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Earlier this year we spent a few days in Aremogna above Roccaraso. There was plenty of ski-ing and some good snow. The full lift pass covers a large area, so you could have some good days ski-ing. The ski schools were well organised, not sure of English speaking instructors though. Plenty of long runs, not many blacks. Would not particularly recommend the hotel where we stayed (Hotel Paradisso - it was not!!), we saw another one close by that looked much better [url]www.roccaraso.it/hotelboschetto[/url] or [url]www.hboschetto.it[/url] it was beside one of the main lifts so possible to ski from the door.
I suspect you would have to hire a car from the airport to get there, but there may be a bus service, perhaps someone in Abruzzo can advise or it may give details on the Roccaraso site given above.
Good luck
Anne2

agree with the place to go...we have skiing here in the teramo area but roccaraso is regarded as the best.... better check availability because they are due to hold some sort of world cup ski competition.... not sure if its next year....

cannot help with advise on accomodation but can tell you that from pescara airport to roccaraso is a car drive of aprox 1 hour.... you will need a car... you leave the airport head away from pescara and pick up the motorway for rome.... take the popoli/sulmona turning and keep following signs for sulmona... once out of popoli its a straight road... well not quite...after sulmona you climb up to about a 1000m but the road is a main one ...

check out the rocarasso web site for all local info

How far is Rocarasso from Roma in terms of journey time? Only approx as road conditions obviously make a difference. know could check this out on net but more fun to ask you John in Abruzzo. Thanks.

hello you can do roccaraso rome in about two hours depending on withch side of the capital you are. send us a pm if you need directions !!

stef

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[url]www.italyliving.co.uk[/url]

Thankyou, we are near Viterbo. Will probably try and visit resort this winter. Close enough for a day trip anyway.

Hi all

As we're on the Abruzzo skiing thread, how many of us from Abruzzo are keen skiers? We are but haven't skied in Abruzzo as yet, though really looking forward to it. We were planning on trying out a few of the resorts this winter but probably won't be able to now, may catch the odd day towards the end of the season.

Hi thanks to all who gave me good advice on the ski resorts ..now I have to practice my ½ûÂþÌìÌà and phone up to book!

We don't ski but I really fancy trying cross country skiing as I am terrified of heights and will not get in a chair lift.I also love walking in the mountains but could my dog come too or would she dissappear in the snow?
We heard that Decontra, near Caramanico had great cross country ski runs and a good restaurant so I fancy that.Our two teenagers love skiing !!

Becky

[QUOTE=manopello]Hi thanks to all who gave me good advice on the ski resorts ..now I have to practice my ½ûÂþÌìÌà and phone up to book!

We don't ski but I really fancy trying cross country skiing as I am terrified of heights and will not get in a chair lift.I also love walking in the mountains but could my dog come too or would she dissappear in the snow?
We heard that Decontra, near Caramanico had great cross country ski runs and a good restaurant so I fancy that.Our two teenagers love skiing !!

Becky[/QUOTE]

We are moderately keen cross country skiers and the best place we have found is: PIANDELAGOTTI (Tuscany/Emilio-Romana border). There they hosted the ½ûÂþÌìÌà championship 2004 - nearest hotel accom. is a bit grim but the pistes are marvellous winding their way through a silver birch forest and there is a refuge where you can eat very well and heartily for a pittance. They have good instructors - at least one who speaks English.
Dogs generally love the snow - the pistes are beaten and firm under foot - off piste the snow settles after 2-3 days and that is when all the little animals emerge from their lairs under the conifers. Unless your dog is one of those poodles that walks upright on it's hind legs it should not have any difficulty. I have seen a few people attach harnesses to their dogs and get towed along. Teenagers generally can't see the point of x-country unless they are mad cycling types and Piandelagotti has only one mediocre downhill run and you may prefer a resort that offers more. But try to go somewhere with a good balance - there isn't much money in x-crounty for resort managers and at Abetone for example the pistes are very poorly maintained, which is worse and more dangerous than doing true off-piste back country.
Another thing, unless you have the balance of a high-wire walker or are a profficient ice skater then start with classic. With classic I could shuffle along from the outset whereas with skating I spent the first 3 days going round in circles before admitting defeat. If you don't take to it at all get yourself some rackets and do some walking - after fresh snow and under a full moon is magical.
Here are two ½ûÂþÌìÌà websites that might help:
[url]www.alpitalia.net[/url] and [url]http://www.appenninobianco.it/index.shtml[/url]

now to all you kind poeple I want your help! I have a house in Capestrano can ski in Rocoraso etc - one problem I have never skied before and I am over 50 - do I go for a package to the alps all meals on tap or go to my house and worry about having no milk - found a couple of people who do ski lessons in the area - what do you all think ?- now if I had wanted to ski before I am sure I would have done it but my two children (in 20s ) who have skied from house say I must learn - done a 3 hours at ski dome with husband and it was fun.
any help and have you any snow - thinking of coming half term in february thats 17th onwards.
package tour - or light the stuffa !
Pamela

half term in the Alps is awful.... completely packed runs and very expensive.

Plus side is the english instructors

However, Rocarasso is relatively empty and for the money you save you could get one to one tuition and learn much more quickly.

My son had an english speaking tutor in Rocarasso a few years ago.