Visitor reviews for Passo Tonale

• October 12, 2008
  Ian Wickham from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  A value for money resort, but very short easy runs, spent too much time on the chair lifts ok for a short break.

• November 30, 2007
  Ian Morewood from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  Italian hospitality in a blind Valley with 3000 metre hills and 1200 metres of vertical drop. What a great prospect.
  I stayed at the Hotel Dolomiti which is superbly located. At the start of my weeks skiing you could almost ski into the locker room, by the end of the week though a thaw had put pay to that!
  Onto the skiing; well for a beginner the resort would offer plenty of challenges which for the other members of my party was good, two complete novices and one, me, hadn't skied for 10 years but was good (honest). Early intermediates will find plenty to entertain themselves for the week especially if they're still making use of the ski school. Where the resort falls down though is on provision for advanced or expert skiers, I had skied out the pisted resort in just over a day and, without attending ski school, I was alternating for the rest of the week between finding bits of powder and straight lining the mountain. The downside to this though was the time spent on lifts.
  Would I go back? Yep, as soon as my little boy is old enough to ski I would take him to Tonale, if the price was right.

• March 08, 2007
  Steve Martin from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  Visited Passo Tonale for the second time 10 - 17 Feb 2007. Stayed at Hotel Dolomiti again in one of their family rooms. Food and service fantastic and Stefano and all staff welcomed us and remembered us from last time (Christmas 2005).
  Ski school and lifts just across from the hotel so no long walks with your skis.

  Although we didn't have as much snow this time all the pistes were open and the skiing was just as good. An added bonus was the new long blue run down towards Ponte Di Legno and the new gondala back up. Ski school (Scuola Italiana) has great ski instructors. Special mention for Freddie who has a great sense of humour. Ski instructors also recognised the children from last time. Children(10 & 11) had Sonia and had a great time, especially the races at the end of the week.

  Fantastic resort for beginners/intermediates and caters well for different abilities. No problems with queues at lifts. Recommend you try the sledges opposite Dolomiti, the kids thought they were great.

  Enjoyed it so much we are going back again next year.

• February 18, 2007
  PET TWIGG from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  My family - husband and 2 kids (6 & 8) and I had our second skiing holiday in Passo Tonalle in February 2007.
  Hotel -
  We stayed at The Hotel Dolomiti which was basic but the VERY friendly staff and good home cooked food made up for the lack of hotel facilities.
  Ski School -
  We ALL joined ski school for the week and the tuition was great ... the children had Sonia and developed their snow plough, my husband is a good intermediate standard and was put through his paces, I'm an advanced skier but want to improve my technique and posture .. had a great instructor Irvin who gave me lots to think about!.
  Resort -
  The resort has a mix of traditional and not so traditional and the food in the restaurants overall is good, but nothing special.
  Piste -
  The piste was very well maintained so a good snow cover was maintained through our holiday. The ski school split us into similar ability classes so it was easy to fully explore the piste.
  Apres-ski -
  Restaurants are not great but the apres-ski drinking atmosphere is spot on (not that we did much of that with 2 children in tow).
  We've booked to go back Feb 2008 ...

• September 09, 2006
  rob kols from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  Hi ski fans,I have a couple of apartments in Vezza D'Oglio next to Temu and I naturally spend a lot of time there.The links between the resorts of Temu/Ponte D'Legno/Passo Del Tonale are now complete,the last link was a two stage gondola from Ponte to Tonale and was being tested in August and will be ready for ski opening in November as will the new bridge over the road that will link the whole area from Tonale centre and also the glacier so you can ski right down to Ponte { about 11kms } This has opened up a fantastic new ski location and will give many new runs from the high level open fields of Tonale to the stunning runs through the forests in Ponte and Temu.They are building new hotels and apartments in and around Ponte/Temu so will give a great choice of places to stay {Ponte D,Legno/Temu/Vezza D,Oglio } are a complete contrast to the stark buildings of Tonale,they are villages built many years ago and are lively and very picturesque.So all in all a new ,modern and much larger ski area {approx 135kms linked}to look forward to.Have a look on the new web site for the ski area www.adamelloski.com.

• April 02, 2006
  Tim from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  I took a school party during Feb half-term, excellent skiing especially for the beginners ( some fog, wind and lots of snow at the end). The ski school we had were outstanding (sorry can't remember their name but they wore red.) They were, friendly, challenging and totally in control of our students (although they were fantastic too). Skitopia rep was brilliant, knew the resort and was always on hand. Hotel Savoia very comfortable and clean, food was very good, 3 hot, large 3 course meals a day. Fantastic if you like veal (my school group think it is pork!!!!)) Well worth the extra cost, (hotel owner a mix between Cybil Fawlty and Cruella De Ville) but the staff were fantastic and it was in an ideal position for the slopes. Wonderful deli just towards the edge of town, the owner stuffed me full of his award winning salamis, some interesting ones, pork, wild boar, goat, deer, horse and donkey! (did all taste great though.) Must recommend their own honey (fantastic).
  The pistes were wonderfully kept and quite empty most of the time. Enough places to explore before you get cut up by yet another beginners group. I would take a beginner /lower intermediate ski group back as they progressed so quickly although it is slightly limiting for the more advanced.
  Overall a good resort. Friendy locals but slightly lacking on the large ski area although I have been told by the ski school and hotel owner that they are expanding a lot over the next few years.
  Thankyou, the the staff and students of Farmor's School, Vicki and Skitopia for making this a fantastic trip.

• February 12, 2006
  colleen wilson from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  Passo Tonale is a great beginner resort. Enough easy blues to keep you going for a week. The reds are also nice and wide. Not a lot in the way of mountain restaurants which was dissapointing although we did find a good one at the top of what everyone called the long blue. Not that long. Contrary to what everyone said we had lift queues and crowded pistes. Was I in the right resort? My ski instructor did more guiding than teaching and actually lost three of us on the mountain which was a bit scary. He was waiting for us at the lift queue when we got back. He did not get a tip from me. I probably will not go back because the actual resort did not have much character but I would recommend it to beginners and early intermediates. Choose your hotel very carefully. If I went back I would not go lower than four star. Our three star was cold and the food not very tasty. Nice people. I think I prefer the Alps to the Dolomites. Sorry.

• January 28, 2006
  Zoe from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  Me and a school group of about 45 skiied in Tonale from 15-22 January 2006.
  We stayed at the Hotel Dolomiti, which is literally about 20 steps from the slopes! We have stayed at this hotel for 3 years on the trot now, and we have built up a reputation for being one of the nicest and quietest groups there! Stefano, the hotel owner, is very pleasant and is always talking to you! Our rooms were of a decent size for school groups and had all of the things we needed. Our room had a balcony which overlooked the Paradision black run underneath the glacier gondola and the mountains. What a view!
  The resort is lovely. It was my second (and probably last) year there and it was better than last year! Although it is small, it is an ideal place to go for beginners and intermediates! The ski school is brilliant and by day 3 we were going over the moguls at the back of the snowmakers on the long blue run and by day 4 we were on the reds.
  The snow was around 1m at village level, although about 3 days in we had a huge snowfall,adding about another 10cm. But then came the wind. It was so strong, it blew all the snow off and left icy patches!
  Whilst we were there, we did several apres-ski activites. We were hoping to go ice skating but they didn't have the correct insurance so we went bumboarding instead. It is now my favourite sport (apart from skiing!) If you are going bumboarding be prepared for a long walk up the hills (the lifts are closed!) and go on the far button lift run, opposite the UFO bar. Its great! Cannot fault the UFO bar for their chocolate...which was literally melted chocolate with cream!
  We also went to the disco heaven kareoke and the separate disco building. Both were really good apart from the fact the kareoke computer broke! Still we didn't mind.
  In Ponte De Legno, we went to the Dolomiti's sister hotel, the Mirella. Staff there were not as friendly, but then again it was a bigger hotel and I can't fault that either!
  Overall, people rate Tonale as a bad resort. I say the opposite. I would say for a beginner holiday, go there! Cheap, no lift queues and great atmosphere. I skiied my first black run there this year, the Paradisio, and last year I skiied the red glacier run. Both were brilliant, and the views are awesome!
  Top tips for going there:
  1) Go earlier in the year. Don't go near to Easter time or later, all the snow is going fast. Go around January and reap the benefits!
  2) The Hotel Dolomiti was excellent, and everyone is very friendly. OK, it's not the 5 star standard, but the meals are lovely and it's an ideal base.
  3) GO BUMBOARDING!!!
  A minor bad point is the equipment. The skis I got were Fischer old style, not designed for carving at all, but they did the trick!
  Have a great holiday in Passo Tonale. It's worthwhile! I want to go back already! I give it 10/10!
  Zoe

• January 16, 2006
  woody from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  Six of us skied Passo this season (7-14 jan 2006), all at different levels of ability, from beginner to expert and it's difficult to say anything negative about the place. Great on piste, brilliant up the glacier, no lift queues whatsoever and the best part is it's inexpensive. Do yourself a favour and try it. Or better still stay away, lets keep it to ourselves!

• January 08, 2006
  R. Milne from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  We had an excellent holiday over christmas 2005. The resort had great snow and plenty of snow making going on overnite all week. I am an expert skier and expected it to be a little boring but some of the runs on the glacier are fun and the paradiso black is a truly amazing run, wide, steep and well kept. As for the weather it is worth pointing out that it gets very very cold!

  The night life is not as you would expect in a more mainstream resort but there are some lovely bars and clubs usually attached to the hotels. The mountain restaurants serve some excellent ski food and many of them kick of the parties throughout the afternoon!

  Two members of out party went to ski school and the instructors spoke satisfactory english, overall the ski school was well organised with a presentation at the end of the week.

  Rental equipment in most of the shops was basic, but you can always pay that little bit extra and then you got brand new Volkl skis of this season. But we were surprised that when some people got there ski gear no one checked the din settings and so was potentially dangerous, make sure they do this before they hand you the skis!
  We stayed in the Hotel Edelweiss, which was fairly standard, the food was simple but still a three course meal every evening and buffet breakfast. The only gripe about the hotel was that it was never warm, I'm not sure if that was just because of the extreme cold outside or if they were skimping on heating! Though we had a pleasent stay there and they were always happy to help.

  Overall I would rate Passo Tonale as an excellent beginner and intermediate resort with all the modern aspects that you would expect of a well knwon resort, for experts it may become a little boring if there is not much snow, but when there is powder it takes a while to get it skied out, you can still ski fresh tracks well into the afternoon!

  We had an excellent holiday and would recomment it to anyone.

• December 07, 2005
  Sharon Darwell from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  We visited Passo Tonale in January 2005 and stayed at the Hotel Dolomiti (we actually booked the Paridiso but Airtours had over booked and put us in the last room available in the whole resort!!). The Dolomiti was basic and the attic room was very cramped for 2 adults and a 14yr old but the great food and friendly staff more than made up for it. It was also in a great position across from the slopes.

  The weather was excellent while we were there with just one day being extreamly windy which blew the snow from the pistes and left just ice. I stuck to the blue runs but my husband and daughter went on every run (except the one from the glacier) including the one which went behind the mountain - they said some of was difficult for snowboards but still enjoyed it anyway.

  Even though it was busy through the day, the evenings were quiet with not many people about - we tended to just eat, have a few drinks in the hotel bar and then go to bed, (not as young as we once were).

  We really enjoyed the experience and had booked to go again on the 31st January for a week. Staying in the Flora Alpina this time - will let you know how it went.

  If you're going soon enjoy your holiday!

• February 06, 2005
  Piotr from POLAND
  

  After skiing in Bormio, Livigno and Cortina, I went to Tonale in Feb. 2004. The town turned out to be totally different from the former ones, mostly because of its size and crowding: it was much quieter and the slopes were almost empty. It's a good thing if you want to push the gas pedal to the max while skiing ensuring that you don't ride straight into someone else. A good chance to try more sporty skiing then, not to say racing (slalom racing actually). Especially that the pistes were ideally groomed; later on they started getting icy and it was quite hard for the skis; I had to sharpen the edges every day or every second day at least. I'm going to the town this year as well and hope to have just as much fun as last year :-)

• January 22, 2005
  Woody from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  Me and the memsaab skied passo over Chrizzy 2004. Lost a couple o' days 'cos it snowed and it snowed and it snowed.When it finally stopped snowing the skiing was great. there's enough diversity of piste for all levels. We stayed at Hotel Eden, Basic but clean and V. friendly.This resort was quite inexpensive. I even came home with notes in mi pocket.(a first for me)The only negative thing I can say about it, is the nights were a little quiet but lets not forget it was early season.All in all I would recomend this place without hesitation and give it a respectable 8/10

• January 09, 2005
  Paul Cawson from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  Just arrived back 8 Jan from Passo Tonale . I am a Intermediate skier and found enough challenging skiing for a week. Some good long Red runs and a couple of good Blacks the one under the chair lift being the best. The runs are spread along the valley sides so you have to bounce from lift to lift to get to them all. Off piste skiing is also possible between the runs. Ski lessons were made fun and we were soon doing jumps, Half pipes and other stunts, although not always with success. Very good lift system with no need to use drag lifts so good for snow boarders. I recommend the hotel Edelweiss it has a good location at the bottom of the slope, good food and a nice family atmosphere.

• December 01, 2004
  Gary from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  My wife and I had our first skiing holiday in Passo Tonalle in February 2001.

  Hotel -
  We stayed at The Hotel Eden which was basic but the friendly staff and good home cooked food made up for the lack of hotel facilities.

  Ski School -
  We joined ski school for the week and the tuition was poor. There were about 10 beginners in our group and the ski instuctor ignored the skiiers who were finding it difficult in favour of the competent learners. I would recommend private tuition as beginners will progress much more quickly.

  Resort -
  The resort is not pretty but it is friendly. The lower on piste restaurants were very busy and the food was poor. I got food poisoning from an 'only just warm' chicken burger and missed a full day of skiing. Avoid the European half term as lift queues and ignorant kids are a problem.

  Piste -
  The piste was icy, very cold and windy until we had a dump of snow towards the end of the week and then the skiing improved and it became easier. As we were in ski school with mixed ability skiers it was difficult for us to fully explore the piste.

  Apres Ski -
  Restaurants are not great but the Apres Ski drinking atmosphere is spot on.

  We will definately return to Passo Tonale at some point - probably the place to go for an inexpensive ski holiday.

• March 14, 2004
  Helena Dillon from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  We just returned home (13.3.04) from a week's holiday at Passo Tonale, thoroughly and totally knackered! It was our first holiday accompanied by our son, who turned 4 in Feb 04.
  We stayed at the Hotel Paradiso which although a great place to stay is too far from the centre of the village if you have small children. There is only one main road running through the resort, which can get treacherous in snowy conditions as the Italians dont seem to have grasped the concept of snow chains on their cars and they continue to drive like morons up and down at break neck speed.
  We had terrific conditions all week, in fact too much snow Thursday and we were unable to ski!
  The Paradiso has a swimming pool, but it didnt cost us anything, other than 2.5 euros each for the stupid swim hats......We were not impressed that the lockers for the ski boots were not heated, although the room was but our boots did get damp and did not dry out every night.
  As for the slopes, we stayed on the main village pistes, blues and easy reds cos our lad was in ski school and we didnt want to venture too far from him, just in case. We should have been more adventurous cos he loved the ski school (thanks to the wonderful Mario) and was happily motoring down the easy drag blue without poles and in a good snow plough within 6 hrs of Mario's excellent guidance. We enjoyed a long run back from the top of the mountain on an extremely easy blue and I (5th year this year) was confidently discarding my poles to attempt the reds within 3 days myself! This is a first for me, I have always been too scared to attempt reds before, but the runs at Tonale just begged me to go faster and steeper.........

  would go back but would probably stay at the Miramonti, situated in the centre of the resort.

• February 27, 2004
  Steve Brannon from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  Just spent the first week in February in Passo Tonale, and what a fantastic week it was! The weather was fantastic. apparently the week before we were there the temperature hit a maximum of -15, as soon as we left the temperature plumeted as well, but while we were there it was almost tropical - +7C during the day but still plenty of beutiful white stuff, just right for a lunch time pint outside a mountain restaurant in yer t-shirt!
  It was the first time in 10 years for me that I had been skiing, and the first time my wife had ever been so we hoped Passo Tonale had something to offer both of us, and it did. Plenty of nursery slopes by the village for her to start of on, and the challenge of the long blue run at the end of the week. Rhona did manage the this by Friday and absolutely loved it.
  a word of warning though for fairly unexperienced skiers - some of the blue runs are only basic nursery slopes whilst others are borderline reds, some of the reds (especially the top glacier one!)could easily be blacks.
  However both me and my wife thoroughly enjoyed the skiing - even though the glacier is v.small and limited there were two highlights for us.
  1Rhona managed the easy red (her first ever)from the glacier to the top of the cable car no problem, she thought she was a proper skier (even though it was really an easy BLUE!)
  2. I skied the black under the cable car a couple of time (although I should have done that run all week), for a fairly decent skier it isn't a hard black, more like a hard red, but it is an absolute pleasure!
  One final word, if you go to Passo Tonale GO ON THE SKIDOOS, WICKED!!!!

• February 10, 2004
  Niall Moten from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  Well,

  Went to this resort in February 2003 and am off again in a few days. The skiing is pretty good, some interesting long runs and a cool alpine slope. Didn't try the black, glacier run, my skiing group were too hung over on the last day! Not the biggest of towns, only a few clubs, check out disco heaven and disco club, plenty of young ladies in there, (especially in the feb half term). Crappy music though, trashy euro pop and stuff, not a patch on the Fingerin Sesh! Boo!

• February 08, 2004
  Martin R Troubridge from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  Just got back from Passo Tonale, yesterday 07/02/04.

  Supurb Holiday, stayed at the Paridisso, new Hotel, service good, rooms excellent, heated ski room, food excellent, just be aware the cost of the pool is 20 Euros each then you have to purchase a swimming cap for a further 6 Euros (ive got a shaven head what do I need a cap for, sorry its an Italian thing). conditions fab, although lack of snow towards end of week resulted in some slushy areas, not to much of a problem though.

  Remember you can always pop up to the glassier. A wicked wide red run at the top, bordering on a Black, theres an mad black runs also, if you dare. The gentle red back from the Top Station to the Gondola is very mild and gentle a compitent blue skier could handle this.

  Yet guys, check every Red run out, they are just wide, wicked, amazzzzzzing with all sorts of challenges.

  The long blue, all Im gonna say is you aint gonna be disapointed, not even if you think your above blues, just give it the repect it deservers and ski it.

  One Happy Skiier.

  Martin.

• January 05, 2004
  Howard from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  Went with my family in the week leading up to Christmas, piste condition & instruction was superb. Locals friendly and accommodation brilliant.

  Adjacent resorts had no snow but Tonale itself was great, many people were bussed in but the slopes never felt crowded.

  The family's first time skiing and definately not the last, will definately go back, can I wait for a year though?

  Thanks Sonia for introducing me to this wonderful sport

• November 13, 2003
  Oliver from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  I skied in Tonale in February 2002. The scenery was amazing but the snow couldn't live up to it. The pistes were worn icy and in some places grass! The consolation was beautiful sunshine and a nice tan. The people are friendly and given good snow conditions the resort would be a killer! Worth a visit

• October 23, 2003
  Roger from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  Outstanding scenery, Great atmosphere, Magnificent skiing, and outstanding and modern lifts.
  I'll surely return soon
  Was last march (2003)

• 
  nick maye from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  Just returned from Tonale 31 March 2007 Excellent snow which was a plus point Other than that the resort lacks character and the pistes are very intermediate.Stayed in the Sport Vitoria the food was average and often cold which was dissappointing as good food is usually the one thing you can quarantee in Italy.
  If your a beginner /early intermediate and are not worried about its lack of charm then maybe this is the place for you Otherwise look elsewhere.I have to agree with Colleens earlier comment I have skied in Italy for over twenty years and prefer the alps to the Dolomites.

• 
  ann from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  We have just got back from a fantastic week in Passo Tonale. We stayed at the Hotel Orchidea which I would recommend for the lovely food, friendly owners and the Wellness Centre. As beginners, we all went to ski school which was very good. My instructor, Stefano, showed endless patience and good humour at the groups' reluctance to abandon the old faithful snowplough for scarily fast parallel turns. By the end of the week he had inspired us all with great confidence. Passo Tonale was lots of fun for beginners with lots of shortish runs in the resort and nice, longer, prettier blues to progress to.

• 
  Graham Ellis from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  My first visit to Passo Tonale & pleasantly surprised. Village wasn't as bad as I anticipated (better than some French purpose built resorts).
  This was my 12 year old son's first time boarding and I also went with a friend whose son was skiing for the first time, so this was an ideal resort for them.
  We stayed at the Sporthotel Vittoria, which is centrally situated & found it clean, comfortable & the food was good. Bar & waiting staff all very friendly.
  My son had four private lessons with Paulo from Ponte-Tonale ski & snowboard school. He was an excellent teacher & by day five, my son was riding with me & even doing jumps at the side of the pistes.
  I found everyone in the resort helpful & friendly. The slopes were quite busy but we never had to queue for more than a few minutes.
  In my opinion, this is an excellent resort for beginners & early intermediates.