Dolomites recs

[Dexter Rutecki]

Asking for a friend planning to visit in January for a week or so. Highest priority is good skiing, but they'll have a small kid with them and want some family stuff as well. Would be into a few days of touring as well. Where should they go/avoid?

[I've seen black diamonds!]

For family + touring go to Val Gardena. It's a little further from the best freeride spots, but not problematic by any means. Fly to Innsbruck.

Sent from my Pixel using TGR Forums mobile app

[Mike Pow]

San Martino di Castrozza
Family resort with great tree skiing and then a seperate cable car accessed area with no piste and unlimited touring possibilities.

Lovely little village which is great value for money. Spectacular views.

Great snow record.

http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?t=124440
https://www.facebook.com/mike.richar...1828624&type=3

http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?t=125291
https://www.facebook.com/mike.richar...cCn0wLU3Cgpwzg

[Buster Highmen]

Selva Wolkenstein is highest on the West side of the Dolomites, Val Gardena on the Sella Ronda up the hill from Sankt Ulrich.
Selva has a number of good restaurants, 1 with a Michelin star.

We stayed here: http://www.la-tambra.com/en/index.html super nice small hotel, ski to 1 lift with Dantercepies access, 300 meters to the Ciamponoi gondola. The owners of La Tambra were really nice to us. La Bula is a great restaurant right below La Tambra, 2 minute walk.

Taxi Bruno Brunialti from Selva. He is the cheapest. Number: +393807101506 either from Bolzano from Milan/South or Ponte Gardena Laion/Waidbruck-Lajen from Innsbruck/North.

See here for more rambling blather: https://www.tetongravity.com/forums/...ps-Summer-2018

(edit)
We didn't stay in Canazei, but could see it from the top of the Pordoi tram.
Some people we talked to there said the Pordoi is the best offpiste skiing and Canazei is closer to Passo Pordoi than Selva.

[Benny Profane]

Seems like they should avoid Cortina. Otherwise, great, I think.

[Dexter Rutecki]

Awesome, thanks. Sounds like it will be pretty tough for them to go wrong--passing along all of the above.

[hafjell]

If you want quick access to Sass Pordoi, your best bet would be Canizei or Arabba. The Sass Pordoi tram will have the easiest access to the rowdiest terrain. There are lots of other options in the Dolomites, but the Sella Massif is impressive for the concentration of couloirs and accessibility. The Pordoi tram gets you closest to it.
Val Gardena is actually the farthest from the Sass Pordoi at an hour away. Might not make a difference, but if you're juggling day care and baby sitters or ski school, consider something closer. We stay on the north east side (Corvara) and ski the Val Mesdi to be home in time for for pick up. This works, of course, only when the avy conditions are ok.
To be honest, all of the towns will have great day care and ski schools, and great touring. Given that parity, I would recommend staying on the Sella Ronda as those towns tend to be highest and will have more snow in lean years. In our experience, 100 to 200 meters of altitude can make a big difference; 300 meters could feel like a different world.
Cortina is a great option, but you may not prefer the upscale vibe.
Innsbruck is an excellent gateway, but beware the traffic at the Brenner Pass. The train to Franzensfeste or Brixen (or Bozen) would avoid the backups at the border and toll stations.
Consider Venice too. 2.5 hours by car.
Oh, and if you're going for food, Alta Badia full stop.