Holidu, one of the best-known European holiday home and apartment booking portals, has compiled a ranking of the 40 destinations most loved by Italians with prices ranging from €68 in Etna Nord to €258 in Cortina d’Ampezzo.

Not just the Alps but also central and southern Italy

In the top five are Roccaraso - Rivisondoli and Merano. The Aosta Valley town of Courmayeur comes in sixth place ahead of the South Tyrolean Corvara in Badia, Cortina d’Ampezzo is eighth, and Pinzolo and Folgaria/Fiorentini close the top 10.  The most popular Italian region is Trentino-Alto Adige with five resorts in the top ten: Madonna di Campiglio in third place, Merano in fifth place, Alta Badia in seventh place, Pinzolo in ninth and Folgaria/Fiorentini in tenth. Lombardy follows with four locations in the ranking: in addition to Livigno and Bormio in first and second place, Madesimo is in 12th position and Valmalenco – Alpe Palù is 20th.

The most expensive and cheapest ski resorts  

Between expensive equipment, ski passes and accommodation, skiing holidays can be quite pricey. For example, with the prices of a ski pass and accommodation combined, Cortina d'Ampezzo has as an average price of €258 per day and Courmayeur €183.

Despite these high prices there is a wide choice of resorts with an average price of less than €100 while in Holidu's ranking there are two locations where the average price per day is under €70: Mottarone in Piedmont at €69, and Etna Nord at €68.

Read the complete ranking and the average price of accommodation and ski passes in the high and low seasons.

While waiting for the new edition to start again in March, Sicilian Secrets is offering a series of special winter departures of its tours in December and at the end of January.

“A balanced blend of art, food, wine, and traditions”

“We are convinced that this product with its balanced blend of art, food, wine, and traditions is also well suited to particular times of the year,- says Julian Zappalà general manager Dimensione Sicilia. - With the winter itineraries, one can enjoy the evocative atmosphere of early December and the final days of the year discovering enchanting Caltagirone with its nativity scenes. And in February the feast of Saint Agatha, patron saint of the city of Catania, is recognized as one of the most important Christian festivals in terms of the number visitors.”

Quality services and highly professional guides

“Our winter departures have itineraries with different durations, from 8 to 4 days, and the usual highlights are guaranteed: a warm welcome and quality services, highly professional guides, 4-star hotels in city centres and excellent food and wine experiences."

For information: https://www.dimensionesicilia.com

Veneto’s Tre Cime Dolomiti Tourist Consortium has sun and snow experiences in the Belluno Dolomites, like the Full Moon Festival in January to and February. 

A night of magic with a full moon and many snow activities

On the Saturday preceding the brightest night of each month, a variety of activities can be enjoyed in the snow under the moonlight. The Full Moon Festival starts with a sunset aperitif by the fire with mulled wine and typical sweets from the Belluno Dolomites. Followed by the Full Moon Dish and special activities ranging from snowshoe ascents with an alpine guide, to sled descents from the Auronzo refuge on the Tre Cime di Lavaredo. There's also cross-country skiing on the Loita slope and ski mountaineering on the Col De Varda slope. The Full Moon Festival this winter will take place on Saturday 27 January and Saturday 24 February 2024.

A natural paradise far from the crowds

The Tre Cime Dolomiti Tourist Consortium's territory offers well-marked paths that can be explored using boots or with snowshoes. The most inviting and scenic routes are those leading to a refuge, like the walk that leads to the Rifugio Col De Varda. This is not the mountains of big hotel chains, crowded slopes, and large crowds, but a natural paradise offering a sense of personal space and the right pace: a place to savour hospitality and authenticity for rejuvenating holidays.

The Travel Open Day Hospitality event was held recently in Ostia, on the Roman coast.

“We are focusing on sports tourism with large events”

During the event we spoke with Antonio Caliendo, councillor for productive activities and tourism of the Municipality of Rome.

“I’d like to express my gratitude to all those who made this possible, bringing the Travel Open Day Hospitality event to Ostia. I see this event as the first official step towards boosting hospitality on the sea near Rome. The Eternal City is one of the few capitals that has the sea, and it can be enjoyed not only during the summer season but throughout the year. We are working on this, organizing events that can attract visitors, and focussing on sports tourism with large events. We recently concluded a stage of the World Skate Championships which we will organize again next year.” 

The Ostia Antica Portus is the largest Roman site in the world

“Sport and culture go hand in hand. We are fortunate to have the judo, karate, and martial arts federation that works year-round with important events. Furthermore, we have the federation centre of the Naval League, which hosts a series of championships, from windsurfing to sailing. Then there is also the cultural aspect, and we promote our archaeological sites like Ostia Antica Portus, which is the largest Roman site in the world. For the archaeological park we are promoting a comprehensive events programme.”

“We want to attract more tourists during the 2025 Jubilee”

“We also have the village of Ostia Antica dating back to the early Middle Ages, with the castle of Julius II and Michelangelo's Tower. We are promoting all this, also in light of the 2025 Jubilee; we want to attract more tourists towards areas that are not just the center of Rome. We are talking with Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi about creating a system of religious itineraries like the Path of Saint Augustine, and of course the food and wine sector will also support these initiatives.”

The recently restored, newly inaugurated Quintino Sella air-raid shelter, is now open in La Spezia, and is part of the La Spezia Forte project.

Exploring La Spezia from the 14th to the 20th century

The shelter is part of the larger La Spezia Forte project, which has already revitalized the Mura and Rimembranze parks and the Valdilocchi battery. The shelter, which is now open to the public, is a captivating multimedia itinerary as visitors embark on a historical journey, discovering the rich heritage of La Spezia from the 14th to the 20th century.  

An itinerary followed by an immersive experience  

The gripping historical account culminates in the recounting of the harrowing events of the Second World War. The itinerary concludes with the sound of an anti-aircraft siren, setting the stage for the installation titled Sotto le bombe – La Spezia 18 aprile 1943 (Under the Bombs - La Spezia, April 18, 1943). The experience becomes fully immersive as voices and flickering lights recreate the atmosphere leading up to the most severe bombing La Spezia ever had to endure.

Open to the public from 11am to 7 pm

 “We are returning to the citizens and giving tourists a piece of La Spezia's history,- says La Spezia’s mayor Pierluigi Peracchini. - The former Quintino Sella shelter allows us to understand and delve into our history and keep alive memories of the tragic episode that left a lasting mark on our city.” The Quintino Sella shelter, which is part of the La Spezia Forte project,  is open to the public from 11am to 7pm.   

The Visit Zoncolan business network promotes the Italian Friuli Venezia Giulia region’s Carnic Alps.

Promoting slow tourism and unforgettable experiences

Enhancing, promoting and developing slow tourism in partnership with local businesses, to give tourists, but also locals, unforgettable experiences. This is the mission of the Visit Zoncolan business network: a consortium established in 2019 which operates in the area around the Carnic Alps, in Friuli Venezia Giulia, and involves the municipalities of Comeglians, Ovaro, Paluzza, Ravascletto, Sutrio and Treppo-Ligosullo.

The network members are major local players 

The objective is to support tourism, the local economy and the traditions of the area. Hotels, scattered hotels, agritourisms, campsites, restaurants, inns, farms and craft businesses, shops, and local producers all work together. They offer complete tourist packages promoting the Zoncolan area as an ideal destination for lovers of nature, open-air sports, history, culture, traditions and food and wine.

“We offer integrated services to visitors”

"Our main aim is to promote sustainable and quality tourism, which respects the environment and contributes to the economic and social development of the local community,- says president Silvio Ortis. -The collaboration between the member companies makes it possible to offer integrated services to visitors, while guaranteeing a mutual benefit for the companies themselves.”

A monthly calendar of activities

Through the network it is possible to book stays in hotels, taste local cuisine in affiliated restaurants, participate in guided excursions and sports activities and purchase typical local products. The hikes are planned together with a series of activities for adults and children according to a monthly calendar, but can also be requested individually or for small groups. "We are very satisfied with the feedback we received last summer,- adds Ortis. -We registered a lot of interest and a growing desire for engaging experiences in nature, both from families and slow tourism enthusiasts."

The 5-star Montana Lodge & Spa in La Thuile and the 5-star Grand Hotel Courmayeur Mont Blanc have opened: a double new entry for the R Collection Hotels group. 

Two Italian restaurants and the Erre Spa

Acquired under management, the Montana has 55 rooms and contemporary design with innovative materials and traditional Valdostan touches. There are also two Italian restaurants: the Alpine Bistrot and the Ottavio Lounge. In addition there is a wine cellar with 300 labels and the Erre Spa with an indoor heated swimming pool, outdoor whirlpool, sauna, turnaround bath, vitarium, private spa area and gym. 

Montana Lodge & Spa

Four properties on Lake Como and three in Milan

The Grand Hotel Courmayeur has 72 rooms and two restaurants: the La Fourchette and the Equinox lounge bar on the terrace overlooking Mont Blanc as well as the Erre Spa, a 500-sqm wellness area. With these two new entries, the R Collection brand now has ten properties. Four are on Lake Como (three already operational and one in the pipeline with an opening scheduled for 2025), one on the Portofino Coast on the Ligurian Riviera, and three in Milan.

Baia Holiday is proposing a series of city breaks in Rome, Venice and the Gulf of Trieste. 

Winter camping holidays in close to the Eternal City

Camping holidays, even in winter, are a solution in close contact with nature and the excellent services and comforts of Baia Holiday facilities make them perfect for a weekend or a multi-day holiday just a stone's throw from art cities like Rome, Venice and Trieste. Camping Village Roma Capitol in Ostia Antica is the ideal choice for those who want to explore the uniqueness of Rome. Located in the protected reserve of the Castel Fusano Pine Forest it is also perfect for exploring historical-archaeological heritage sites like the excavations of Ostia Antica and the Imperial Ports of Claudius and Trajan. With the added value that these are very close to the sea, and it is easy to reach the capital by metro.

The Venetian lagoon and gourmet local fish cuisine

The Camping Village Cavallino, between the coast of Jesolo and the famous Punta Sabbioni, with its refined mobile homes and bungalows equipped with every comfort, is the perfect solution for immersing oneself in the charm of the Venetian lagoon. It also has the Spa Panta Rei, which offers a rich programme of treatments and the elegant Green Park Hotel famous for its Restaurant Sabbioni with gourmet local fish dishes.

A delightful camping village in the Gulf of Trieste 

The Gulf of Trieste is enchanting in every season ,and in winter its atmosphere is literally magical. In one of its most spectacular points, nestled between the white cliffs of Duino and the emerald reflections of the Adriatic Sea, we find the Camping Village Mare Pineta, together with the Residence Mare Azzurro and the Residence Baia Rilke. With beach views and in a beautiful natural setting, they offer comfortable apartments of different sizes. Unique pluses are the proximity to the Miramare Castle and all the wonders of Trieste which is just a few minutes away. 

Officially announced last June, Italy's first Jo&Joe hostel opened its doors a few days ago in downtown Rome. 

Near the Trevi Fountain the hostel has 49 rooms and 210 beds

Following the opening of three hostels in France, two of which are in Paris, and those in Vienna, Rio and Medellin, the Roman hostel is in the heart of the Eternal City, close to the Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon. The Accor brand hostel is in a former 16th century monastery and has 49 rooms for a total of 210 beds, including 15 private rooms for two with ensuite bathrooms. There are also dormitory-type rooms for four to eight people, and Out of Ordinary rooms with private terraces for two to four guests.

JoJoe Roma Chill Out Room

Antique elements blend with street art

The inner courtyard is the ideal setting for enjoying a drink in a relaxed and festive atmosphere. The common areas, organized around the central courtyard and spread over several levels, include a cocktail bar, a restaurant and pizzeria, a meeting room, a lounge and a rooftop. The layout of the rooms blends antique elements such as wooden coffered or frescoed ceilings, with linear and contemporary pieces, with touches of colour and street-art by local and international artists playing a prominent role. The large windows let in lots of daylight, encouraging the  interchangeability of the inside and outside areas. 

Jo&Joe room