Macugnaga, Italy

Debbie from UNITED KINGDOM writes:

We have just come back from our first week at the Hotel Signal at Macugnaga. The hotel was very clean and Claudio who runs the place could not be more helpful. The food was great with a couple of choices per course per night. The wine is reasonably priced and it is great to sit next to the open fire in the bar and enjoy a large G&T both before and after dinner!
The hotel is really well placed. It is very close to the local pub (the Mignon Bar) which is popular with guests at most hotels. It is around 5 minutes from the Berky chairlift (in your ski-boots) and if you want to go shopping in Staffa, best put on your normal shoes as this is around 10 minutes walk on the main road. Didn't hear any bad comments about any of the places in Pecetto or Staffa. Cristallo is close to the chairlift but further from the Mignon and even further from Staffa. The Girasole, Defour and Cima Jazzi are in Staffa so are handy for the shops and bars in town but you have to rely on the ski-bus to get to the chairlift.
We went to the local ski-school, in the beginners' class and by the end of the week we had come so far! The instructors were great and all the locals were really helpful. We never queued for a lift during the week and there was only a small queue at the weekend when the slopes get a little busier.
There had been a little snow in the week prior to our stay but even if there has been no snowfall, don't be put off as their snow making machines do an excellent job! Saying that, you may struggle for variety if you are above intermediate level. However, we met many excellent skiers who were happy to keep on returning to Macugnaga each year.

2006-02-07