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Visitor reviews for Pila Ski Resort

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Ski Resort Rating: Rate Pila

• January 11, 2012
  dave stephenson from United Kingdom
  

  Christmas 2011
  This was our first visit to Pila; preferring to ski either during Christmas or just before over the last 20+ years. The hotel was very good with pleasant staff and good facilities and good food with unlimited free wine at evening dinner! "Etoiles de Neige" - 100m from a chair lift and 200m from the main lift station, accessed via a moving walkway from just by the hotel. The snow conditions were perfect but a few of the lifts had not opened due to a big dump of snow just before we arrived; the main pistes were well groomed providing easy cruising skiing and two or three awesome blacks if required. The slopes were not crowded and we never queued for more than a few minutes all week. The pisteurs and lift staff were courteous and polite and there's a big cable car that foot passengers can take from Pila centre to the main slopes. I believe that Pila can be crowded at weekends as the Torinese flock to the slopes if the weather's good. The resort is compact, all pistes leading back to the main resort centre so getting lost is pretty well impossible. If you want the hectic nightlife then this resort is not for you.
  The nursery slopes looked ideal for beginners and young children and the slopes were well served by restaurants and bars without the eye watering prices encountered in other resorts throughout the Alps; I mention no other countries but suffice it to say we now ski three times a year in Italy and have noticed the numbers of French people skiing in Italy grows noticeably year by year.
  Should one wish for a "day off" then Aosta is a cable car journey away about 17 minutes (included in your lift pass) and is well worth the visit even if for only a half day.
  We would certainly ski here again but would suggest that for the expert skier wanting to travel far and wide then they would run out of pistes after a couple of days.
  Dave Stephenson Jan 2012.

• April 12, 2011
  maria from United Kingdom
  

  Pila is a little gem of a resort. It's fantastic for beginners and intermediates. Expert skiers can have great fun depending on the weather conditions. The views are superb from Mont Blanc to Matterhorn. Sometimes it can get busy during weekends in the morning but nothing horrible - just 5 min wait. Food is the best in the Alps for the money you pay- Hermitage is the best place and value for money-. Please stay at Aosta or nearby, not Pila if you like to have a life after skiing. Aosta is a lovely town full Roman ruins , shops and bars. If there is fresh powder you will write a review yourselves because you can have so much fun and no crowds. Very easy to visit nearby resorts such as Courmayer, La Thuile, Cervinia, Crevacol, Monterossa - all of them less than an hour away. The lift pass can cover all these resorts with just few Euros extra. I love Pila and I keep coming back for powder, trees, perfectly groomed pistes and the relaxed feeling it has.

• March 26, 2009
  Tom Goodwin from Italy
  

  I've just got back from Pila where the snow was the best for 20 years. The resort had 3 metres at the top, and enough at the bottom to last past Easter. Reading other reviews, it's true that there is no life in Pila at night - you have to make you own fun after the lifts stop, and the week-ends, peak times are particularly shocking, as Milanese and Torinese day-trippers ascend in their thousands. The British schoolchildren are no longer a nuisance and the locals are very welcoming. On the plus side, it has one of the best views in the Alps, and a short 'Bubble' ride takes you to Aosta, a city small enough to explore easily yet big enough to have good shopping, culture and amenities.
  I would say Pila is a great mid-sized resort with plenty for beginners and intermediates, and if you know where to look, experts, like myself, keep coming back. For variety there is always the option of an international day trip. These resorts are under two hours away: La Thuile/La Rosiere, Cervinia/Zermatt Courmayeur/Chamonix or the cheapest heli-skiing in Europe. The ski school and creche are well run and compared to France or Switzerland, everything is absurdly cheap. Now it is time to come clean - I have been going for 30 years and with two young sons, I will probably still be there in another thirty.
  In fact, I enjoyed the last trip to Pila so much, we're going back next week.

• November 25, 2008
  mike kimber from United Kingdom
  

  Went with school for two years over new years. Very contrasting; first year powder, second year snow cannon. Slopes covered by snow cannons leave fairly limited skiing so beware if going early in the season.
  Aosta isn't the greatest place to stay. Not a lot going on really. Few bars etc but wouldn't rush back. Bit too small for me.
  Overall, good resort but probably won't be going back. Save your pennies and go to Tignes instead.
  Went with Interski through school who do a good job of everything. so if you are going on a school trip you'll love it.

• February 11, 2008
  Louise from United Kingdom
  

  January 20th 2008
  Fantastic, if small, resort. We are beginner to medium intermediates and there was just enough to keep us going for a week. I imagine if you were more experienced you could cover the runs in 2-3 days. Weather was amazing with fantastic views over Monte Bianco and the Matterhorn from our hotel room in Lion Noir, which is a great hotel. Apres-ski is almost non existent but chilled. Looking to go back for 3 nights on the 24th February.
  P.s. avoid weekends if you can as it gets packed with locals.

• February 10, 2008
  Kris from United Kingdom
  

  Went to Pila with my wife mid January - fantastic ski area, plenty of snow and the views cannot be beaten. Slopes were generally in great condition but we never left the hotel before 10am. The food on the other side was a bit poor. The apres-ski scene was almost dead if not for the Gallagher's bar (only good place to go - thanks to Laura). Overall, the place is ok if you are there for the average cruising but if you are looking for more challenging terrain you better go to La Thuile.

• January 20, 2008
  sam pye from United Kingdom
  

  It is an absolutely amazing resort. Thoroughly enjoyed it. It was my first ski trip. A perfect place to begin. I will be returning. It was brilliant. 5 star holiday !

• February 19, 2007
  Clive from United Kingdom
  

  Got back from Pila two weeks ago after a week skiing trip with 14 sixth formers and two other members of staff. The students were beginners and the staff were advanced skiers. The resort is very good although the staff covered all the ski area pistes in two days. Not many queues during the weekdays but on the weekend there were 5-10 minute waits at the main ski lifts. There had been a good dump of snow the week before we got there so that when we arrived all of the runs were well covered and provided an excellent skiing week. Recommend Interski for school parties. The students and staff had a very enjoyable skiing week.

• March 20, 2006
  Barkmuncher from United Kingdom
  

  Nice resort for a day or two - especially on a snowy weekday. Loads of fun off-piste through the trees plus several open bowls higher up though we didn't get to session them properly due to avalanche danger. There's not too many flats for snowboarders and the modern lift system does a pretty good job of getting you up the mountain though it did struggle hugely with the weekend crowds. However during the week it was great - no queues and very quiet slopes during the first week of March. Can't comment on the aprés-ski in Pila itself, but the city of Aosta below the resort(accessible via gondola)has plenty going on - nice restaurants and lively pubs/bars.

• February 24, 2006
  Paul from United Kingdom
  

  Just back from half-term in Pila. It's my 4th trip in last 18 months and still love it. Stayed at Pila2000 hotel right next to the piste, genuine ski in/out, good food, decent people. Pila gets busy at peak periods with Italians at Xmas and school kids at half-term but if you get onto the right pistes at the right time then it's problem free. Have now travelled 3 ways; Interski, Thompson, and Independent. For the price use Interski they stay in the town of Aosta which is 20 mins on cable car but they provide all passes, ski lessons and apres-ski. Please don't go to Pila, leave it alone so I can continue to enjoy it!

• February 06, 2006
  Jon Jones from United Kingdom
  

  I've just come back from a week in Pila. Plenty of snow and sunshine the whole week. Slopes are well groomed although they can be very hard in the mornings. Ski instruction is good. The best school seems to be Aosta. We had an excellent teacher called Max (Alberti Massimo), he used to be in the Italian Ski team, very friendly with lots of tips and pointers!
  On the negative side there is VERY little apres ski. It basically revolves around your own hotel. Also, be careful not to pay for your ski equipment until you get a chance to see it. We booked ours through Crystal and the quality leaves a lot to be desired. Boots are very old and skis are not maintained or serviced.
  On the whole we had a good time and would go back again.

• January 17, 2006
  Debra Williams from United Kingdom
  

  Fantastic resort! with really good facilities and spectacular scenery. Great ski runs for all and good to be able to ski to hotel. A cable car ride down to Aosta is a must, it takes about 20 minutes but again the views are really amazing and the town of Aosta has some lovely buildings and more importantly for us women (!), some great shops.

• October 05, 2005
  George Brough from United Kingdom
  

  Wow! Amazing Ski area!There are slopes for all abilities and ques are minimal.
  I went there with my school, to learn to ski. My group progressed really well and we were on the red/black slopes by the end of the week. The mountain restaurants are amazing and serve dilicious food. I had a great time and i am returning there for the 2005/6 season, can't wait!

• March 19, 2004
  Laura Harris from United Kingdom
  

  Fantastic place to ski. Some great runs, offering something for all. The Wall of Ice, one of the uppermost runs is a must do for more competent skiiers and for the less competent, the lower slopes offer some fun runs ideal as well for those just after a bit of fun. Can't wait to return next year!!