And besides the Alps Italy features another jewel - the Dolomites with loved by movie makers Cortina d'Ampezzo, or, favourited by Michael Schumacher, Madonna di Campiglio.
While many of areas enjoy the expected snow for most of the year, there are the places, where the unpredicted weather can bring the snow of plenty, or winds and warmer temperatures at the beginning or the end of the winter season.
In most of the cases the prediction is good, but as noone can guarantee the perfect snow conditions,the hotels and owners of ski lifts agreed to make a promotion called 'Free Ski'.
During the opening or closing weeks the tourists, who book the rooms at the hotel can enjoy a free lift ticket( skipass ) valid for all lifts in the resort. The costs of ski pass is shared between the hotels and ski lifts to attract more visitors at the first days of the season.
This 'free ski' promotion is typical to the area of Dolomiti Adamello-Brenta with Madonna di Campiglio and Passo Tonale, and in Alta Valtellina, especially resort of Livigno. Similar promotion is introduced in olympic Sestriere.
Some other ski resorts follow this concept, but on the lower scale, there some reduction in ticket prices in various resorts of Dolomites, like Alta Badia. Anyway, while planning yor winter holidays in Italy, check the current promotions, you may find unexpected bargain here.
