Out of all the ski resorts I've tried in Italian Alps, so far Madonna di Campiglio tops everything…read moreelse for an intermediate snowboarder like myself! Breathtaking view with long gorgeous pistes that are catered mostly to intermediate skiers made this my favorite ski resort. The spectacular panoramic view of the Alps exceeds Obereggen and Alta Badia by far, it's hands down the best scenic resort. It's probably one of the most popular ski destination with the possible celebrity sightings such as F.Alonso, Massa, Valentino Rossi who are some of the regulars. With 19 lifts (5 gondolas, 12 chair lifts, 2 surface lifts) the resort offers skiers an incredible 1000 metres (3281 feet) of vertical descent and has 35 pistes with a total length of 60 kilometers. I snowboarded here during the week of Xmas from Dec.23 to Dec. 28 and I cannot ask for any better time to come here..... the pistes were almost empty!!! Since most people prefer to stay home with their family during the Xmas week, we got such an amazing deal for 4 nights stay with 4 days ski pass, breakfast, and 3 course dinner for only 420 euro from a nearby hotel (Hotel Canada)!! However, starting the 28th the pistes were getting crowded and the price hiked. I would definitely go back again...... I can't wait!!!!

We spent New Years weekend here. Ive been to Aspen, Vail and Park city and this is hands down one…read moreof the best. The Fiat Chalet is so much fun and the views are breathtaking. of snow (least in, over 20yrs!)meant skiing wasn't all we'd hoped but the food, shops, and entertainment ensured we had a ton of other stuff to do. If you go, be sure to order the hot chocolate while at the chalet. It's like nothing I've ever had! So good.1

In 2010 I came here for 4 days to snowboard with friends and fell in love with the breathtaking…read moreview of the Dolomites. No wonder Unesco declared these mountains as a world heritage! Alta Badia is considered as the top ski resort for beginners/ intermediate because more than 50% of the pistes are piste azzurre (blue =beginner runs. Equivalent to green slopes in America) and 40 % of the pistes are red/medium-difficulty. It would be an understatement to say Alta Badia has plenty of lifts.... there are more than 50 lifts! The reason why it has so many lifts is because Alta Badia is made of 6 villages - Corvara, Colfosco, La Villa, San Cassiano, Padraces, & Sella Ronda. These villages are all linked together so you can ski at any of them except Sella Ronda. Padraces is considered the easiest pistes and Sella Ronda is known for more challenging runs but you need the Superski pass to get a direct access. There are nearly 100 slopes and the snow condition is fantastic!! I personally prefer Obereggen more but Alta Badia is just as fun and beautiful, and perhaps has better apre-ski scene. P.S.- At the mountain huts, try the delicious goulash!!!

At the top of the Summit in Paganella we met up for lunch with the Knoxville ski club.read more

I came to Selva Val Gardena/Wolkenstein in August 2017 and stayed at Hotel Portillo Dolomites 1966…read more My friends and I took the train from Rome to Bolzano and rented a car to Val Gardena. We took the lift up to the top and did a 12 mile hike. I should've prepared better than wear a pair of Nike Flyknits during the hike. I felt almost every piece of gravel on my sole. Around mile 7 we stopped at the Riese Haunold Hütte for lunch. Had poltena, sausage and short rib combo along with a beer. Had enough energy to do the next 5 miles. It does get busier in the afternoon and that's when the hike speed throttles with hike guides and other hikers. It's not everyday I get to hike in the Italian Alps and see the typical tourists like Florence or Venice. I think my friends and I were the only Asian hikers along the path. Haha. It was an amazing hike with a lifetime of memories and good eats and beer at the Hütte.

This is one of my favorite spots to ski in Europe (at least of the ones I have been to thus far)…read more There is a ton of terrain easily accessible from the three villages in the valley. While it may feel a bit out of the way to get there, it is totally worth it if you are planning on spending multiple days skiing there. There's a good mix of terrain and if you are looking for some challenging pitches, you will find it from time to time. On my most recent visit to Val Gardena, we stayed in Hotel Antares in Selva (winter 2012). This area is part of the Dolomiti Superski pass, so you are able to venture into other nearby areas if you are willing to do so (places like Alta Badia, Cortina, and Kronplatz are all included). Additionally, if you are looking for a day off to rest the legs, Bolzano is a relatively short bus ride away and is an interesting day trip. While in Val Gardena, if you haven't tried the Sella Ronda, it is definitely worth doing. While it is more of a circuit than a trail, which is 26km long and takes you around the massive Sella mountain. It takes nearly all day, and you have to mindful of the clock to a certain extent as lifts close at certain times and you don't want to get stuck (read: expensive cab ride). Green and orange markers take you clockwise or counter clockwise. Another option is heading over to Ortisei, which is probably the largest town in the valley and skiing some of the cruising trails over there. On a nice sunny day, you will get a great view in what feels like more wide open terrain. I spent a week skiing here in 2012 and never got bored with the terrain. We lucked out with good (not excellent) skiing conditions, but for early March it was better than expected.