26 October 2006

Budget ski breaks - Dolomites bus service

Enterprising budget coach operators Terravision have started new Italian airport services for the ski season. The routes are worth investigating if you're planning a cheap winter trip to the Dolomites via budget airports. Keen walkers will hope that the bus services, which are due to operate December - April, may later be extended to the summer for the hiking season. Online prices are €12 one-way and €22 return.

A new weekend transfer service connects Milan Bergamo Airport, Brescia Airport, Bolzano, Ortisei, St Cristina and Selva in the Val Gardena. There is currently one service on Fridays, and three on Saturdays and Sundays.

A second route runs from Venice Treviso Airport to Cortina d'Ampezzo and Dobbiaco. One bus runs on Fridays, and two on Saturdays and Sundays.

> Skiing in the Dolomites
> Terravision timetables and bus tickets

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Beware of Terravision!! The bus company left us stranded in Santa Cristina (Val Gardena) for the return portion of our journey. We had reserved and paid for a return airport transfer to and from Verona Brescia. We had to take a taxi (260 Euros for 4 people) and just made our flight with minutes to spare. The contact number Terravision provided on the online reservation confirmation was not in service!! Later learned that other passengers in Ortesei also stranded because the bus overfilled in Selva (at least the Ortesei people had the "courtesy" of being told the bus was full, whearas nobody contacted us). Back at Stansted, tried to express our concern at the Terravision desk and we were treated with absolute disrespect. Buyer beware!

Italy Heaven said...

Thanks to readers for providing this feedback - a very disappointing report, and we're really sorry to hear of their problems. In the UK and Rome we've found Terravision to be fairly reliable - but their seat-booking systems obviously need urgent attention. Drivers shouldn't overfill buses when there are still passengers to pick up (and we have seen this lack of communication too). Travellers who've encountered problems - follow up with Terravision and hassle them into improving their services! Terravision contact details. And do let us known your experiences, good or bad.