While skiing in Italy in the lovely Dolomites region, you can also contribute to the healthy upbringing of the region’s cows by staying at one of the Residence Hotels Dolomites accommodation. Until the end of winter, anyone staying in one of the eight Residence Hotels is contributing to the wellbeing of a cow, helping it to live and graze happily throughout the summer months.

Residence Hotels are located throughout some of the Dolomites most beautiful areas: Madonna di Campiglio, San Martino di Castrozza, in the Val di Fassa and in the Val Gardena. The areas have significance to the region’s agriculture, being a source of traditional Italian alpine products and foods.

While tourists enjoying their winter skiing, and indulge in some apres ski, the cows then get to come out and play in the summer months, feasting on mountain herbs and grasses at high altitudes.

Continue reading: Adopt a cow on holiday in Italy

Located in the heart of the Dolomites on an old military road which leads to Cortina d‘Ampezzo, the mountain hut “ Fanes” is enchanting place where one can relax and enjoy healthy food (the famous Grey Cheese is absolutely delicious!). The whole area is redolent of age and history. Here during The Great War, the Italians and Austrians fought each other and it’s not rare to come across poignant relics of those fierful battles. The old owner of the place loves to tell people touching stories about those long years of war when the two sides shouted Christmas greetings to one another across no man’s land.

Continue reading: Holidays in the Dolomites: mountain hut Fanes, near Cortina

Winter in Italy for 2009-2010 follows the same trend of snow shoeing as last winter. It’s an activity lost in the snows of time, and isn’t like skiing, nor like walking. In Italy, the activity is called “ciaspolare” and it’s something many Italians and foreigners enjoy, whether they’re skiers or not.

In the video above, you can see how trekking with snow shoes can appeal to nature lovers, and people enjoying the silence and the serenity of the Italian mountains in winter. In this video we’re in the Fanes Dolomites of Alta Badia.

Video | You Tube

Continue reading: Dolomites trekking with snow shoes

Go skiing in Italy in December and you could save on some great ski deals. The Alta Badia area is offering three days’ ski pass for the Dolomites in the Superski zone with breakfast at the Col Alto mountain refuge and skiing in the light of dawn with fresh snow. The Dolomites superski area comprises 12 separate ski areas connected by 1,200 km of slopes and chair lifts.

You can find the Alfa Badia ski deal at “Sciare con gusto in Alta Badia“. It’s valid from December 14th to 24th and costs from 162 to 273 euros.

Photo | Flickr

Continue reading: Ski deals for Italy: Alta Badia

A skiing deal for the Italian ski resort of the Dolomites Superski has some great reductions after booking at least four days skiing and hotel stay. The “Prima Neve” or “First Snow” skiing in Italy promotion includes the “Dolomiti Superski Premiere” deal, valid until December 23.

If you book four days in a hotel with skipass, you get the next days accommodation and ski passes for free, as well as discounts on ski hire and lessons. For an area with 12 skiing stations and 1,200 km of slopes, in a UNESCO world heritage site, that’s not a bad deal!

Continue reading: Snow deals: Dolomites free skiing after four days

After Cortina, more Dolomites ski resorts are opening in November, with the Dolomites Superski area opening on the 28th. It includes 12 skiing areas over 1,200 metres of slopes, and the Valle Isarco will also open, on December 5th (seen here is this beautiful photo from Dolomiti SuperSki).

This area of the Dolomites, including Plan de Corones, Alta Badia, Val di Fiemme, S Martino di Castrozza, Moena and Civetta, is now on the UNESCO list, and in the words of Reinhold Messner “The Dolomites might not be the highest mountains in the world, but they are certainly the most beautiful”.

New things for the 2009-2010 ski season include the Dolomites Super Freestyle Day from mid-January, free ski passes for children up to eight years old and 30 percent discount for teenagers up to 16. A world premier is the “Marchner” chair lift at Plan de Corones, with heated seats (this one is definitely for me!) and the “Bullaccia” Telemix lift now accommodates families and skiers who don’t want to take their skis off.

The Cianross lift at San Vigilio di Marebbe, out of service since 2007, will be open again with eight-seater cabins to access the Corn and Cianross slopes. There is a new ski slope at Val Di Fiemme which includes a slope covering about 460 metres of different altitude and a maximum slope of 59 percent, and to top it all off there is the Christmas market at Santa Cristina from December 1st.

Continue reading: Skiing in Italy: Superski Dolomites open from November for 1,200 km of skiing heaven

The town of Cortina in the Dolomites has always been the favourite haunt of celebrities and socialites, so much so that many now look on it as the playground of the rich and famous. So if you are one of them or aspired to be one of the in-crowd, the Cristallo hotel and spa is the place to be. Located in the mountains which surround the town, this deluxe hotel has plenty to offer; conference rooms (dedicated to king Gustav III and the German writer Goethe) which have been richly decorated and can accommodate up to 80 people, sophisticated lounge bars and luxurious bedrooms from which one can have a breathtaking view of the majestic mountains that surround Cortina. The Cristallo hotel also features an amazing health spa where guests can revive their body and spirit. So if you are looking for the ultimate in relaxation and pampering, the Cristallo hotel will not disappoint you.

Continue reading: Luxury hotels in the Dolomites: Cristallo Palace Hotel, Cortina

The 2008-2009 ski season in Italy was one of the best on record and skiing fans are hoping for another great year. While it’s too early to say, the beginning of the season is looking good, with some Italian ski resorts already opening. Joining the Passo Tonale in Lombardy-Trentino, is the ski resort of Cortina d’Ampezzo in the Dolomites.

After snow falls and low temperatures, snow cannons have been in use since mid-October, and the Cortina d’Ampezzo resort will now open tomorrow, November 13th. The Faloria slopes will be open from 8:30 in the morning and cable cars and chair lifts connecting the Col Gallina with Falzarego will run. There are many ski areas connected by Lgazuoi 5 Torri, which is now equipped with a new chair lift.

More slopes are available in the Faloria-Cristallo-Mietres, and not that we’re recommending you get lost, but you could if you wanted to. Taking these slopes, you will be afforded with wonderful views, while the Staunies chair lift takes you up to 2,930 metres with a truly spectacular panorama over the Dolomites range. Mietres is a great children’s destination, with a dedicated sled run.

For more information on the Cortina d’Ampezzo ski area in the Dolomites, see the official Dolomites ski website, including information on the weather, events and hotel deals.

Foto | Flickr

Continue reading: Early skiing in Italy: Dolomites ski resort opens this week

If you’re looking for a child-friendly ski resort in Italy, take a look at the Val Gardena resort in the Dolomites in Italy’s Trentino-Alto Adige region. With plenty of fun for adults too, it should give you a happy and accident-free family ski holiday.

The Val Gardena has seven ski schools, all of which have baby classes and kids ski areas, with specialised instructors in teaching children to ski. The resort has been established to provide for children on ski holidays and recently won a regional government award for its efforts.

The ski resort is supported by local hotels and accommodation with family rates. Any hotel bearing the symbol of a bear offers 50 percent discounts for children 2-6 years and 30 percent discounts for children 6-12 years. For more information on the Italian ski resort, and snow conditions, see the Val Gardena website.

Continue reading: Skiing in Italy: Val Garden ski resort in the Dolomites

In Italy’s Dolomite region, in Alto Adige, the town of Dobbiaco now hosts one of the most spectacular shopping malls in Italy. Housing more than 70 luxury brands, shopping in Italy now has a 600 square metre structure for those enjoying a holiday in the Dolomite mountains.

You’re sure to find Italy’s famous specialised shopping service at Dobbiaco’s centre, which also functions as an entertainment complex for people taking their children and pets shopping. The town is located in the province of Bolzano, and is a perfect place for both skiing and hiking in Italy.

Continue reading: Shopping in Italy: luxury brand shopping after skiing and hiking the Dolomites

In some Italian ski resorts, you actually don’t get the opportunity to be the last on the slopes, hiking down the hill in your ski boots because the chair lift closed early. In some alpine Italian ski locations, the slopes are open at night, when the lights along the piste are turned on for night skiing.

On Menstyle.it you will find some locations listed, along with other famous Italian ski resorts such as Madonna di Campiglio in Trentino, which was the first Italian ski resort with lights (since 1998) that illuminate 700 metres of the Canalone Miramonti, better known as the Tre Tre.

In the province of Trento, San Martino di Castrozza is open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 7:30 pm to 11:30pm where you can ski two kilometres of the Colverde slope.

Continue reading: Italian ski resorts open for night skiing in Italy

If you love snow and are planning a romantic getaway for Sain’t Valentine’s day, this offer could be perfect for you. This rather interesting package called “Saint Valentine, 2 hearts and one igloo” offers a whole weekend in the snow for only 259 euros; the above offer includes the stay at the hotel (this, the first day, but the room will be always available shouldn‘t you like the idea of sleeping inside an igloo), a sumptuous dinner and of course all meals at the mountain refuge (and igloo). But the chief attraction of this package, in my opinion, is that it gives people the rare opportunity to learn how to build a real igloo!

The igloo village located in Piancavallo in the Friulan Dolomites can be reached by taking the local chair lift and on foot. But the most thrilling moment I’m sure will come on Saint Valentine’s night when you will enjoy the rare pleasure of sleeping in your own igloo with only one romantic candle shining its delicate light upon your cosy love nest!

Photo | Flickr

Continue reading: Valentine' s day breaks in Italy: the igloo village in the Dolomites