What is it that makes skiing in Italy’s Dolomites so superior to the rest of the Alps, if not the world? Skiers around the world are discovering what Europeans have known for generations: the Dolomites offer something fundamentally different when it comes to skiing in the Alps. Below we’ve listed four factors that set Dolomites ski experiences apart, including why 3 Zinnen Dolomites is the ski resort often copied but never matched.
This story was created in partnership with 3 Zinnen Dolomites.
Skiing in Italy is cheaper than skiing in the US.
Let’s start with the obvious: yes, flights to Europe might be slightly more expensive than domestic air travel for Americans. However, consider that a five-day, unlimited-use lift ticket at the 3 Zinnen Dolomites costs less than $120 (€100) for adults. Meanwhile, a single day pass at major ski resorts in the US may run $200 (€172) or more.
Beyond flights, compare accommodation costs. Due to the volume of lodging options in the Dolomites, prices are frequently more competitive. Unlike the States, where one resort indicates one on-site property which often controls the whole area, the Dolomites does things differently. Here, a ski resort refers to the entire ski area, and within the resort area, there may be many dozens of independently-operated hotels, huts, and other lodging options. [Read on for more about how this lodging setup impacts your experience.] As a result, you can access dozens of non-monopolized skiable areas while staying in an accommodation that matches your price point.
Here are two more factors that add to your savings. One: Many accommodations serve meals far and above your average cafeteria-style dining rooms with multi-course menus. Two: you don’t need to rent a car (more on that in the next section, too). See how a ski trip to the 3 Zinnen Dolomites quickly becomes a more affordable ski trip?
Ski resort infrastructure in the Dolomites is just better.
You’ve seen the videos of bumper-to-bumper traffic of ski-strapped vehicles trying to access the mountains on busy winter weekends. Here in the Dolomites, you’re meant to spend as much time on the mountain and as little in the car as possible. That’s why there’s significant investment in reliable, efficient public transport options.
Those affordable lift tickets we mentioned before? Part of what makes them so valuable is that they’re good for multiple gondolas along an interconnected network, eliminating the need for a car to hop between mountains. When mountains are made easy to access, crowds disperse, wait times decrease, and skiers and mountaineers can enjoy a range of experiences. Easy trail access to mountain huts scattered throughout the area also ensures you’re never far from your next hot meal.
Mountain Experiences are Family-Owned & Oriented.
Family is the focal point of the Dolomites experience in a multitude of ways. But first: don’t confuse family-friendly with juvenile. While it’s less likely that hordes of rowdy youth will bomb down the runs here, kids can still easily stay engaged for a full day on the mountain. Let their inner explorers come to life in the maze of interwoven trails and passes! And if they do need a break from the ski boots, toboggan rentals offer an exhilarating alternative.
No kids? No worries. You won’t feel like an intruder at a winter theme park. Just don’t be surprised when the 20-somethings aren’t the only ones letting loose at the après party. In the Dolomites, groups of friends, retired singles, honeymooners, and extended families make up an eclectic mix of international travelers who enhance the experience, rather than encroach on each other.
Another unique attribute of the 3 Zinnen Dolomites ski resort is that family-owned properties are the standard, not the exception. Many of the area’s sleekest hotels, most highly-rated mountain huts, and unique farm stay experiences are family-run establishments. Unlike corporate-funded McMansion holiday housing developments, you get true local touchpoints and support local businesses with your stay.
This Alpine culture is what other ski resorts Copy.
Oscar Wilde once said, “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay greatness.” People often forget about the second part of the famous phrase, but it’s an important distinction. After all, why settle for a replica when you can have the authentic? The original? When it comes to Alpine charm, the Dolomites are the real deal. And at 3 Zinnen Dolomites, the atmosphere isn’t crafted and the architecture isn’t curated. It’s simply just the local way.
That local way includes ancient traditions rooted in the Indigenous Rhaeto people who have inhabited the Dolomites for over a millenia. Their language and culture, called Ladin, endure as a living history of this native European tribe. Their customs, passed down through generations, made the Dolomites a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2009. Influences from native Ladins, as well as Germany, Italy, and Austria create a stunning multi-cultural blend of flavors, vernacular, and practices in the Dolomites. Warm hospitality and a deep reverence for the surrounding landscape literally run through the veins of the locals you’ll encounter. That’s the kind of magic you can’t recreate elsewhere.
At 3 Zinnen Dolomites, skiing in the Alps is affordable, family-friendly, hyper local, and culturally-enriching. What more could you ask for?
