Just back from a fabulous week's ski holiday. First time in the Dolomites; we have been used to Three Valleys and Porte Du Soleil in France. This is another huge 'linked' ski area with something for everyone (over 110 miles skied in 6 days). The geology means that the mountain panoramas were breathtakingly different and more wild west Colorado than Alps.

In a low snow winter, the quality of pistes were outstanding; snow-making capabilities are famously good here.

Particular favourites were over Dante Cepies into Colfosco and then up over Corvara. The big sunny motorway pistes down into St. Cristina were also a lot of fun. Lifts were generally excellent, but queues on key Sella Ronda lifts were horrific. However, given it was UK school half-term, most slopes were generally not too busy (Sella Ronda excepted). French half-term overlaps with UK, meaning French resorts are jammed during this week.

Sella Ronda tour was fine, but more as an introduction to the area, to identify areas to return to, and ski more comprehensively.

We did a Crystal day tour over to 'The Hidden Valley' We started with some ski-ing in Cinque Torri area (Cliffhanger filmed here) before moving over to a vertical tele-cabine up to La Gazuoi. The Fanes range, to the right of the run is majestic. The valley walls to the left are smaller and scattered with frozen waterfalls. The run twists and turns for 7 km, creating a mysterious, secret ambience. At the bottom of the trail, you have the option of taking the horse drag, a great experience, where you hold on to ropes pulled by a pair of horses as they take you along the flat frozen river bed to the next lift.

Food and drink are all very reasonable, cost-wise, compared to Meribel, Courcheval etc. The whole area feels incredibly Austrian, although pizza and pasta are always high quality. As others have said, Luis Kellar was lively, but euro-apres-ski-pop was irritating after not too long.

Best bar, in Selva, by far (avoiding 'Stars on 45' apres-trash) was Goalies further down the main road. They have the coolest Rock playlist, and a friendly atmosphere. Run by ex-ice hockey Goalies, Alex (dad) and Andreas (son). We stayed in Hotel Pineta, in Selva; very reasonable 3*, clean, good food.

All in all, just a fantastic area, and one to which we will definitely be returning.