Sauze d'Oulx

Close to Turin and long popular with Brits, Sauze d'Oulx is a lively Italian resort bordering France. One Via Lattea pass gives you access to Sansicario and Sestrière as well as Clavière and Montgenèvre - what a bumper bundle! It's perfect for intermediates with something to offer for beginners and experts too - oh and snowboarders will have an excellent time here.

Beginners should try the nursery area at Sportinia and progress to a slightly steeper slope at village level. But it's intermediates who really revel in Sauze d'Oulx with seemingly endless supplies of well-groomed reds to cruise and schmooze along - the imaginatively-named Red 11 is always popular as are the runs down to Jouvenceaux, which can really convince you that you're an ace skier. Above Sansicario, there are some great little runs including the Olympic Women's Downhill, described as 'amiable' which kind of goes against preconceptions, and the super-duper Red 71.

Experts - head off-piste or try the narrow Malafosse run - and as for boarders, you will enjoy wide and well-groomed runs and loads of off-piste opportunities.

Apres-Ski in Sauze d'Oulx

The long-time popularity of Sauze d'Oulx means that it's well set up with restaurants catering for every taste and budget. La Griglia does the most excellent pizzas; try Sugo's for pasta, Paddy McGinty's for steak or Del Falco for a bit of a gourmet extravaganza.

For post-ski drinks, the Grotta prices are way below those in Britain, Max's has a 'four-hour happy hour' which is something of a naming blunder but quite appealing nonetheless; try Scacco Matto for cocktails and Osteria dei Vagabondi for late-night partying with live music.

Off the slopes activities include spa treatments, snowshoeing, a fun-filled sports hall, ice skating, an Olympic bobsleigh run and excursions to Turin and Briançon

Go Sauze d'Oulx! You'll have a terrific time and GetSkiing will be delighted to take you there.

Gary's Little Gems in Sauze d'Oulx

Part of the Milky Way ski area, you can ski to Sestrière, Montgenèvre and Sansicario. The skiing is ideally suited to beginners and intermediates who appreciate good night life at value for money prices. The local ski school is excellent and the beginners' slopes in the Sportinia area are ideal to learn. The Winter Olympics in 2006 were hosted by this region so there is skiing for all levels of ski ability and an excellent lift system.