Most people jump to the more well-known resorts for a seasonal holiday but branching out to new places is what makes the week even more exciting. If you’re taking advantage of the school holidays to whisk your family to the mountains, newbies or near-beginners will find the Alta Badia area has lots to offer in terms of blue piste, progressive slopes and hot chocolate stops. As a peak time of year, the Sella Ronda can get a bit busy but that just gives you another reason to get the Dolomite Superski Pass. You’ll be able to explore over towards Lagazuoi to find the hidden valley which is quite a fun route - when you get to the bottom it gets a bit flat but there are horses waiting to tow you back to the main pistes. There’s plenty of opportunity for a snow-related New Year’s resolution too, with the giant slalom run used annually in the world cup from Piz La Ila.
Corvara isn’t the resort for a huge après ski scene but pubs like Veneranda Keller and Grillkeller Adler certainly put some life in the party. Hotel La Perla is central to the après here and as well as the usual Go-Go girl evening held in their L’Murin club - previous years have also held a New Year’s party to remember! Piz Arlara, accessible via a chairlift out of the village, has been known to put on a rather fun event with dinner included... As it’s up on the slopes you’ll also be in prime position to watch the fireworks that usually go off above the resort; now that’s a photograph. Most people tend to gather up a slope just outside the town as seeing the fireworks over the lights of the alpine buildings makes for a special view. The ski schools have also previously done a show of torch lit descents with paragliding displays overhead.