How to organize a ski trip to Italy (and not go crazy)?

The “that first time” is behind us. The ski trip to the Dolomites (to Folgarida) was quite a logistical and… emotional. Is this a good idea? Won’t we get lost in the maze of Italian routes? And finally – how will Molly survive all this?

Today, richer by hundreds of kilometers traveled and thousands of meters of descents in Val di Sole, we say loudly: it was worth it! If you are planning your first Italian skiing with kids (and a dog!), this post is for you.

When to go skiing in Italy and why February?

We originally planned our ski trip to the Dolomites for March, thinking it would be cheaper. However, after a quick research, it turned out that the price differences are not so drastic to give up the best snow. We chose mid-February (just before the peak season falling in the second half of February) and it was a hit. Sunshine, great conditions and no giant queues for the lifts.

Our base: Folgarida (Val di Sole)

Why exactly this place? The choice fell on Folgarida, because it was highly recommended to us by the ski school. Although we considered Kronplatz or Marilleva, Folgarida won with its family-friendliness.

Where did we sleep?

We spent the night not at the slope or queue itself. We chose the Appartamento Patrizia e Franco property in Almazzago.

• Pros: Huge, clean apartment (2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, huge kitchen). With a dog and three children, space is a luxury that no cramped hotel room can replace.
• Cons: We had an approx. 10 minutes by car. It wasn’t a ski-in/ski-out, but logistically we were able to cope, especially since we had a proven base by the ski lift.

Nevertheless, we definitely recommend and would choose this place again. The 10-minute commute and the cost of parking made up for our cramped accommodations at the slopes and the lack of a direct connection to the slopes. Not to mention the difference in cost :)

Ski school – our greatest success

It was a watershed moment for us. Until now, our children have only studied individually, 1-2 hours alone with an instructor. This time we bet to use the offers of ski schools to learn in a group, this time already as a full-fledged weekly training. Our choice fell on the Zgorky nursery.

Note, we’re selling a tip: In the beginning, we made the mistake of signing the kids up for only half a day. On the very first day we had to unscrew it and extend the class! The instructors were so great that the kids didn’t want to get off the slopes. The difference in cost alone is not much, we were more afraid of whether they would last that long on the slopes. Even 5 hours of study was not enough for them :)

The most beautiful moment of the trip? When you stand at the top of the trail and realize that you can go down with all three kids (even Anna bravely braves the blue trails!). This feeling of pride is absolutely NO-DO-O-PI-SA-NIA.

Logistics with dog and equipment rental

Molly, of course, was with us! Italy once again proved to be very “dog-friendly,” although on the slopes themselves the logistics required some planning. Paweł, unfortunately, for health reasons, can not ski, but thanks to this Molly had almost all the time some company and visited local towns on long walks :)

As for ski equipment, we used the Ottava rental shop, which is located in the parking lot under the Folgarida cable car itself. Prices in the region are similar, so it is not worth wasting time looking for “5 euros cheaper”. In Ottava, a huge plus was the ability to leave your equipment overnight to dry – no more carrying wet shoes to the apartment!

The road to Italy: through 3 countries to the destination

Our route into the Italian Dolomites led through the Czech Republic, Austria and Germany. The route itself passed us quite smoothly, although the exchange of turns means traffic jams – you need to be mentally prepared for this. We, fortunately, missed the biggest ones and definitely more steady cars in the other direction.

What to keep in mind when going to Italy for skiing?

1. Vignettes: Buy them online beforehand, we strongly recommend the official government websites here, which work great and you don’t have to pay commissions to any middlemen(Czech Republic, Austria).
2. Additional tolls: Remember the toll road sections in Austria and Italy. Although you buy a vignette in Austria, there are also additional toll road sections (usually some longer tunnels or passes). You can buy passage through such sections right away with a vignette, so at the gates you can use the fast lanes without standing in line. In Italy, unfortunately, there is no such option to buy highway tickets online.
3. Overnight on the route: We stayed in Austria, but…. this time we have nothing to recommend. The overnight stay was average, to say the least. Although in our case it was necessary ;) Sometimes, however, it is better to make up those 2-3 hours and get to your destination than to sleep anywhere. On the way back, we drove for one.

Where to eat near Folgarida?

We ate “fast and close” on the slopes, but evenings belonged to Italian cuisine in a restaurant edition. If you are in the area, be sure to visit these two places:

1. Ristorante Pizzeria Bucaneve
2. Ristorante Pizzeria Dolomiti

Delicious pizza, atmosphere and the best thing in Italy – hospitality. Despite the fact that sometimes it was full of guests, there was always a place for us :)

Ski-checklist: What to pack for skiing with kids and a dog?

Plus a little bonus from us. So that you don’t have to stash your jackets as “void fillers” (like Molly and I did in the trunk 😉 ), we’ve prepared a table with the most important things to keep in mind during a ski trip.

Category	What to pack?	Important notes
Equipment (children)	Helmets, goggles, skis/boots (if you don’t rent)	Check the fit of your helmets before you go!
Clothing (children)	Thermo-active underwear (min. 2 sets – alternate), fireflies, gloves alternate	A second pair of gloves is a “must-have” when skiing or playing in the snow.
For Molly (the dog)	Passport, paw ointment (for snow and frost), folding bowl, carrier	Paws ointment protects against salt, although in Italy it was clean in this regard
On the slope	UV cream, protective lipstick, treats/energy gels	The sun in the Dolomites gives a very strong burn!
Logistics	Vignettes (email confirmation is sufficient), water thermos, roof box	Without a roof box, we wouldn’t have been able to pack.

 

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Our opinion about Folgarida and skiing in Italy

Italy with three children and a dog is not “relaxation” in the classic sense of the word, but it is an amazing adventure that builds family ties. If you are afraid that it is too difficult – stop. The right nursery, a good apartment and…. a box on the roof (remember the Molly story? 😉 ) is the key to success.

Folgarida was a great choice, although we were very much afraid of this option. Fortunately, on the spot, it quickly became clear that this was the perfect choice.

And what are your favorite regions for skiing in Italy? Do you have any proven places where instructors speak Polish or have a super approach to toddlers? We look forward to your recommendations!

Finally, catch a still map of the entire resort: