Best Italian ski resorts for families

Italy is an excellent choice for a ski vacation and there are plenty of family-friendly resorts to choose from that offer a combination of great conditions, excellent value and runs to suit all abilities. However, it can be daunting trying to choose the best ski resort for you and your family if you are not overly familiar with northern Italy. This blog focuses on the best Italian ski resorts for families and gives you some useful information to consider when booking your family vacation.

Atmosphere

The great thing about many of the ski resorts in Italy is the atmosphere – it is quite a bit more laid back than its counterparts in France, Switzerland and Austria, and so is appealing to families that want to enjoy a fun and relaxing break. In addition, families with young children are welcome in the luxury hotels and chic restaurants, making the enjoyment factor of a ski vacation in Italy higher than some other more serious ski destinations in Europe.

Cost

Compared to the mainstream European ski resorts, Italy offers a more competitive price and also offers a range of slopes, ski lifts and family-friendly activities, such as ski or snowboard lessons, hot-air balloon rides and mountain tours. While a ski vacation in Italy is by no means a “budget holiday”, it can save you a little money so that you have more to spend while you are on vacation. In addition, in some ski areas you can purchase passes, such as the Dolomiti Superski lift pass in the Dolomites, which permit you entry to numerous ski areas and pistes, as well as rides on ski lifts and, in some places, bus rides.

Snow

An all-important question is of course the reliability and quality of the snow conditions. During the 2013/2014 season, Italy attracted some of the best snow in Europe. In addition, snowmaking technology is used in Italy so that the conditions are still optimal for skiing even in the driest of winters.

Best for beginners

Passo Tonale is an attractive village at an altitude of 1880 m and has marked runs and nursery slopes that will be appealing to beginners and intermediates, while advanced skiers can take the lifts to Ponte di Legno. It also has safe ski areas for absolute beginners, where they can learn to snowplough with confidence away from the more advanced skiers, and there are ski schools with English-speaking instructors. You can be sure of snow between October and early May, making it a good option for the Christmas and Easter holidays as well as half-term.

Champoluc in the Alps is another good option and has a British ski school that takes children from the age of 4. It should be noted, however, that childcare is limited in Italy as Italian families usually vacation with granny or grandpa, who help look after the children. If you’re looking for a resort where childcare will be available then we suggest the Aosta Valley as it is home to a number of childcare companies with British nannies. We also highly recommend that you pre-arrange childcare as nurseries can become busy during the peak season.

Best for intermediates and advanced skiers

For the more accomplished skiers, we recommend Corvara and San Cassiano. These resorts are still family friendly, but the ski area gives access to the Sella Ronda circuit, which boasts well-groomed red runs. Among the 433 km of pistes, there are 38% blue, 53% red and 9% black runs, offering a good balance and some more challenging routes for skiers looking to improve.

If you’re a family of advanced skiers then good options include Alagna, Arabba and Cortina d’Ampezzo, which feature challenging black runs and serious off-piste snowfields. It should be noted that Alagna, in particular, is not suitable for beginners and is also a less lively resort compared to other regions in Italy – it is consequently better suited to older families.



Most scenic

If you want beautiful scenery and a variety of terrains then you surely can’t find better than the resorts within the Dolomites in Italy. We recommend that you purchase a Dolomiti Superski lift pass, which as well as permitting you entry to 12 ski areas and 1220 km of pistes linked by 450 lifts, also includes the famous Sella Ronda, which is a circular network of lifts and pistes around the Gruppo del Sella. This magnificent limestone massif offers some of the best views and scenic winter landscapes that the FamilyHolidaysItaly.co.uk team has ever seen! The Dolomites also look magical at sunset, making for ample photo opportunities and picturesque selfies.

Best for snow reliability

If you want to be sure of ample snow then it is best to focus on the high-altitude resorts, such as Cervinia in the Alps. The most reliable season runs from December to late April and so it is best for a special Christmas vacation with the family. It also has a lift pass system and if you purchase the international version you can visit Zermatt in Switzerland. It is a good choice also for families of varying abilities as there are gentle slopes for beginners and intermediates, as well as the Ventina red run for more advanced skiers, which offers lovely views over the peaks.

Best for value

If you’re on something of a budget then we recommend you check out Madesimo near Lake Como. While it is not suitable for absolute beginners, those looking to improve their skills will enjoy the Canalone run and there’s plenty of variety. The ski area isn’t expensive (expect to pay around €180 for a 6-day lift pass) and there are plenty of affordable pizzerias, restaurants and bars. One thing to note is that it is within driving distance of Milan and Bergamo and so can get busy at weekends with local families.

If you’re looking for something more suitable for beginners, try Livigno, which has a special tax status, meaning that there is no VAT on drinks, petrol and consumer goods! While Mottolino and Carosello are the main parks with slopes for a range of abilities, Amerikan and Del Sole are the best ski parks to head for with beginners or children. Note, however, that Livigno is remote and so is not very easy to get to – the best way to get there is to fly to Innsbruck and then take transport from there.


If you are thinking about a ski vacation in Italy for you and your family and would like us to create a personalised holiday itinerary for you, contact a member of our team on 0844 993 4139 or click here to send an online enquiry.