Best Things Nearby:Without question, the Matterhorn and scenery of the Italian Alps! Best Things About the Resort:The scenery was, by far, the best part. The unit was quaint and rustic, in a very tiny sort of way, but typical for a mountain setting. Resort Experience:The resort sits above the highest community on the mountain and has incredible views of the Aosta valley. It's an easy trip to Milan, Aosta, and for die-hards, the Italian Mediterranean. Within walking distance of the resort, there is a gondola that takes you to the top of Plateau Rosa at 11,500 feet, where you feel like you can reach out and touch the Matterhorn. Along the way you can stop an
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Without question, the Matterhorn and scenery of the Italian Alps!
Best Things About the Resort:
The scenery was, by far, the best part. The unit was quaint and rustic, in a very tiny sort of way, but typical for a mountain setting.
Resort Experience:
The resort sits above the highest community on the mountain and has incredible views of the Aosta valley. It's an easy trip to Milan, Aosta, and for die-hards, the Italian Mediterranean. Within walking distance of the resort, there is a gondola that takes you to the top of Plateau Rosa at 11,500 feet, where you feel like you can reach out and touch the Matterhorn. Along the way you can stop and picnic by glacial lakes and enjoy the wildflowers. There is also skiing on the Switzerland side, but you have to arrive very early in the summertime or the snow will be too wet to ski.
The community of Breuil Cervinia is very welcoming. The people are happy to see you and help you find your way around, or just to chat about life in a small Italian village. Interestingly, prices in the shops are nearly always identical from one shop to the next, and although milk was about $5 per gallon and gasoline was about $7 per gallon, other things were priced similarly to the US or sometimes even cheaper. Since the conversion to the Euro, many merchants do not accept traveler's checks (even if they are Euro/dollar traveler's checks). Leave your cash, traveler's checks, and worries about money at home -- take your ATM/credit card and take care of getting cash when you get there!
The timeshare unit was, as I said, quaint in a very tiny sort of way. The information we obtained ahead of time said it would fit five people, but we don't know how. The total living area was, we estimate, maybe 300 square feet, and on two levels. The first level was 110 square feet (we measured it) and included a kitchenette, a sofa-bed, a dining table for three, a small TV with only one English-speaking channel (MTV), and a stairway to the upper floor. On the upper floor was a queen size bed, two fairly large armoires, a small room with a twin bed, and a small bathroom. Our saving grace was that we had a balcony on each level, and fortunately the weather was warm so we could have the doors open and enjoy the outside. If the weather was cold, we would recommend no more than three people in this unit.
Beyond Breuil Cervinia, you'll find vineyards or castles on every hillside. If you go to the city of Aosta, you'll find a big city that has ruins dating back to 1000 AD. In Aosta, there is a cathedral that has a museum that is not to be missed. Here you'll find tombs and shrines, paintings and a jewel-encrusted cameo from 100 AD.
When in Italy, you'll be forced to adjust to their schedule, which is r-e-l-a-x-e-d. Shops open for business at about 9am, they close at about noon without fail, and then they re-open two or three hours later, and only for another three or four hours. If you adjust to this lifestyle early in your stay, you'll make the most of your sightseeing time.
- Unit Type: 1 Bedroom
- Activities: Fair
- Amenities: Not Available
- Unit Satisfaction: Very Good
- Family Friendliness: Good
- Service: Good
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