Italy

Italy - Bella Italia, the Bel Paese - is a country of extremes, with something to offer every visitor: from snow-iced mountains to hot lazy Mediterranean beaches, from unspoilt hill villages to cities that have bustled for thousands of years.

Italy is a dream destination for city breaks, with three of the world's most beautiful cities. Rome, where antiquities bask in the sunshine in a colourful and lively metropolis, Florence, thought by many to be the art capital of the world, and unique Venice. Those in search of culture or vibrant modernity may prefer the charms of fashionable Milan or stately Turin, while the intrepid can dive into the colourful chaos of historic Naples.

Skiing in Italy was traditionally considered to be the cheap option for those wanting a ski holiday in the Alps. This does not mean, however, that Italian ski resorts are in any way inferior. Italy’s ski resorts span some of the world’s great domains, with the SuperDolomiti region and the Milky Way offering hundreds of kilometres of lift-linked slopes.

Facilities are improving but, compared to other countries, the infrastructure still needs updating in places.

Italians see skiing as a friendly and relaxed affair, involving eating, drinking and sunbathing. Add to that stylish and sophisticated nightlife as city folk flood in for the weekends and a ski holiday in Italy has it’s own charm and pace. Just be warned. Childcare is not up to the standards met elsewhere, as granny usually comes along to look after the kids.