Snowsure: 3.8
- Occasionally gets enough snow for skiing
- Is often closed due to a lack of snow
- Occasionally suffers from a lack of snow
- Rarely suffers from a lack of snow
- Sauze d'Oulx (Vialattea) is snowsure even in the poorest seasons
Visitor reviews for Sauze d'Oulx (Vialattea) Ski Resort
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(NOTE: Reviews may be edited by our content team for the purposes of ensuring accurate and relevant information)
(NOTE: Reviews may be edited by our content team for the purposes of ensuring accurate and relevant information)
Latest
February 04, 2009
Rob from
United Kingdom
Rob from
United Kingdom
Just got back from a brilliant week in Sauze (Sauze d'Oulx). I was surprised at the incredible variety of experiences listed here, so thought I'd add my own:
+ Friendly people on the mountains/resorts (the rudeness encountered on the day trip to the French resort of Montgenevre was enough to sell me on Italy for years despite my speaking French but no Italian)
+ Reasonably priced food on the mountain (€2.50 - €4 for a decent sized slab of pizza and €8 - €10 for a filling pasta/polenta main)
+ Cheap lift ticket compared to Alpine average (€170, but got mine for £130 through Nielsen)
+ No queues for most lifts except on weekends
+ Lots of gladed runs means the powder sticks around for a while if you're prepared to hunt
- Slightly antiquated lift system in parts
- Our chalet (Valentin) is a long walk from town c. 20 minutes
- Difficult runs at the base make skiing out hard for absolute beginners
- Not too many challenging runs without hitting the further flung resorts of the Milky Way
- No park in Sauze (Sauze d'Oulx), and parks half built elsewhere early season. The only decent one seems to be in Sestriere, but costs an additional €15 a day.
I really didn't find it pricey in town though. I wasn't there to go out and get wasted; that is most people's apparent bug-bear. Maguluf is good for that, leave the mountains for the skiers.
February 03, 2009
lee from
United Kingdom
lee from
United Kingdom
Got back from Sauze d'Oulx on Sunday. It was the best ski holiday out of last 8. The food is very good. I stayed in hotel Miraville where the staff are brilliant. Paddys bar/queens lounge are very good; 4 euros a beer (buy 4 get 5th free.) Then go to the Cotton Club at 1am for some great music and fun. Skiing at Sauze d'Oulx is not really challenging but is very enjoyable.
February 01, 2009
Steve from
United Kingdom
Steve from
United Kingdom
Just returned from a week in Sauze d'Oulx. Stayed at the Gran Baita Hotel. The resort was excellent with great snow. Only small queues at the lifts with lots of varied runs to try. I did notice two lifts that looked past their best but the majority are fast and new. The hotel was excellent with great food, a good bar and comfortable rooms and the staff very friendly and helpful. I would recommend Sauze d'Oulx to anyone.
January 31, 2009
Matt from
United Kingdom
Matt from
United Kingdom
Just got back from Sauze d'Oulx and thought I would leave some info for the weary traveler.
It might just be the current exchange rates, but it seems that this whole resort is a complete rip off. If you're going to this place on a budget be prepared to bring lots of cash because you will easily be paying between 4.50 and 6.50 for a pint. If you're thinking of going to the Beastros for lunch be prepared to spend around 10-15 Euros for pretty much nothing; my advice is to pack your own.
As far as the skiing goes the place is not too bad, but Sauze d'Oulx itself is distinctly lacking in challenging runs; mostly reds that, in reality, are blues everywhere else in the Alps. That said you can get some nice speed by pointing it down most runs. This is of course not mentioning some very nice runs in Sestriere which will be hard to find anywhere else in the Alps.
The lift system is pretty dated and slow with the connecting areas to Sansicario only being accessible via a rather steep button; definitely not one for the boarders. It is possible to get back from Sestriere without the use of the long old button but you will need to trade that for the very long, narrow and winding black run Treceire which eventually brings you back to the Jouvenceaux lift and from there it's a quick hop back to Sauze d'Oulx via Sportinia. This wouldn't be so bad if Treceire wasn't practically the only black run in the entire mountain range, and it was at least a consistent run. Unfortunately, there are uphill parts which are just not accessible to any boarder no matter how good they are (enjoy the walk).
If like me you were looking forward to some nice park action be aware that it is illigal in Italy to do rails and kickers without a helmet, because of this there were a few sad faces in my group, luckily I don't go anywhere without my helmet. I would also warn that while there is supposed to be parks in all the resorts the Italians seem too lazy to actually make it in Sauze and it wasn't until the end of my trip that they had completed the Setriere park. This was most unfortunate because the park there was actually half decent with a wide range of kickers including some really knarly stuff. The Sansicario one which seemed to be the only one which had been made by the time I went out there was however, pretty limited.
The people are generally quite pleasant and to be honest for the money you're spending should be. That said there were a few rude Italians in certain places who I think have experienced the less desirable type of British holiday maker. If you don't have half board then you are likely to spend a fortune on food, but there are several quant Itialian places out the way which are actually not to bad value for money wise. Of all the Brit places I would say the best value for money would be from Paddy Mginty's on the main drag up to the Clotes lift, you can pick up a pretty reasonable pub lunch from there.
All in all I wouldn't recommend this place unless the snows impecable which is what is was when I went out there. If the snow hadn't been as good as it was then the whole place would have been a waste of time, effort and money so bare that in mind when you book your cheap holiday here.
January 28, 2009
Steph from
United Kingdom
Steph from
United Kingdom
Have just returned from an amazing week in Sauze d'Oulx.
The lifts are slightly dated but they get you on the mountain to some amazing runs and I personally have seen worse in other resorts. The lifts get you all over the mountain and the links are simple to get to Sestriere (gondola) and Sansicaro. How about focusing on the lack of queues and lack of pushy Europeans you have on the lift system in Sauze d'Oulx, which you see in many resorts in Europe (France inparticular). There are a good choice of runs to suit beginners to advanced, even skiing the Olympic runs if you go over to Sestriere and Sansicaro. It has more choice of runs over the Milky Way than any other resort in Europe.
The Sauze town is very pretty, there is a number of bars but it is definitely not a 'noisy' resort. There are things for everyone; quiet bars for a nice drink, small cafes and a few more lively bars as you get in the majority of resorts these days. We stayed in the hotel Gran Baita; 2 mintues walk from the hotel, lovely hotel and would go back today if I could.
The snow this season is amazing. Locals said it was the best in 30 years. The slopes were pisted daily, so the slopes were pretty perfect most days. Prices on the slopes were only expensive due to the British pound being so weak (1euro=1 pound at the mo). Once it returns, it is a very reasonable resort and much cheaper than some we have experienced in the past.
I would definitely go again and I think if you're debating the idea on going to Sauze, it's definitely worth it. Amazing slopes, lots to do, good food and reasonably priced. Hopefully see you in Sauze soon.
January 08, 2009
RICCARDO from
Italy
RICCARDO from
Italy
I'm Italian from Turin and have a second home in Sauze d'Oulx.
Unfortunately, I agree with many comments about the situation of the lifts. If compared with those near France, of course, some lifts need updating for the apres-ski. Only bars are not enough. I often go to Montgenevre for the same reasons. Keep in mind that other services in France, like food, are very expensive .
But believe me, pistes like Rio Nero, the top of Fraiteve or the 2000 in the middle of the tress are really difficult to find everywhere else.
Sincerely, I think it's very funny complaining about a place according to the English who spend their holidays here. So, take any comment with a right consideration.
January 01, 2009
LESLEY from
Pakistan
LESLEY from
Pakistan
We are loving Sauze d'Oulx. Although there must be over 20 thousand people here for the New Year we have only a couple of times queued at lifts. Ok, maybe there are a couple of old lifts but the skiing is great, food the best and the people friendly and helpful. We are having a great time and will be back more than once this year with all this snow. Sauze d'Oulx is great.
December 22, 2008
Martin from
United Kingdom
Martin from
United Kingdom
Never again...
Just got back from a nightmare trip to Sauze d'Oulx. A group of us went early in the season, they had received a massive amount of snow which got us all excited... until we realised that they hadn't prepared any lifts, any pistes or anything at all.
I've been to about 11 or so ski resorts in Europe and Sauze d'Oulx and the surrounding area is the worst by far.
The snow was amazing but that's as far as it goes. The whole ski areas lift system is the worst designed thing ever, skiing connecting areas is a nightmare and the runs are very limiting. The red runs are more like blues and we couldn't find a single challenging run. The lifts are mostly out of date and very slow.
What lifts and pistes they choose to open close very early and the locals are very rude. The food and drinks prices are disgusting. The town is horrible; badly organised and a little bit of snow and the whole place shuts down. I imagine it's like being in war time Poland. The people running this resort should hold their heads in shame. Do not get a taxi - biggest rip off ever.
I could go on about how bad this place is but all I can say is do not go here, it may be cheap but there is a very good reason for that. Pay slightly more and go somewhere half decent.
All my trips to the French Alps have been far superior to my Italian trips, I will never be going skiing in Italy again.
Read other reviews and see for yourself, especially those written by people who have been to other ski resorts.
March 24, 2008
Jimbo from
Italy
Jimbo from
Italy
Just got from back from Sazue d'Olux, where we had good spring skiing and some powder skiing as well thanks to some snow overnight.
The resort itself...from a skiers perspective:
Many of the lifts are out of date and could do with a serious upgrade or replacement (still..better than the lift in Sestriere which injured 12 people this week....) The single man chair over to Sestriere is.,..character forming ! (it's one of those things you'll laugh about later in life, perhaps). Other lifts are two man, plastic chair affairs and quite slow.
The pistes are not well signed at all and the piste map doesn't include basic information on it, such as where the restaurants are. Most of the runs we did were reds (managed to find one decent black) and were not taxing at all. I think the reds are really blues: nice for blasting down the slopes but not challenging. Beginners will be able to handle most reds with ease after a couple of lessons.
It's an ok ski area I suppose, just badly sign-posted. The link with the Milky Way isn't great - one step up from a tight-rope really.
The restaurants on the mountain are ok. Food is basic but reasonably priced (when compared to France anyway!) but where is the spag bol ?!!!!! It's all paninis and rolls. I expected really good pasta dishes but was disappointed. The Bombardino hot drinks are nice though !
We stayed at Hotel Sauze which was (almost) ski-in / ski-out. The food in the hotel was very good. The rooms good although the one weakness was the bathrooms - they seriously need updating. Very friendly, helpful staff though.
The old town in Sauze makes a pleasant change from the custom made concrete jungles of Val Thorens or Val d'Isere and there are some nice places to eat there as well. There are some typical Brit bars which we avoided.
One place which is is SUPERB to eat at is Chalet Caprincorno, just up the slopes from the main lift out of town. Superb food, reasonably priced (~E15 for a main course) and great atmosphere. In the evenings you have to get there by skido - it costs E10 per person for the trip from near the bottom of the slopes and is well worth it - it's a great way to arrive at a restaurant !
Transfer time of 1 hour from Turin airport was good.
Would I go again ? Maybe..if the snow conditions were really good and I managed to find a good deal. I wouldn't pay more than £400 for a half-board holiday though (including flights) - there are better places to go for that sort of money (or for £50 more).
March 12, 2008
Jose from
United Kingdom
Jose from
United Kingdom
Steve, I totally agree with you. I was ripped off on my first day. Per Baco restaurant!! 8 slices of ham, a leaf of lettuce and 5 olive; 32 Euros. No way José! I said to them to phone the police straight away as I was not going to pay for it. They reduced the bill by 11 Euros....rude locals as well!
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