LA THUILE, ITALY

La Thuile is an unspoilt resort which enjoys a huge ski area linked with La Rosière in France. Skiers on ski holidays in La Thuile can enjoy spectacular scenery, with breathtaking views of the Matterhorn, Monte Rosa and Mont Blanc. La Thuile has an excellent snow record with mainly east-facing slopes, minimal queuing during the week and wide, long ski runs with skiing back to the village making ski holidays in La Thuile an ideal choice for all standards of skier with the added bonus of a relaxing après ski atmosphere.

There are 150km of lift-linked pistes, offering skiing for every ability level, although the Italian slopes are slightly better than the French. For beginners and intermediates, there's plenty of good terrain, for experts there is enjoyable off-piste potential, as well as superb heli-skiing at reasonable prices. La Thuile is a relatively unknown resort outside of Italy and remains largely Italian in character. This means that, apart from over the weekend, it is refreshingly uncrowded.

The north facing high altitude resort offer good snow conditions throughout the winter season and with added snow making facilities across its pistes offers for guaranteed skiing throughout the season.

There are several unpretentious bars for a jolly and informal evening.· La Bricole pub and the Cage pub at the Planibel complex are very popular.

Other activities include:

• Swimming pool
• Fitness centre
• Sauna, Turkish bath
• Pool tables
• Table tennis
• Cross-country skiing

Eating out on Ski Holidays in La Thuile

For a small resort La Thuile offers quite a variety of eating places ranging from the cheap and cheerful to the more sophisticated · Pizza and pasta from €6 · 3-course meals from €19 · La Rascard has excellent food, La Lune for pasta dishes, La Raclette and La Bricole for fondues, Lo Creton and La Grotta for pasta and pizzas and for special meals try La Fordze.

Other amenities include:

• Charming shops
• Buses to Aosta, for the well known weekly market and Courmayeur

The nearest airport to La Thuile is Bergamo (BGY) which is around a three hours transfer from resort.