Italian Dolomites ski holidays

The Italian Dolomites are known for the Dolomites Superski area which links a number of resorts together into one huge area for skiers and snowboarders. Add in great value for money and a relaxed family-orientated atmosphere, and ski holidays in the Dolomites are set to be a winner.

The region caters for beginners, intermediates and advanced, with a huge number of runs, plus board parks for snow adventures and fun.

In the east of the northern region of Italy is the Dolomites area on the southerly slopes of the Alps, often forgotten by those who head to the superstar locations in France, Austria and Switzerland.

However, if you choose to head to Italy you will be rewarded with a great winter sports holiday, whether you are on skis or your board.

The Dolomites Superski area includes the resorts of Selva Val Gardena, Corvara, Arabba, Canazei and Val di Fassa. While many of the resorts are not connected, they offer more than 1,200km of ski runs which can be explored with just one ski pass.

And this ski area is the largest of its kind in Europe, giving you more choice than many other areas of the Alps and Pyrenees. The resorts work well for all types of ski and snowboard ability and there are plenty of areas for freestyle and snow parks, all pretty much south facing, giving you sunshine filled slopes when there is no cloud cover.

When not exploring the slopes on your skis or board or topping up your tan in the sun, there are plenty of other activities to keep you entertained, from skating and sledging to mountain walking and snow-shoeing.

Après-ski is pretty decent, with plenty of Italian trattorias, pizzerias, bars and nightclubs, and families are readily encouraged and accepted throughout the area. Kids clubs and crèches abound.

Accommodation tends to be hotel or self-catering based, although you will also find chalets. However, the chalets are not run in quite the same way as other European countries and tend to be less formal and easier going in how they are run.

Hospitality is highly rated in the hotels and standards are good. Winter holidays in the Dolomites are considered by many as great value for money overall.

With a huge number of resorts to pick from, we've highlighted the most popular for ski and snowboard holidays in the Italian Dolomites region.

Here are the main resorts we feature in the Italian Dolomites, with handy guides to help you select the right destination. Not only do we give you an overview of the resort, but we rate each one out of 10 for:

• Suitability for beginners, intermediates and advanced skiers and snowboarders

• Après-ski

• Non-skiers

• Cost of living

• Attractiveness of the resort