LA THUILE, ITALY

If you are "only here for the beer" or you like rowdy nightlife, then La Thuile is not for you. However, If you want to ski 150 kilometers (almost 94 miles) of pistes that usually have very skiable snow from the beginning of Dec to Easter, then that is a different kettle of snow all together. Half a dozen of more than decent places to eat out, all of which tend to serve Italian food - Burgers and chips? NO! Decent Italian food, YES. There is the main hotel complex, Planibell, that is situated just the width of a road from the beginner's ski area where there is a travelator lift and a button lift for beginners to practice on before hitting the “big boys” lifts higher up. The speedy Gondola lift and a four seat chair lift whisk you up to the main ski area which again is well served with restaurants and cafes like Le Foyer at the top of a second chairlift and Offshore Bar which is situated on a good ski run away from everywhere. This run is situated on a blue run that takes you back to the village ending about 25 yards away from the Hotel Planibell again. Piste number seven will take you back past hill forts and old military buildings along forest tracks to the village again but this time, with a short diversion through France. Again you end up just across the road from the Planibell. If you want to try ski in France you can. Go to the topmost chairlift and off you go. When you get off at the top you are less than 100 meters from the border with a decent that runs down to La Rossiere. Just make sure you have your passport with you when you go. Accommodation; choose from Chalet Eden and Hotel Dora full board to Planibell apartments for self catering. Take your pick. All tastes catered for, Do I like it there? Well here is a clue. I have been skiing now for 50 years. This will be my 51st year. I worked every winter for 18 years in the Italian Mountain rescue. I have tried Austria, Andorra and the usual EU ski countries as well as across the pond in Canada. I will be holidaying in La Thuile again this December for the 15th time. Oh yes, and that will probably be for all of December. If I get the chance, it will be most of January as well. Do I recommend it, what do you think? It's great!

Garry Anstee

I have returned year after year, staying at the Planibel Hotel complex because of its superb location and excellent service. I find there really is something here for everyone from beginners through to advanced off piste skiers. The Beginner slopes are right in front of the Hotel Complex so there is no lugging skis far, the complex would technically be ski in/ski out if it was not for the small service road between the complex and the lift. For intermediate and advanced skiers there the terrain is phenomenal, La Thuile is actually the base for the Italian Heli Ski operations. Powder days here are some of the best I have ever had due to how quiet the resort is you can experience untouched powder days after a fresh snowfall. One of the biggest benefits of staying on the Italian side is the price difference, food and alcohol tends to be a lot cheaper compared with France. There are a couple of very hard to find mountain restaurants which the lifties can advise you of there locations, these restaurants will blow you away with the quality... my favorite being Ristorante Lo Tata. I cant recommend the Planibel Hotel and Apartments enough, there facilities are great to unwind after a hard days skiing and there live evening entertainment is brilliant. Apres is La Thuile due to its size is not as lively as other resorts I have been to but there is a great bar called La Buvette with outside decking which everyone congregates to at the end of the day by the main lift office. For non skiers there you can enjoy the picturesque town or catch a bus to neighboring town Courmayer or main city of Aosta.

Apres Ski: 2/5

James Pickford