Free Ski week at Brembo Ski

FreeSki for 6 days at Brembo Ski in Val Brembana, 1 hour north of Bergamo BGY airport, Italy. Book a ski apartment or ski chalet from the participating ski accomodation in Foppolo for 1 week and get a 6 day free ski pass.

Brembo ski pass daily price is 21euros, saving you 126 euros.

Offer is available during the following dates :

7-15 January 2012 / 14-22 January 2012 / 17-25 March 2012 / 24 March – 1 April 2012 /.

You must stay in either :

3 star 7 day half pension ski hotel/chalet (costs 355euros/person/week) or a 2 star 7 day half pension ski apartment costing 306 euros/person/week. Get your voucher at the ski hotel and present at the Brembo ski lifts and pick up the 6 day free ski pass.

La Valle Brembana : Brembana Valley : Brembo Ski

Just over 1 hours drive north from Bergamo airport BGY (ryanair call it Milan-Bergamo or as it is known locally “Orio al Serio” airport), you can be in the Brembana Valley ski resorts of Foppolo – Carona – San Simone, collectively known as the ski resort “Brembo Ski”.

We have many Italian ski chalets, ski apartments for sale In Italy on our books. Contact for more details.

Why Brembo Ski ? Its just over an hours drive from BGY. That is it’s the nearest skiing to any Italian airport. It’s already popular with English school trips. Many small apartments ideal for kids groups. A 1970’s resort a bit like Marilleva, was popular but as skiing became more of a lifestyle event rather than intensive skiing they lost their market share to other smarter resorts. There were political problems between the 3 local resorts and they never got it together. Now the local mayors of each town are on the same side and they are re-investing into the infrastructure and have brought serious international investors in to the area.

The Italian group De Benedetti has recently bought out the whole old ski infrastructure and is now committed with local partners to spend over 100million euros in the redevelopment of the area, creating new hotels, new parking, new ski lifts  and new property developments.

Skiing : these slopes are great for beginners & intermediate skiers.

Follows relevant ski local website information for documenting :

Brembo Ski

http://www.brembanaski.com/ (English links in bottom right hand corner)

http://www.brembanaski.com/ingleseski/index.html

http://www.piazzatorreskiarea.com/impianti.html

http://www.valbrembanaweb.it/valtortaski.html

http://www.brembanaski.com/ingleseski/alberghi.html

http://www.orobievive.net/10_demanio_foppolo/rs_foppolo/record%20su%20piste%20sci_%2004%20gennaio%202011.pdf

Early snow above 1000m in the Italian Dolomites has triggered skiing fever for winter 2011-2012 ski in Italy. In the Dolomiti Superski Italian ski resorts the ski season for winter 2011-2012 is due to start on 26th November 2011. Special holiday deals are available through Dolomiti Super Premiere for the early season till 22/12/11 offering 4 nights for the price of 3.

Would you like to buy italian ski property in Canazei, Corvara, Val di Zoldo or Alleghe in the Italian Dolomites then contact MIPC to view some ski investment properties in Italy.

Treviso Airport TSF Venice

There are 2 airports near Venice.

The nearest to Venice and the largest of the 2 is the Venice international airport which is called Venezia Marco Polo, airport code VCE, located 15minutes of Mestre, just across the water from Venice to the mainland.

The smaller airport called “Venezia Treviso” that is Treviso airport code TSF is 30 mins north of Venice. This airport is used by the budget airlines like Ryanair.

Please don’t confuse the 2 it could spoil your onward travel to Venice.

Treviso airport TSF Venice Venezia

Actualy  its quite a cute little airport. Well connected to local Italian transport infrastructure.

In the airport:

Arrivals is on the ground floor. There is a good tourist desk, a caffe bar and the car hire firms only. Oh there is also a Cash machine…good.

Departures take the escalator to the first floor, where there is a shop, little restaurant and waiting lounge before security control.

Beyond security and passport control (Queues are minimal ) there are few services….a bar, book shop and Italian handbag, clothes “Madablu “shop. It appears there are 7 departure gates, sp you can’t get lost here.

Electric socket:

There is an electric socket for your laptop last minute recharge. Before security control and opposite the escalator head towards the restaurant/shop. They are just before you enter on the right and also in the restaurant on the right hand wall.

Arrival and onwards travel.

Generally there is a good bus service but no underground nor train station in the airport.

There are 2 major destinations from Treviso airport. Venice or the Dolomite ski slopes.

To travel onwards to Venice, either use car hire (though its expensive parking in Venice) or take a direct bus to Venice or take a bus to the local railway station and follow onwards by train.Bus tickets can be bought in the arrivals terminal and the buses wait directly outside the airport. Most of the buses, even the direct ones to Venice, stop at Treviso railway station. If you feel brave get off and take the train to Venice. To be honest if it is your first time it is probably easier just to take the bus.

If you are travelling onwards to the Dolomite ski resorts like Cortina, Arrabba, Sella Ronda, Corvara, San Cassiano then hire a car with winter tyres (in winter). Not all car hire firms offer winter tyres in Italy. Online they do not offer the option of winter tyres so i would recommend you call the hire car firm and book winter tyres, which will be necessary from mid November to End of March. If you need to travel over the mountain passes you will need them. If you can not get them here in Treviso try flying into Innsbruck or Munich where in Austria ALL the car hire firms hire the car obligatory with winter tyres.

Rent a Car:

Pick up : All major car hire in Italy companies are present immediately in the arrivals lounge. Locauto (cheap) tel +39.0422433834 , Autoeuropa tel +39.0422210115 ,Thrifty tel 039.0422264243 , Hertz tel +39.0422264216 , Sixt, Maggiore/National, Europcar and Avis. The car hire car park is a 5 minute walk from the airport. There is no car park shuttle bus. Walk out of the arrivals lounge (out of the airport) and immediately turn left. It is signposted to “Park Rent a car”, head up the sheltered path for 200 metres and then walk up the road directly in front of you for a further 200 metres (unsheltered). You will see all the major car hire on your right. Hertz is inside the warehouse others are parked in the open. It is unmanned. So make sure you car fuel is full and check for car damage before heading off. Unfortunately if there is damage not recorded on the car hire form, then you will have to walk back to the airport terminal to get this recorded. Leaving the car hire car park turn left and then left again which will bring you to the T junction of the main road. Turn right for the A27 motorway, head to the roundabout and follow signs from there. Its 10 minutes to the A27 junction “Treviso Sud”.

Drop off:

Arriving from Venice head north up the A27 or if you are coming from the Dolomites ski slopes (Cortina 2 hours) then heading south get off at junction “Treviso Sud”. Treviso airport is 10 minutes from the motorway. Get some fuel at any of the petrol stations on the dual carriageway heading to the airport. Should you get to the airport and still need to full up, with the airport on your left then drive past it and 2 minutes up the road on the right there is the cheap petrol station. Euro 1,33 /litre today.  Turn back to the airport and the car hire drop off is the first car park sign on the right. Enter then turn right again to find yourself where you picked up the car. Easy. Remember there is no car park shuttle bus so you need to walk to the airport. Maybe you should drop of family and luggage first then go and drop off your car hire in Italy!!

Venice Airport VCE

There are 2 airports in/near Venice. Please note which you need to return home from as otherwise you may find yourself in the wrong departure lounge

Closest to Venice is the Marco Polo Airport (VCE) , 15 minutes east of Mestre, used by major airlines.

Nearby is Treviso airport (TSF) also referred to as Venice by certain low cost airlines likes Ryanair, which is 30 minutes north east of Venice.

Either is great for visiting Venice. Both are also used for skiing in Italy in the Italian Dolomite ski region for resorts such as Cortina, Arabba, Selva di Cadore, Corvara, Colfosco, Alleghe.

Here is a brief outline about Venice Marco Polo Airport VCE located at Viale G Galilei 30/1, 30173 Tessera, Venezia, Italy.

Venice in Italian is Venezia. If you are travelling onwards by foot to Venice centre i would highly recommend taking one of the boats from the airport to Venice, tickets available in the airport, it kick starts that romantic weekend in Venice.

Venice airport (VCE) official website.

Outline: Modern large airport, with all principal facilities including car hire, taxis, bus service, restaurants, tax free shops and even boat-taxi bookings if you are staying in the heart of Venice..

Consider yourself fortunate if you arrive or depart on a clear day, when views from the air can be breathtaking. You’ll see the Dolomites, the Adriatic, and the Venetian Lagoon. You’ll see land that’s submerged at high tide, suggesting a Northern Italian version of Atlantis. And if you’re on the right side of the plane, you’ll see the city of Venice itself, with instantly recognizable landmarks like the Campanile di San Marco and the Grand Canal.

Airport layout :

Groudfloor : arrivals    1^st floor : departures     Top floor: restaurant bar

If you arrive early for departure I would highly recommend the bar on the top floor as it has fantastic views across the water to Venice.

Public Transport:

Bus: There are scheduled bus services to Padua, Mestre and Venice. Venice-Mestre railway station is connected to the airport by the ATVO Fly Bus and the ACTV bus 15. Bus 5 also runs to Piazzale Roma. Bus information is available from ATVO (tel: (04)  2138 3672) and ACTV (tel: (04) 1272 2111).
Taxi: Traditional taxis are available from Radiotaxi (tel: (04) 1595 2080). Taxis to Padua and shared taxis area also available.
Water: Alilaguna (tel: (04) 1240 1701) runs waterboat services between the airport docks and Venice, Murano and Lido. A 24-hour motorboat service is available from Consorzio Motoscafi Venezia (tel: (04) 1522 2303).

Car hire:

All major car hire firms are present. The hire cars are parked a 3 minute walk from the airport exit. Walk under the gangways to go directly to the cars, there is no shuttle to the hire car park.

There is a petrol station as you enter into the airport grounds for that last minute top up to deliver your hire car full of petrol avoiding charges.

How to get to the airport : The airport is very well signposted from all major motorways. Just make sure if you are arriving from the north not to exit the motorway too early at Treviso as you will end up at Treviso airport TSF. Continue towards Venice and then the airport signs take you to VCE Venice Marco Polo airport.

Accomodation : Endless choice on line. If you are looking for property in Venice, MIPC your Italian Property Consultant have some interesting apartments for sale just off the Grand Canal, though they are expensive luxury Italian property.

Italian ski property resort report

Dolomiti Superski

This MIPC report documents and focuses on the Italian ski network of the Dolomiti Superski and the world famous 24km ski slope circuit of the SellaRonda. Minor resorts are investing and connecting into this ski circuit and experiencing a boom in tourism. MIPC has identified a town that is investing in new ski lifts connecting to the SellaRonda and offers property developers and investors various ski property investment solutions. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive further details.

Introduction

The Italian ski network, Dolomiti Superski, www.DolomitiSuperski.com is located in the Italian Dolomites, northern Italy near the Austrian border in the counties of north east Trentino, east Alto Adige and south Tirol.

See videos of the area at http://www.dolomitisuperski.com/en-US/video-2156EN.html

Dolomiti Superski is the brand of 12 major ski networks made up of 100+ ski resorts and more than 500km of ski slopes accommodating all levels of skiers.

Stretching from Bolzano to Cortina, Dolomiti Superski includes the internationally famous resorts Cortina D’Ampezzo, Canazei and the Unesco mountain range of SellaRonda.

The ski season is from December to April, guaranteeing 4 months of quality skiing. In summer the Dolomites offer spectacular mountain sport activities. The low season is during the months of October & November when neither summer nor winter activities prevail.

How to get to Dolomiti Superski.

International airports include Verona (2hours), Innsbruck (1.5hours), Venice (2 hours) and Bergamo (3 hours). The A22 motorway connects Verona with Innsbruck and is the principal access route to Bolzano the nearest city to the west of Dolomiti Superski. Resorts in the east near to Cortina can be reached from Venice on the A27 motorway.

History

The Dolomites were once ruled by the Austrians. The culture, property designs and language have strong Austrian roots. In some valleys they speak Ladino, the local dialect, which to the untrained ear sounds German/Austrian. Mixed with the Italian flair, food and wine the Dolomites offer a wide cultural experience.

Focus

At the heart of the Dolomiti Superski circuits is the world famous Sella Ronda mountain range. Recent improvements and investment in ski lifts connecting once independent resorts now permits skiers to ski round the mountain range of the SellaRonda over the mountain passes of Campolongo, Gardena, Sella and Pordoi, directly connecting in a circular route the ski networks of Val Gardena, Alto Badia and Arabba. It is 24km round the SellaRonda and you need to set off early in the morning to ensure that you make it all the way round in time for the last ski lift towards your ski resort. (it can prove expensive taking a taxi across valleys !).

Resorts in nearby valleys have also made strategic connections to the SellaRonda circuit, opening their existing network of slopes to extra kilometres of spectacular pistes. Resorts like Canazaei have seen huge expansion after they connected to the SellaRonda.

Overview of the Dolomiti Superski Ski networks

See at http://www.dolomitisuperski.com/en-US/dolomiti-webcam-skimap-2160EN.html click “Skimap”.

Dolomiti Superski is made of 12 major ski networks;

1. Cortina D’ampezzo
2. Kronplatz
3. Alta Badia
4. Val Gardena / Alpe di Siusi
5. Val di Fassa / Carezza
6. Arabba / Marmolada
7. Alto Pusteria
8. Val di Fiemme / Obereggen
9. San Martino di Castrozza / Passo Rolle
10. 10.  Valle Isarco
11. 11.  Trevalli
12. 12.  Civetta

Cortina D’Ampezzo:

At 1224m Cortina is a VIP resort, popular both with Italians and the international market. Cortina hosted the winter Olympics in 1956 and annually hosts the World Cup competions for women’s skiing world Cup. The Cortina network offers 140km of slopes across the mountain ranges of Mount Cristallo, Tofane and Sorapis. The main resorts on the Cortina ski network are Cortina D’Ampezzo, San Vito di Cadore, Auronzo and Misurina.

View a map of the slopes at http://www.dolomitisuperski.com/cortina/en-US/skimap-cortina-d-ampezzo-1821EN.html

Tourist info at http://www.dolomiti.org/dengl/Cortina/index.html

Kronplatz / Plan de corones:

In the north of the Dolomiti Superski networks situated at 2275m. The principal resort is Brunico and satellite resorts in clued San Viglio di Marebbe and Valdaora. 105km of slopes. The Piculin cableway connects to the Alta Badia network.

Alta Badia:

The heart of the Dolomiti Superski networks. Principal resorts are Corvara, Colfosco, La Villa, San Cassiano, Pedraces and La Val and all live the Ladina culture. 130km of slopes across the mountain ranges of the Sassongher, Sasso della Croce, La Varella and Piz Boe. Close connections to the SellaRonda circuit.

Ski slopes at http://www.dolomitisuperski.com/altabadia/en-US/skimap-alta-badia-1833EN.html

Tourist info at http://www.altabadia.org/

Val Gardena / Alpi di Siusi

Set around the Sassolungo mountain range Val Gardena is high quality. 175km of slopes with 84 lifts accessed from the local resorts of Ortisei, San Cristina, Selva, Siusi and Castelrotto. Slopes include the 1970 World Cup downhill slalom. Direct access onto the SellaRonda circuit.

Ski slopes at http://www.dolomitisuperski.com/gardena/en-US/skimap-val-gardena-1839EN.html

Tourist info at http://www.valgardena.it/en/

Val di Fassa and Carezza:

Offers 120km of slopes on the Marmolada, Sella, Sassolungo and Catinaccio mountain ranges. Principal resort is Canazei others include Campitello, Cozza di Fasso, Alba di Canazei. Connections to the SellaRonda circuit from Canazei and recently Campitello have increased the popularity of this valley.

Ski slopes at http://www.dolomitisuperski.com/valfassa/en-US/skimap-val-di-fassa-1851EN.html

Tourist info at http://www.fassa.com/index.asp?l=en

Arabba / Marmolada

62km of slopes and 29 lifts Arabba connects to Malga Ciapela opening up the Marmolada slopes and has direct connections to the SellaRonda circuit.

http://www.dolomitisuperski.com/arabba/en-US/skimap-arabba-1863EN.html

http://www.arabba.it/index.php?page_id=1050&lang_id=3

Marmolada info : http://www.marmolada.com/inglese/index.htm

Web cam on Arabba http://www.dolomitisuperski.com/arabba/en-US/webcam-arabba-1862EN.html

Alta Pusteria

North East of Dolomiti Superski and a bit off the tourist track, popular with Italian families. Resorts include Sesto, San Candido, Dobbiaco, Villabassa and Valle di Braies. 28 ski lifts and 55km of slopes. Famous for the Three Peaks of Lavaredo, the largest sundial in the world that crown the mountain range.

Val di Femme / Obereggen

Most westerly of the Dolomiti Superski and a little dispersed Val di Femme offers over 50 ski lifts spread over 5 distinct ski areas known as L’Alpe Cermis, la Ski Area Alpe Luisa, il Pasos Oclini/Lavaze, il Passo Rolle and lo ski Center Latemar. Main resorts are Obereggen, Pampeago and Predazzo. Mountain ranges include Latemar, Rosengarten, Cimon della Pala and Lagorai.

San Martino di Castrozza / Passo Rolle

Small network with 30km of slopes centred on the resort of San Martino di Castrozza set in the valley of the Pale massif.

Valle Isarco

The main ski resorts are Plose, Maranza and Valles all located near the main town of Bresanone, South Tyrol. Disperse network. Quite resorts appreciate by Italian families.

Trevalli

The three valleys network includes the valleys of Val di Fassa, Passo san Pellegrino and Valle del Biois crowned by the mountain ranges Pale di San Martino, Monzoni, Catinaccio and the Marmolada, connecting the resorts of Moena di Fassa, Luisia(bellamonte), San Pelligrino, Falcade and Valles. 100km of slopes and a good 60km of off piste.

Civetta

Most eastern ski network of Dolomiti Superski. 25 lifts and 80km of slopes connect the resorts of Alleghe, Selva di Cadore, Zoldo and Palafavera. Locally know as Ski Civetta and famous for its 5km of illuminated slopes for night skiing. A free Skibus connects  Alleghe to Malga Ciapela for connections to the Marmolada slopes and SellaRonda circuit.

Ski slopes at http://www.dolomitisuperski.com/civetta/en-US/skimap-civetta-1912EN.html

Tourist info at http://www.skicivetta.com/modules/news/index.php?lang=english

It is the smaller independent resorts that are investing in their ski lift network and connecting directly into the SellaRonda circuit that are the focus of MIPC property investment investigations.

MIPC has identified a picturesque small town that is investing in new connections, with some great ski property investment opportunities. If you are interested in a Ski Property in Italy then contact MIPC and we will forward you a sample of our Italian ski property listings.

Bergamo Italy, Italian ski property.

Interesting write up in the Sunday Times about ski property and that there are signs that people are starting to choose their ski property investment in cities rather than buy a house in a ski resort. But is it a wise choice for your future rental market ?

In Italy the article mentioned Bergamo, Italy as an ideal destination. (or maybe you prefer Cervinia-Valle d’Aosta near the Matterhorn as discussed in The Independent.)

Bergamo is a traditional italian city well known for its 2 principal quarters the high town Bergamo Alta and the low town. See here Bergamo panoramic view or download various Bergamo brochures. Downtown Bergamo city centre is easily reached by flying to Bergamo airport or as it is locally know Milano Orio al Serio with airport code BGY. The airport is 15 minuts from the city centre.

There are many ski resorts within driving distance of Bergamo. View an online brochure of Bergamo ski resorts

1 hour drive due north takes you to the ski resort network of BrembanaSki and the resorts of Foppolo, San Simone, Carona, Piazzatorre, Valtorta and Avaro. The resorts are all located in the Brembana valley, Orobie Pre-Alps.

1 hour drive to north east takes you to the smaller italian ski resorts of Spiazzi di Gromo, Lizzola, Colere, Schilpario, Presolana and Monte Pora all located in the Seriana Valley.

Heading north of Lake Iseo (east of Bergamo) up Val Camonica you also can ski at Monte Campione (1.5 hours) and if you want guaranteed 4 months of winter skiing a 2 hour drive takes you to the ski resort network of AdamelloSki and the resorts of Ponte di Legno, Tonale, Temu and Presena.

So if you are a skier or a snowboarder and like snowboarding or skiing get your, ski, snowboard, skies (or is the plural skis) …don’t forget to check the snow report and ski conditions to ski in Italy.

Remember when choosing to invest in Italy and buy a house in Italy that even though as the article in the Sunday Times suggests that a city property can offer you many alternative lifestyles, that ultimately you may wish to rent property in Italy and that your target market of renters decreases if you are not in a niche market.  The cities are great if you are going to live in your italian property, but if you are going to rent it then i would personally advise you to buy your italian property close to a italian ski resort. Renters don’t want to have to travel more than 2 hours for a day skiing. Buy a property in an italian ski resort and you italian property investment will have a higher return on investment as renters can ski in/out of the italian ski property.

Moss Italian Property Consultants have various ski properties in Italy on our books from cheap italian ski property to luxury italian ski property.

Italy Car Hire Winter snow tyres OR snow chains ?

Going skiing in Italy this winter ? Making your own way to the Italian ski property or hotel ? Hiring a car in Italy ? If you answered yes to all these then the following is advised reading about winter snow tyres and snow chains.

In the UK or Europe with recent bad snow conditions ? Need to learn how to drive in snow….though reporting from Italy this article is very relevant to everyone across Europe currently suffering from bad snow travel report.

Have you hired a car in Italy or UK with winter snow tyres ? Please post a comment to let us know where.

After a little research in Italy i have found 2 car hire firms that hire car with winter tyres. You cannot book them on line and must call and reserve and INSIST on winter tyres ONLY.  They are obviously in high demand so book early. Try AVIS  Italy on +39 091.591684 (smallest with winter tyres is LAncia Delta) OR Europcar on +39.06.96709592 or from Italy on 199.307030 (though they only have the rather expensive VW Touareg 2.5 4*4 TDI).

NB neither Hertz (+39.02.69682455) nor Sixt (+39.06.652111) offer winter tyres. They offer car hire in Italy only with Snow chains. If your not sure read below to help your decision.

I was on my way to the Italian dolomites sourcing Italian ski property and innocently just hired a car at Bergamo BGY airport and set off. Great weather, sun shining, 20’C in the last week of November…snow never crossed my mind. .. as it had been reported that recent snow falls had melted and no snow was due.

I was driving up to Arabba

arabba italian dolomites

and had a meeting in the next valley in Alto Badia. It had started raining and slowly i was climbing altitude. Just before Arabba the rain changed to fine snow. Slush started to form on the roads and i continued to climb. I drove through Arabba, going fine and turned to take the Passo Campolungo (1875m) to Corvara. 5 minutes out of Arabba the road had turned white. I was going quite slowly just to be safe and a few cars were overtaking. I started to think snow chains but i saw that the other cars didn’t have them on so i kept on going. I came to a steep climb and my wheels started slipping. I pulled up to reflect as i had still quite a climb ahead of me and yet another car overtook me still with no snow chains and then it clicked they must have winter snow tyres on.

Now back in Bergamo airport winter snow tyres were never mentioned, nor snow chains. So there i was stuck on the road in the snow. I gently reversed and turned round and went back to Arabba. Called my meeting contact and agreed that he came over to meet me in Arabba

Arabba church in the snow

rather than  me going to him. Pulled up in Arabba, now with a little snow on the roads and below zero

Arabba below zero

but nothing serious and parked up outside a bar. A quick cappuccino and my contact turned up. We agree to go over to his office in the next valley in his car fitted with winter snow tyres. During the journey he explained to me about winter snow tyres and how they have a special grip that heats up and grips the snow permitting you to drive over snow with an amazing control. Those hairpin bends covered in snow looked dangerous but we glided round them.

3 hours later after a successful meeting he brings me back to Arabba and to my surprise my car is now in half a metre of snow.

car covered in snow in arabba italy

My man suggests leaving the car where it is and staying in a local hotel as tomorrow the snow should disappear. Great thanks ciao. In the bar the locals had received the overnight weather forecast and more and more snow was forecasted. Everyone laughed at me for having normal tyres on the car and travelling without snow chains. From the bar window i could see vans pulling up and attaching their snow chains. I decided it was time to get out of Arabba, I had a plane the next day and i didn’t want to remain stuck here.

The barman lent me 2 large spades and I started digging and clearing the road so i could reverse my car out, stupidly parked on a slope. I jumped in the car hot and sweaty, covered in snow and hit reverse and all i got was wheel spin. Oh no. Stuck in the snow. More digging a little grit and eventually i managed to move the car onto the thick snow covered road. Locals advised the local car mechanic for a set of snow chains. Snow chains have you ever used them ?? 100 metres down the road at crawling speed in 1^st gear and i made it to the mechanic. 100 euros later i had a set of snow chains fitted to the front tyres.

snow chains fitted

Yes 100 euros !! Amazing you can buy themin the supermarket for 35 euros. Pulled out of the mechanic’s and on to the road. I could now drive in the snow in 2^nd gear at 20mph . I was safe. 10 minutes later and the snow on the road started turning back into slush. I had made it…or so i believed !!

Have you ever tried to fit and remove snow chains ?? Well i drove on the slushy road for about 5 minutes with the chains on, hoping to find a sheltered illuminated spot…no chance. I had been advised NOT to drive too far with snow chains on and with no snow on the road so eventually i stopped. Rain, wind and dark and my first attempt of removing snow chains. It’s not easy. Instructions in hand, mobile phone trying to create some light and NO luck. They just wouldn’t unhook. Like a damsel in distress finally some kind soul pulled over and asked if all was ok ? “Of course not i can’t get these damn snow chains off” and in 2 seconds he slipped them off the wheels.

Moral of the story.

Snow chains are hassle. It is much easier to have winter snow tyres. Believe me.

In Italy you are legally obliged to carry snow chains or have winter snow tyres when in the Italian winter mountains. You will see the road sign indicating where and when they are necessary. The police regularly monitor the roadside and pull you over for inspections. Fines vary from 100-300 euros if you are without either.

Yet NONE of the car hire firms in Italy hire cars with winter tyres  !!!

So either hire some snow chains, which is expensive, but less than a fine or buying them when stuck in the mountains and learn to fit and remove them in a dry warm garage and NOT on the roadside in the cold wet dark.

Many Italians have a laugh at the foreigners stuck on the roadside fitting and removing snow chains. With wifes in the car shouting out instructions and incompetent husbands struggling. Don’t worry you won’t be the first or the last. Learn before you hit the snow !!

If you know of any car hire firm in Italy that hires cars with winter snow tyres please let us know by submitting your comments.

Follow this link to read more about winter tyres snow chains.

I have heard of some people who rent their car in France or Switzerland or Austria where car hire firms provide winter snow tyres and then drive into Italy. Have you done this ?

Remember if you are heading into the Italian ski resorts this winter to ski in Italy or to stay in your Italian ski property then be prepared.

Moss Italian Property Consultants have a range of Italian ski property investments in Italy.