The skiing season in Livigno with YTC is in full swing – a large number of people have already enjoyed their skiing holiday there, either before Christmas, or over the Christmas and New Year weeks. The skiing season extends right up to Easter, with weekly departures from now till then, so you are still in time to take up the challenge to enjoy a week on the snow.
Snow conditions in Livigno are excellent, following the abundant snowfalls in November. Mariano Galas, YTC's full-time ski director, and Eleonora, YTC's permanent on-site representative, have already assisted most of YTC's guests in Livigno on their first steps on the snow, teaching complete beginners who have never seen snow, how to ski. With proper instruction by YTC, within one week it is possible to teach such beginners to ski, enough to enable them to tackle the easier slopes with confidence.
It is one of the advantages of skiing that beginners can enjoy every minute of their instruction – skiing is such a sport. From Day 1, beginners enjoy their progressive achievements, from managing to walk with their skis on level ground, then up onto the moving carpet that takes them 50 metres up the gentle slope and allows them to ski back down to the bottom, to the slightly more adventurous button lifts and chairlifts. Mariano will slowly build up confidence and ability, such that after six days, beginners will be participating in the end-of-week race, eagerly competing against each other. The transformation of beginners, from being unable to ski on Day 1, to the people racing on Day 6, must be seen to be believed.
It is understood that for some, skiing comes more naturally than for others. Children, for example, take to the snow like ducks take to water. It is with great pleasure and pride that parents can watch their children skiing, very well, down the slopes, and rushing back to the chairlift to ride back up to the top of the slope for another run... and another... and another. And it is not only parents watching their children – several grandparents visit Livigno and happily watch their grandchildren, pride clearly visible on their faces. And as any parent can tell you, if the children are happy, the parents are happy too, and this makes skiing in Livigno a perfect family holiday, as both parents and children can participate in a sport together, and have the holiday of a lifetime, together.
Skiing in Livigno is also the ideal holiday for young and single people. It boasts excellent nightlife, with several bars and pubs, and the excellent Kokodi, which remains open up to 4 pm for those young people who have the energy to ski and then dance the night away. They manage to stay up late in Paceville, and they manage to do it in Livigno too, and then catch up on their sleep when they return back in Malta – at Livigno, it is possible to have jam-packed, 20-hour activity days, sleeping only in the early hours.
Livigno has several other attractions apart from skiing. In fact, if there are members in a group who decide they would not like to ski, there is still plenty to do. YTC organises various activities for its groups, such as sledging when the pistes close, horse riding on the snow, jet-biking, ice-skating, tube sliding. Over and above, it could be possible to fit in a day skiing at or just visiting St Moritz, another day skiing at, or exploring Bormio village, including a visit to the Bormio thermal baths and spa.
If one wishes to take a break from skiing, there are the shops – Livigno is a duty-free zone, which means that there are no excise duties and no VAT. Goods are therefore cheaper than mainland Italy, with excellent bargains to be made on clothing, electronic goods, perfumes and toiletries, alcoholic drinks, and so on – the list is endless, with over 300 shops selling duty free items.
The shopping and excellent après ski and nightlife ensures that Livigno is always throbbing with activity – in this respect it is different from other ski resorts, which wind down at 5 pm when the ski-lifts close, and everyone calls it a day as they go to their hotel to remain there till the following morning. There is always a stream of people in the streets, and this makes a trip to the nearest pub, or a long walk along the village after dinner, a pleasure.
YTC has been taking its guests to Livigno for the past 12 years, and each year it improves on the service it offers – simply ask anyone who has skied with them. So, if you are thinking of taking your first skiing holiday, give them a call, and Stellina will meet and explain all about Livigno, and show you photos and DVDs of the skiing. And if you have already been to Livigno with them, then you know what awaits you there, so have something to look forward to this winter, and give us a call.
For further information and a free copy of YTC's ski and snowboard brochure contact Stellina at YTC on 21421464, 21414340 or 99420377. You can also email [email protected] or visit the website www.ytctravel.org