zermatt, a whopping 350km of ski pistes is available to explore. Due to the altitude being just over 2km above sea level, the ski season is long and snow-sure; you can expect snow to be guaranteed from December to April.
In terms of restaurants and nightlife, Cervinia boasts some incredible gastronomical treats ready for your delight. Italian food is delicious at the best of times, so imagine having an assortment of the finest Italian restaurants available just a few moments away from you. When thinking about travelling to Cervinia, both a train station and airport are easily accessible; the train station being in Châtillon less than 30km away, and the airport located in nearby Turin.
Having both the plane and train available makes it ideal for those looking to see a wider area of Italy. Flying in and then jumping on a train at a moment’s notice can be liberating if you are looking for an adventure. Alternatively, if you wanted to spend a week skiing in Cervinia and then moving onto another area of Italy for the rest of your holiday, having the train so close makes it perfect to do just that.
If you are a large group, then you might want to consider renting a chalet in Cervinia. Chalet La Fenice offers luxury accommodation for up to fourteen people. The brilliant thing about choosing a chalet for your ski holiday over a hotel is the number of features accessible to your private group. Chalet La Fenice, for example, has a games room, cinema room and indoor swimming pool amongst many other features.
San Cassiano Luxury Ski Resort
If you thought that Cervinia had a large ski piste available, then San Cassiano will blow you away. Over 1,100km of routes are ready to play with, and a combination of cruising green runs to blacks will keep you entertained no matter the level you ski at.
San Cassiano is located in The Dolomites, a beautifully spacious range of mountains declared a UNESCO heritage site in 2009. Renowned for the mix of high difficulty runs, winter sports events are commonplace, with some of the world’s best skiers and snowboarders competing in San Cassiano every year.
If you enjoy learning about the cultural heritage of a location you are visiting, then tours are available; The Great War Ski Tour is a must-do activity, and goes into the history of how San Cassiano was involved in the first world war.
The famed Hotel Rosa Alpina is a local highlight if you are looking to stay in a hotel. Along with the luxury holiday necessities of an in-hotel restaurant, wine bar and grill, the hotel also offers a spa and wellness centre. The standouts of the spa include two indoor swimming pools, a sauna and steam rooms.
Hotels are perfect for those travelling in smaller groups; there is no need to invest in a Chalet if you are a couple on a romantic vacation!
Madonna di Campiglio Luxury Ski Resort
Another resort in the beautiful Dolomites, Madonna di Campiglio offers a picturesque getaway for your luxury vacation. Offering 150km of runs, as well as an additional 40km off-piste for those looking to explore off the beaten path. For snowboarders, there is also a half-pipe if you are feeling adventurous!
The centre of the resort is car-free, so you can easily explore the town centre without any worries if you have small children; as far as ski resorts are concerned, Madonna di Campiglio is one of the best for families. In the resort centre itself, there are lots of shops, restaurants and bars to check out, so if you fancy a day of retail therapy off the slopes, you will easily be catered for.
The Lefay Resort and Spa offers an incredible view from the outside heated pool. With 88 suites available and 22 wellness residencies, customer service is at the forefront of everything the hotel does. As well as being just 350m away from the nearest gondola, you will be treated to a resort driver who will drive you to and from the slopes.
La Thuile Luxury Ski Resort
La Thuile is another brilliant resort to take your family to. Packed with slow green runs and blue runs, the slopes offer a chance to kick back and wind down. If you are a beginner, or your children are learning how to ski, then La Thuile is the perfect place for you. Due to the family-friendly nature of the resort, the restaurants local to the vicinity are used to serving families with small children, so no need to worry about that side of things.
The report is situated in the Aosta Valley, and with many of the slopes being east facing, the snow is plentiful and of good quality.
With the three biggest mountains in the alps all visible, Mont Blanc, the Matterhorn and Monte Rosa, the picturesque nature makes it a great place to have family photos taken that you will remember forever.
Montana Lodge and Spa has 55 rooms in total, along with a spa and wellness centre that will send you into relaxation heaven. The spa features an indoor pool, sauna and steam bath, but the real fun starts when the private spa is booked; how does a private whirlpool with champagne and strawberries sound?
Due to the thirty-eight ski lifts being able to handle 50,000 skiers per hour, it’s extremely rare to have any queues at all when hitting the slopes; just another way of reducing stress when learning to ski or skiing with young children.
Cortina d’Ampezzo Luxury Ski Resort
Famous for the Alpine Women’s World Cup downhill run, this resort has plenty of snow for the more experienced skier. Saying that, there are also lots of easy blues for those looking to learn or relax. Interestingly, you might actually recognise some of the scenery due to the Bond film ‘For Your Eyes Only’ being filmed here! The scene in particular shows Roger Moore being chased by baddies on skimobiles.
The town itself is a stunning traditional Italian municipality, with the streets being covered with cobbles. If you fancy getting away to explore the surrounding area, Venice is just a two-hour drive away. The centre of the town is car free and only pedestrians are allowed, so it is ideal to stroll around whilst checking out the various restaurants and shops.
Dolce Vita is a top class example of the chalets available in Cortina d’Ampezzo; with 900 square meters of floor space packed with features, this is a chalet not to be messed with! Having an indoor swimming pool, hot tub and sauna can really help with the muscle after-burn from a hard day on the slopes (or after a night exploring the wine cellar).
Other modernities are of course included, with cable TV, Wi-Fi and sound system all included.
Your next luxury ski holiday
We hope you have found this blog helpful! We know how difficult it can be to book the perfect holiday, and the research that goes into it. Ski breaks are the ultimate way to get away from the stress of modern life, and enter surroundings that are completely new.
For larger groups, chalets are ideal. Having the private access to the luxury features can make the holiday so much more entertaining and enjoyable, as well as having your own private space for the duration of your trip. Having your own private wine cellar, cinema room and steam room can make the evenings far more enjoyable!
Treating yourself to an amazing chalet or hotel whilst you’re on holiday as well can help take your vacation to the next level. If you have any questions regarding booking a luxury ski holiday, in Italy or elsewhere, feel free to have a chat with our team of experts. We wish you the best of luck in your quest for the perfect holiday!
