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🏝️ Ultimate Guide to Lake Como: Western Shore Gems & Family-Focused Delights

View of Lago di Como. Photo: The-Ski-Guru. Ultimate Guide to Lake Como: Western Shore Gems & Family-Focused Delights.

Welcome to the ultimate guide to Lake Como—perfect for families, teenagers, and anyone craving elegant hillside vistas, lively villages, and luxurious stays. Focused on the western shore (with highlights in Bellagio and Como City), here’s how to get there, where to stay, what to see, and where to dine.

This article may contain affiliate/compensated links. For full information, please see our disclaimer here.

The lake from my room at Hotel Asnigo in Moltrasio. Photo: The-Ski-Guru. Ultimate Guide to Lake Como.
The lake from my room at Hotel Asnigo in Moltrasio. Photo: The-Ski-Guru. Ultimate Guide to Lake Como.

🚗 How to Get There

Night view from Moltrasio. Photo: The-Ski-Guru.
Night view from Moltrasio. Photo: The-Ski-Guru.

By Car

  • From Milan (Malpensa/Linate/Bergamo), it’s ~50 minutes to Como City, and 20–30 minutes more to Tremezzo or Lenno.
  • Roads are scenic but narrow; ferry crossings (like Cadenabbia to Bellagio) save time in peak season.

By Train

  • Direct trains from Milan to Como San Giovanni or Varenna-Esino.
  • From Varenna, walk to the ferry terminal and cross to Bellagio or Menaggio.

You can book via Rail Europe here.

By Boat

  • Ferries and hydrofoils connect all major towns: Como, Bellagio, Tremezzo, Menaggio, Varenna, Lenno.
  • Car ferries run from Cadenabbia to Bellagio and Varenna.
One of the boats seen from the pool where we were staying once in Moltrasio. Photo: The-Ski-Guru. Ultimate Guide to Lake Como.
One of the boats seen from the pool where we were staying once in Moltrasio. Photo: The-Ski-Guru. Ultimate Guide to Lake Como.

Continue reading “🏝️ Ultimate Guide to Lake Como: Western Shore Gems & Family-Focused Delights”

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Big Changes Coming to Pila – and Summer Season Kicks Off June 21st!

Construction in Pila

Big changes are coming to Pila, you can see the works taking place if you visit this coming summer season that kicks off on June 21st!

Exciting things are happening in Pila! Work is moving quickly at the arrival station of the Aosta–Pila cable car. The area is being transformed with a brand-new connecting station that will feature a shopping zone, lift ticket offices, and space for the ski school. Even more exciting: the new cable car extension from Pila 1800 to the base of Couis 1 is underway, creating a seamless link all the way to the top of the mountain.

Biking season will start in Pila on June 21st. Photo: Pila Ski Resort.
Biking season will start in Pila on June 21st. Photo: Pila Ski Resort. Big Changes Coming to Pila – and Summer Season Kicks Off June 21st!

Up on the slopes, construction is also happening at the top of the Chamolé lift, where a brand-new rifugio will open in time for the 2025–26 winter season. It replaces the beloved old “La Baraka” and will offer skiers and visitors a fresh new place to relax. And for food lovers – a new star-shaped panoramic restaurant is also in the works, set to open for the same winter season.

Continue reading “Big Changes Coming to Pila – and Summer Season Kicks Off June 21st!”

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Flash Visit to Bolzano, the capital of Sudtirol

View of Bolzano from the room where I was giving my workshop to the people of IDM Sudtirol. Photo: The-Ski-Guru

I had the chance to come for a flash visit of three days for work to Bolzano, the capital of Sudtirol. This is the northernmost province of Italy and home of the Dolomite mountains.

View from the St Osvaldo promenade in Bolzano. Photo: The-Ski-Guru
View from the St Osvaldo promenade in Bolzano. Photo: The-Ski-Guru

This article may contain affiliate/compensated links. For full information, please see our disclaimer here.

Sudtirol is the northern part of the Trentino-Alto Adige region, bordering the Austrian’s Tirol, is Sudtirol (or Alto-Adige) whereas the southern part is Trentino. Sudtirol is more Germanic than Italian but still keeps its Italian roots.

What you notice at first glance is that everything is super manicured, all the buildings with its enamel-painted cupolas, the perfect flowers on the windows, and everywhere you look at is pretty. Signage is first in German and then in Italian, and the locals are fluent in pretty every language, it makes you feel a bit of a brute. My German is all forgotten, as I only had basic German in my primary school, that is many moons ago. Plus, I never practiced it again.

Beautiful cupolas in Bolzano. Photo: The-Ski-Guru
Beautiful cupolas in Bolzano. Photo: The-Ski-Guru

Between Italian and English, I could get along. If you only speak English, you’ll be fine, people tend to know English here.

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Foot Foundation can help you have happy feet (and ankles, knees, hips and backs!)

Measuring feet, one at a time, at Foot Foundation. Photo courtesy: Foot Foundation.

As I am going to Aspen next week, I have arranged a meeting with Foot Foundation. Eric Ward, its’ founder, is the husband of a dear friend of mine (Agustina Casal) and he has launched this endeavour when I used to live in Aspen in the year 2,000.

Having had problems with my right foot and ankle for years, this is something I should have done years ago, as from all the reviews I hear from Foot Foundation, it can help you have happy feet (and ankles, knees, hips and backs), which is what I am looking for.

The Severity of Pronation. Courtesy of Foot Foundation. I wonder where I am? I am assuming my right one is severe!
The Severity of Pronation. Courtesy of Foot Foundation. I wonder where I am? I am assuming my right one is severe!

Continue reading “Foot Foundation can help you have happy feet (and ankles, knees, hips and backs!)”

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Is Vail Ruining the Skiing Experience? A new short documentary thinks so.

Is Vail Ruining the Skiing Experience? A new short documentary thinks so. Photo: Jack Affleck/Vail Resorts.

I have just seen a short documentary talking about Vail ruining the skiing experience. It is something I have asked myself many times. Now the industry in the US is divided in a duopoly- carried by Vail Resorts with its Epic Pass and Alterra with its IKON pass.

On one hand, if you are an avid skier, these passes are great, as it will result in cheaper rates, and you can ski a lot in lot of different areas. Compared to purchasing a season pass in one resort, this gives you variety.

The View from Aspen Highlands. Soft Pastels on La Carte Pastel. 100 cm x 35 cm (40" x 14") for sale in my shop here.
The View from Aspen Highlands. Soft Pastels on La Carte Pastel. 100 cm x 35 cm (40″ x 14″) for sale in my shop here.

On the other hand, if you are an occasional skier, the daily ski pass lift rates prices you out, unless you are wealthy. More if you take for first time your family to start skiing, where you need to rent equipment and take ski lessons for all. That is über expensive. I want to imagine that resorts have in place programmes to initiate to ski with some free lifts and an “entry rate” so you can try it and not mortgage your house for doing so!

At least in our local resort in Italy, (Pila), you have a couple of lifts that are free, and you just book a lesson and rent skis or snowboard and can have your first steps pretty cheap. And this is the norm in many other resorts in Europe I’ve been at.

Continue reading “Is Vail Ruining the Skiing Experience? A new short documentary thinks so.”

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My Painting of GB Champion Telemarker Jasmin Taylor was given to her longtime sponsor Leggett Immobilier

GB Telemark Champion Jasmin Taylor skiing in Carezza. A painting by Martina Diez-Routh. Win your commission registering to my newsletter here.

My painting featuring GB Champion Telemarker Jasmin Taylor was given as a gift to her longtime sponsor Leggett Immobilier during the Telemark World Cup in Les Contamines-Montjoie. Jasmin got the bronze medal in this occasion, making her fifth career World Championships podium.

I did the painting based on a racing picture of her taken by photographer Josef Obexer in Carezza Dolomites resort.

Jaz Taylor giving her painting to her long-time sponsor Leggett Immobilier at the Telemark World Cup in Les Contamines-Montjoie. Photo courtesy Jaz Taylor.
Jaz Taylor giving her painting to her long-time sponsor Leggett Immobilier at the Telemark World Cup in Les Contamines-Montjoie. Photo courtesy Jaz Taylor.

The painting will finish decorating the walls of Leggett Immobilier in their Paris office.

I really enjoy doing this commission. It is always nerve-racking as you want the client to be happy with the result! You finish relaxing once you know the client is happy!

If interested in a commission, reach out through this link.

GB Telemark Champion Jasmin (JAZ) Taylor racing in Carezza. Photo courtesy of Josef Obexer Photo/Jaz Taylor.
GB Telemark Champion Jasmin (JAZ) Taylor racing in Carezza. Photo courtesy of Josef Obexer Photo/Jaz Taylor.

Start planning your next trip!

 

If looking to stay in the heart of the Mont Blanc Valley in the Aosta Valley, check the direct booking for Il Coure della Valdigne here. This is our own family home in the mountains, that I am renting out when not using.

Il Cuore della Valdigne. Stay at the Heart of the Valdigne to ski in Courmayeur, La Thuile and Pila/Aosta.

Il Cuore della Valdigne. Book your lodging directly with me here.Il Cuore della Valdigne. Stay at the Heart of the Valdigne to ski in Courmayeur, La Thuile and Pila/Aosta.

If you prefer, you can also book my apartment through Booking.com

Booking might be cheaper if you have Genius status!

Check my Mountain Art on my Shop

You can go to my shop and see what have been inspiring me lately, lots mountain landscapes in soft pastels, and now in oils too. Go here to check my latest works!

Check my mountain art in my shop here.
Check my mountain art in my shop here.

If interested in me doing a special commission for you, let’s talk!

Needing help to get contacts in the ski tourism business– I am offering new consulting services- contact me here.

Featured Image: GB Telemark Champion Jasmin Taylor skiing in Carezza. A painting by Martina Diez-Routh. 

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My Mountain Art featured in the newsletter of Expo Ski in Brazil.

My Mountain Art has been featured on the Expo Ski Newsletter.

My mountain art was featured in this week’s newsletter of Expo Ski, the Brazilian ski tourism show for Brazilian consumers and tour operators that is held annually in September in Sao Paulo.

Happy to have my art offered to Brazilian clients, from commissions to finished artwork shipped to destination.

The View from Aspen Highlands towards Pyramid Peak & the Maroon Bells. 100 x 35 cm (40"x14" approximately). Check it out in my shop here.
The View from Aspen Highlands towards Pyramid Peak & the Maroon Bells. 100 x 35 cm (40″x14″ approximately). Check it out in my shop here.

You can read the post here.

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New train from London to Geneva & Zurich planned for 2030.

Book your Eurostar Ski Train as soon as it goes on sale on Wednesday 17th July 2019

Good news for all of those who love going in train from London to Europe. By 2030, there is a project to have a new train going from London St Pancras to Geneva and Zurich by Swiss Federal Railways.

This project has also the agreement of the British train station and the Getlink group, managers of the Channel Tunnel.

Swiss Railways will have to adapt some of their stations to accommodate these new passengers.

Continue reading “New train from London to Geneva & Zurich planned for 2030.”

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Practical Tips for Planning Your Ski Trip

When to go skiing to avoid ski school holidays in Europe. Photo: The-Ski-Guru @ Pila.

Here I am stating some different tips you can have in mind to planning your ski trip, so it is a success.

Going on the Eurotunnel is a great way to get fast into the continent from the UK. Photo: The-Ski-Guru.
Going on the Eurotunnel is a great way to get fast into the continent from the UK. Photo: The-Ski-Guru.
  1. **Plan Ahead**. Practical Tips for Planning your Ski Trip.

– Book flights and accommodation several months in advance. Prices are usually lower and you can be sure of availability, especially in high season. You can check rates on Booking.com which usually is pretty good. They have also rental cards, flights, transfers and activities. Just go to Booking and check it out.

– Look for packages that include accommodation, ski passes and rental equipment. These are sometimes cheaper than booking everything separately. There are lots of great ski tour operators. It is best to use one in your country if you want to book air through them. If you book air on your own, you can use any bed bank to plan your travel. Just check that the tour operator is accredited through the local entity, such as ASTA, ABTA, etc. You want them to be bonded should anything happens that the company goes bust, and at least the government takes care of what you’ve paid.

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Indy Pass adds six new ski resorts, including Pila in the Aosta Valley and Ski Corralco in Chile.

Ski Burke, photo Indy Pass. Indy announces six new resorts including Pila in the Aosta Valley and Ski Corralco in Chile.
Indy Pass announced today that 25/26 Indy Passes will go on sale to the general public on March 1, while supplies last, along with a 250 Resort Guarantee for the next winter season. Returning passholders have been invited to renew early for the lowest price of the year, starting at $299 for the Adult Base Pass.
Baqueira Beret is also on the Indy Pass. Photo: Baqueira Beret/Indy Pass. Indy Pass adds six new ski resorts including Pila in the Aosta Valley and Ski Corralco in Chile.
Baqueira Beret is also on the Indy Pass. Photo: Baqueira Beret/Indy Pass. Indy Pass adds six new ski resorts including Pila in the Aosta Valley and Ski Corralco in Chile.
Indy Pass announced the addition of five new ski areas for the 25/26 pass, including Burke Mountain, VT; Tenney Mountain, NH; Corralco Mountain Resort, Chile; Rauriser-Hochalmbahnen, Austria; Pila, Italy, and Mt. Washington XC, BC, Canada. Skiers and snowboarders with a 25/26 Indy Pass can extend their season into the summer by skiing at Corralco — Indy’s first addition to the Southern Hemisphere.
Pila is included on the Indy pass. Photo: The-Ski-Guru.
Pila is included on the Indy pass. Photo: The-Ski-Guru.

Continue reading “Indy Pass adds six new ski resorts, including Pila in the Aosta Valley and Ski Corralco in Chile.”