This week, I was skiing in several Italian ski areas. Here some tips / ideas for your next “fly to ski” trips:
I landed in Turin last summer and reported it on the database. Not cheap, close to 200 euros for a Piper Arrow staying for less than an hour. Guess the M600 in the picture got a different bill…
But it’s a good place for diverting and you have all facilities (cabs, car rental) to get to Cervinia.
I would contact https://www.esair.it/ even if it’s an alternate, as they will arrange PPR and anything else needed with the airport. I’m not sure you can just file LIMF as alternate and turn up (maybe yes but I don’t trust Italian burocracy ;)). The handler was quite quick in communication.
You will feel right at home if you fly (or divert) to Turin
It would be interesting to get feedback on the costs.
I’m planning to check out Cervinia 24-28. Flying to Aosta if the weather is right.
I’ve just come back from Cervinia.
It is roughly 6th time for me in 4 years but it may be the last time because the accommodation situation is appalling now, with tour operators buying up most hotel rooms and the remaining rooms being extremely pricey, and many of really poor quality. I won’t post how much I paid (2 persons) for a sh1thole for “6 people” (actually ok for 2 only) and in an awful condition.
It has been heavy snow which killed most skiing (50cm of powder is a bit of a problem for piste skiing) and when this stopped, everybody piled in. The property owners exploited this to the full…
The skiing is still great as ever and the slopes are never crowded, in the way the French resorts are (probably because so many drive there easily, for the day)
This may be a sign of things to come. High altitude resorts, and tour operators will own the business.
That counts for LIPB and LIDT as well, from where you can enter the Dolomiti Superski, with an enormous variation of slopes! Even closer than Aosta-Cervinia.
If I just want to ski than for me this area is driving distance from home with much less hassle of getting transport from/to the airport.
Peter wrote:
These are relevant for a fly-in; every issue chops down the group that will actually turn up. Aosta is one of the best airports anywhere.Not talking about the EuroGA fly-in here, for which I do support Aosta to be one of the most decent options. I’m talking about traveling alone and still going to Cervinia. Don’t get me wrong: I love Zermatt (and less Cervinia, but still love the entire ski resort), but it’s by far not the only good ski area in the Alps. Especially South-Tyrol/Trentino offers A LOT of amazing ski slopes. In case you’re curious which ski areas I’ve visited, from which I make up my opinion, I’ve made a map here.
For me fly to ski is about flying as close as possible to slopes e.g. within range of €100 taxi. Anything else doesn’t make so much sense for me.That counts for LIPB and LIDT as well, from where you can enter the Dolomiti Superski, with an enormous variation of slopes! Even closer than Aosta-Cervinia.
I probably keep repeating myself but Samedan and Courchevel take a little effort but once you have done it they are hard to beat.True, but besides the mandatory familiarization requirements, these places are also incredibly expensive. Courchevel costs in winter 95 euros landing fee, and hotels + restaurants are also on the high side for France and L3V. Still cheaper than Samedan of course, where you’re almost broke, when paying parking, taxi, ski pass, hotel and restaurant fees in high-season. I’ve visited Samedan last winter during the weekend, where I felt alone with my SEP between those innumerable amount of private jets, but didn’t think of skiing with all those additional costs.
I have skied in Courchevel (plus a number of the big-name places like Zermatt) and would not go back there. Short of spending big money (a few k per week) on accommodation close to some ski lift, you are on buses and by the time you reach the snow, you have lost an hour and it already has 10,000 people on it. For hanging out and shopping, yes, but few GA pilots are going to be doing much of that.
Allegedly Courchevel is changing the 6 month requirement for keeping the rating valid. AIUI 9 months will be the new duration, which will help a bit for those further away.
Emir wrote:
For me fly to ski is about flying as close as possible to slopes e.g. within range of €100 taxi. Anything else doesn’t make so much sense for me.
I probably keep repeating myself but Samedan and Courchevel take a little effort but once you have done it they are hard to beat. Samedan did relax the regulations allowing you to land first before tanking the little local flight with an instructor so the hurdle came down quite a bit.