Hi everybody! My girlfriend and I are going to be traveling in Italy for three weeks starting in December and we're planning on finishing with a trip to Sudtirol and Val D'aosta areas. We don't want to have to take any gear with us (except pants, jackets, and gloves) and I have a few questions about that.
Has anyone done this? What was your experience? Did you like it? What time of year did you go? We're going in early January, which I hear can be bare, but it's all we've got. Plus, if we don't get to ski, we can always hang out in a beautiful fire-lit mountain hut or poke around in Bolzano.
We're thinking about using space bags to pack our snowboard clothes. I'm worried that TSA is going to open them and totally screw up our luggage situation if they do. Any experience with that?
Because we're leaving all of our gear at home, we have to rent everything. Do European resorts rent boots? Boards I've seen and that's fine...it's the boots I'm concerned about. Skiing looks like it's still the more popular sport in Italy and my worry is that while resorts will have plenty for skiers, they'll make fewer provisions for snowboarders.
I think that's it - thanks for looking. I would really appreciate any advice or stories anyone has to share. Also...Italy in Winter? Anything you would care to add would be great. We're always looking for any tips at all.
Thanks!