Ski-Licious!
Kim Ludlam takes at look at what La Thuile in Italy has to offer this ski season
T
he town of La Thuile is situated in the Aosta Valley of the Alps, on the western side of northern Italy. The resort’s French name reflects that it is located right on the edge of the French border. It is only one of two Italian resorts to share an international ski area with a neighbouring French resort, in La Thuile’s case, La Rosiere. The resort of La Thuile is a mixture of old and new, having developed from several Aosta Valley hamlets but with a large modern slopeside complex. If you’re looking for a ski resort that caters well for beginners but boasts excellent intermediate and expert runs, this is definitely the place to go. Combined with the stunning scenery and perfect snow from December to April, you couldn’t ask for more. Beginners have a dedicated learner area at the bottom of the slopes which hosts the nursery slopes and an inflatable fun park. From here you can catch the gondola up to Les Suches where you will find some easy pistes. Intermediates will enjoy exploring the Chaz Dura and Gran
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Testa areas. There are plenty of places to go off piste and the snow is nice and deep. La Rosiere is also worth checking out. For more advanced skiers and boarders there are a few black runs and the experts will love the steep Le Defi run. La Thuile is all about the heliboarding and is just one of two Alpine resorts that offer the experience.You are transported up to the Rutor Glacier and guided down by an Alpine guide through the incredible scenery and powder, this means it can become quite busy during peak season, but January and February are quieter making the slopes more accessible.. Slopes can seem a bit inconsistent at La Thuile. A red-labelled slope might feel more like a blue and vica versa, which can be misleading for the less confident skier. A downside is that the run back down the mountain to town is only either a red or black. So if you can’t manage either of these you have to catch the gondola to the bottom, which is a little disappointing. La Thuile has recently added a snow park where you can enjoy
rails, ramps and a half pipe. The park is set just off the blue run but is situated on a slope that runs into a red run, so should perhaps be avoided by beginners.
Where to stay?
The main Planibel complex comprises of the Planibel hotel and the Planibel apartments. The apartment building boasts 237 rooms, it is also less than a two minute walk to the slopes. The resort is listed as a four star complex, but there are some aspects that don’t live up to this standard. For an apartment that sleeps four, you get two bathrooms, a twin bedroom, a living area which consists of seating/sleeping area and the kitchen and dining area. There is also a cupboard to store equipment. While this is spacious, the kitchen is not really adequate for the self catering style of the apartments as it is very limited. It is however comfortable and quiet with a well stocked supermarket about two minutes away and plenty of restaurants within short walking distance.
Run and Slope Information 30 Beginner runs 32 Intermediate runs 12 Advanced runs 17 Chair lifts One Gondola/Cable Car 20 Drag Lifts
Getting to Airports close to La Thuile Milan (MXP) - 125 Miles to resort Turin (TRN) - 93 Miles to resort Geneva (GVA)- 75 Miles to resort Nearest railway station: Pre Saint Didier, 6 miles from resort.
What is there to do?
If you fancy a break from the slopes, then you will find a well equipped sports club with a fitness centre, a swimming pool, squash courts, a climbing wall and a sauna. There are also a few nice sport shops in the town if you fancy doing some (expensive) shopping. The chocolate shop is definitely a must see, where you can enjoy a chocolate fondue or a hot chocolate. They also sell a variety of luxury items such as chocolate jigsaw puzzles and crayons which would make excellent souvenirs.
Après Ski
If you’re looking for lively nightlife then La Thuile might not be for you as there are only a couple of bars on the resort. La Cage aux Folles is mainly a sports bar and the Kings Cafe is large but quiet. The holiday reps organise a quiz night every Tuesday at Kings Cafe but that’s about as good as it gets. The resort in terms of nightlife may be more suited to older parties or families with young children.
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