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step one - where and when
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step two - what do you need?
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step three - checkout
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| Resort Name: |
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Cortina d'Ampezzo |
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Altitude |
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1225m |
| Country |
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Italy |
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Runs |
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115km Blue 33%, Red 62%, Black 5% |
| No. of lifts |
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51 |
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Tourist Office |
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tel: 0039 0436 866 252 |
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| Good For... |
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Beautiful Dolomites Scenery
Access to the Dolomite Superski Pass
No Crowds or queues
Good cross country skiing |
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| Not So Good For... |
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Erratic snow
Expensive by Italian standards
Not good for experts skiers or boarders
Too many separate ski areas spread around all sides of the resort. |
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| Getting There |
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Travel Cortina d'Ampezzo
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By Air
By Air - Venice 162km - journey 2 hours and 10 mins
Treviso 168 km - Ryan Air - transfer time about 2 hours.
If you want to splash the cash and join the well heeled get a Heli transfer from Venice at only 35 minutes.
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By Train
By Train - Eurostar to Paris and then chanin in Padora Bellino Calazodi Pieve follows by a n hour tranfer on the bus.
www.fs-on-linecom
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By Car
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| About The Resort.. |
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Cortina d'Ampezzo Ski Resort
The town is beautiful and has been described as both voluptous Italian and quaint. There is an ambient cheery atmosphere of italian warmth, especially at Christmas time where the market filled to the brim with ginger bread, hot chocolate and local cuisine makes for a very festive Christmas. The resort is set in the Dolomites which have some of the most dramatic and beautiful scenery in Europe. You can get a taste of the scenery simply by watching several hollywood movies that feature the dolomites, Cliffhanger and For Your Eyes Only being prime examples. Ok so the ladies wear Gucci, Prada and maybe a little fur, which might be a little off putting depending on your taste. You really don't have to ski here to have a good time and you'll find that most of the town rise at a very civilised hour, enjoy a little window shopping, a leisurely coffee and cigarette before heading up for a run. What is good though is our fox furred ladies wouldn't be seen dead on the slopes too early which leaves them all clear for you and your friends. Famous for hosting the 1956 Olympics the resort now has little to do with skiing/snowboarding it is now hard to find a ski shop amongst the cafes and designer outlets. Families with children under 3 are cared for well with a transferable ski pass available so Mum and Dad can swap babysitting roles. Children under 8 receive a free ski pass with a paying adult.
Watch the following video to see how pretty the town and it's surroundings is.
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| Resort Restaurants |
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 Cortina d'Ampezzo Restaurants
La Bolte 0436 866 283 - if you fancy a Mexican pop along here El Toula 0036 0436 3339 - for an expensive treat just on the edge of town and situated in an old barn it's definitely worth a visit.
Tivoli 0036 0436 866 400 - for those of you with Michelin star taste - head here. |
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| Nightlife.. |
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Cortina Apres Ski & Cortina Nightlife
Cortina in high season is a fun place. There are many fine wine bars. Enoteca is a cosy and usually packed venue that stocks over 700 wines. The Clipper - is a lively bar with a good selection of cheeses and meals
If you want to dance the night away head to the Metro Club or Limbo. |
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| Other Activities |
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Cortina d'Ampezzo Activities
 Swimming Pool
Saunas
Health Spa
Ice Skating & Curling
Fitness Centre
Cinema with 280 seats
Indoor Tennis
Ride the Olympic Bobsleigh Run at speeds of up to 75mph
 Crazy sledging on marked pistes
Winter Polo
Lots of walking parties
SHOPPING!
Snow rafting - sit on a large rubber dinghy and fly down at 60mph |
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| Accommodation |
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Cortina D'Ampezzo Accommodation Cortina Hotels There are two five star hotels, unfortunately they are a little out of town.
Cristallo 0039 0436 4201 - www.cristallo.it a member of the leading hotels of the world group Miramonti 0039 0436 4201 www.geturhotels.com The best hotel in town is the four star Ancora 0039 0436 3261 www hotelancoracortina.com - this has won a number of awards. It's situated right in the middle of town and was built in 1826.There's a Viennese coffeshop in the hand painted conservatory that serves crepes. The guestrooms are comfortable and you'll find a fair bilt of 'gilding' on the Louis XVI chairs but in a town that is truly Italian this flamboyance all seems rather natural. Hotel de la Poste, Piazza Roma, 14, 32043 Cortina D'Ampezzo, Italy
T: +39 (0436) 4271 e posta@hotels.cortina.itA mixture of Tirolean and Italian this hotel attracts royals and skiers from all over the world. The rooms house an eclectic mix of furniture, oriental rugs and marble floors. The dining room is dominated by a 17th Century tapestry and you'll no doubt feel spoilt as the elegantly dressed waiters serve you under the enormous chandaliers.
Hotel Ancora
T: +39 (0) 436 3261 One of the oldest hotels, Hotel Ancora was built in 1826. The atmosphere is that of a private house run by the lovely proprietors Flavia and Renato Sartor. It's filled with antiques and Gothic vaulted dining room. Ask for one of the bedrooms with ensuite bathroom and jacuzzi bath. Location wise it's excellent - right next to the Central Square. For those with less budget Snowbrainer recommends the two star Hotel Montana 0039 0436 860 498
www.cortina-hotel.comwhich is in a great location in the pedestianised centre of town. Amazing value it is too.
And if you prefer there are another 60 odd hotels to choose from!
Airport transfer from Venice Marco Polo Airport
There is a very good transfer transfer service from the airport to Cortina hotels on a Saturday and Sunday which runs from Dec 20th to April 5th for this season (2009). The price is 20 Euros each way with discounts for families and groups. Great service and it gets better, some hotels will offer this service free, so please check with your hotel.
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| About The Mountain |
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Ski Cortina d AmpezzoThe Omlympic town is part of a vast 1,220 km strong Superski mega-area, but the resort itself also has 115 km's of varied runs to suit all abilities. There are 2 main cable cars from the town. The Mandras cable car takes you up to the Faloria area. From the other end of town is the Totana car which takes you to the Socrepes area which has a lot of cruisy blues. Cortina d Ampezzo also supplies you with access to great ski tours such as the Sella Ronda. Whilst the grooming and quiet slopes are to be applauded, snowfall can be a little erratic, although 90% have snow making equipment on them.
 Snowboarding - Cortina is a good place for learning to board. It is easy to progress and get around by using chairlifts rather than the dreaded drags. For the adventurous amongst you though, there is little off piste to be had. The terrain park at Faloria has some decent kickers, rails and a half pipe. Last time we visited skier weren't welcome.
Advanced Skiers - Advanced skiers will enjoy a selection of the best black runs in the Dolomites, the Forcella Rossa, Bianca, and the Vertigine are a few of the most famous. The Totana, a definite black can also be enjoyed. For intermediates the area is a little too fragmented and not extensive enough.
 Beginners Beginners on the other hand will enjoy the Socrepes area with its large nursery slopes. There are few lift queues with most people to be found in the shops.
Whilst the snowfall can be erratic 90% of the pistes are now covered by snowmaking equipment.
Cross Country
In the Fiames area cross country skiing is to be found and very good it is to. There are around 50 miles of trails suitable for all standards with some snowmaking guns to help the natural snow. There are lots of nice easy greens plus there are few if any queues. A big plus is the cross country skiing. Try the old railway route (16 miles) from Fiano to Cortin, you will love it! Check out the Dolomiti Nordic website for further information
Finally Cortina is part of the Dolomiti Superski Area, which they advertise as the number 1 carousel in the world with 750 miles of slopes and 450 ski lifts which are all included in the ski pass.
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| Mountain Restuarants |
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Cortina Mountain Restaurants
 Some of the best restaurants in Cortina are actually on the pistes, and lunch is a big event, so think about booking especially at weekends. Rifugio Tondi (0436 5775) is one of the best places to lunch. To be honest though some of the restaurants are a little pricey, but this means it is hard to find a bad one. For foodies amoungst you Italy has to be considered a serious destination and Cortina won't disappoint. These restaurants are great places to watch the famous apricot tinted sunset (the enrosidara) unique to the Dolomites. |
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| Ski Schools |
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| Weather |
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| What is the weather like in Cortina?
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| Nearby Resorts |
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| Shopping |
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Cortina d'Ampezzo Shopping  A wide range of shops with all the best brands. Remember to take the credit card or perhaps not! There is also the The Craftsmen Association of Cortina which was created in 1982 and has 150 members. They are able to pretty much make you anything your heart desires.
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| Top 5 Family Activities |
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Cortina d'Ampezzo Family Activities
Ladies Alpine Ski World Cup Downhill race (2009) Jan 23,24 and 25th with the entrance along the slope being free!
Why not try a bobsleigh taxi ride on an Olympic bobtrack which is an amazing experience?
Adrenalin Park Cortina lets you fly through the treetops of century old larches!
Ski tour of the 1915-1918 Great War - this historic tour taken by a guide will take you across the Dolomites, from Mt Marmolada to Mt Civetta from Mt Pelmo to the tunnels and trenches of Mt Lagazuoi.
Ski Carousel across the 4 Dolomites passes " Sella Ronda" - why not take a guide who will escort you along the longest ski labyrinth inn Europe over 40 km of uphill lifts and great ski slopes.
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| Ski & Snowboard Hire Shop |
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Ski Hire & Snowboard Hire Cortina d'Ampezzo
We recommend hiring your skis and snowboards at one of two shops in Cortina. Noleggio Rental Snow Service - located at pzza
1 Piazzetta San Francesco 2
32043 Cortina d'Ampezzo
Open daily from 08:30 to 19:30
If you book online here at Snowbrainer you can make big savings on the recommended retail price for all your winter ski rentals.
Your ski and snowboard equipment will be waiting for you in the shop on your arrival. Save time and money - Book Here Now!
View Cortina d'Ampezzo Ski Resort in a larger map |
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| Top 5 Things To Take |
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 Easy to use Piste Maps & Ski Trails
Looking for high detailed piste maps for your GPS? Snowranger sells affordable quality digital maps that are great for any ski or snowboard trip. For those of you who’ve ever wondered which run gets you back to France from the Swiss side of Portes du Soleil or you’re racing the clock to get back from a Courchevel lunch to Val Thorens before the lifts shut this is invaluable kit. No more wrestling wet paper maps with frozen fingers! There are over 500 ski resorts piste maps in Europe and North America available.
Go to Snow-Forecast Snowranger
 Film your Mates Jumps, Tricks & Shameful Ski / Snowboard Moments.
We love the JAMCAM – it’s a head camera that allows you to capture your days skiing or snowboarding on the mountain. You can rent or buy the kit so for more details head to www.jam-cam.tv If you take the JAMCAM rental service in resort they include a host to record your day. The alternative is to rent before you leave, taking the equipment to the ski resort of your choice and posting back on your return. Gift vouchers are available via the website offering an unusual Christmas or Birthday present for your ski & snowboard mad friends.
 What's an easy way to carry skis?
Well we found the ‘THE HANDLE’ . This nifty little device allows you to carry your skis around without causing major injury to yourself and other members of the public. It’s incredibly easy to use – no Velcro just a click buckle. It’s also light and small enough to put in your pocket. www.ski-walker.com
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my shopping basket |
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| Resort: |
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Cortina d'Ampezzo |
| Dates: |
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04/09/2010 |
| Days: |
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6 |
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None |
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