Rifugio L' Aroula — Restaurant in Ayas

My friend and I booked this Refugio as we wanted to be out of the town and have direct access to the slopes. The reviews here were very promising and so we were very optimistic. We were not disappointed - the Refugio is a short scoot off one of the many cruisey red runs that are abundant in this area and sits in a collection of around 10 properties. It was exactly what we were looking for - a little bit of a feel of adventure. I do feel it fair to cover off a couple of things that fellow skiers ()or summer visitors for that matter) will want to know:||1) The way to get to this property is well documented on their site so be aware that there is a procedure of loading your luggage onto the base cable car and leaving it at the top station for the owners to collect once the lifts have stopped running and they have access to the slopes by skidoo (5.15pm). We arrived in Champoluc at midday and had got our gear to where it needed to be by 1pm and were out on the slopes skiing all afternoon. Some would call this process a pain - I just think it's an easy process and worth the effort. On departure, you will have options 8.15am to get your luggage back onto the cable car and away or later at 9.15 (I think) and the Refugio will help you with this. ||2) This is not a location for Apre activity. There is nothing going on in the Refugio or the village and there is no 'social' room to sit and relax. Your choices are to stay in your room or you are very welcome in the cosy dinning room where there is a well stocked bar and friendly barman (Phillipo). If, however, you go as a gang then I can imagine it to be absolutely perfect. ||3) Food is of excellent quality and the regional wine is superb (Aosta being the regional wine)||4) The family who own and run the Refugio along with their staff are delightful, helpful and on hand without being obtrusive - you can tell this is family run. ||||Hope that's helpful and, incidentally, I can imagine this area being beautiful in the summer with the advantage, of course, of being able to sit outside in the evenings and soaking...

Just returned from a week of skiing in Italy. Spent 6 lovely nights at L'Aurola. I encourage you to consider a Rifugio to get a unique European ski experience. The owners are wonderful people and the staff they have working in their restaurant are also really lovely and hospitable. Room was pristine & charming. Beds are comfortable.||||Take note of other reviews in terms of how to get to/from the Rifugio in the winter time. You have to take the gondola up from the town of Champoluc with your luggage. The owners pick you and your gear up at the gondola, but they are only permitted to do this outside of ski hours (9AM - 5PM).The snowmobile ride to the Rifugio is so much fun!||||It's a short traverse from the Rifugio to an intermediate ski run. The ski runs are very easy in Monterosa- it is the off-piste skiing that is challenging. So even if you're a decent beginner skier you will be fine.||||I give the property four stars instead of five because: 1) I wish there was a common area with a fire place to sit around to read/play cards/socialize in the evening, since you are mountainside and there isn't anything else to do in the evenings. The only common area is the restaurant. 2) Most of the food was excellent (especially at the price point), but there were a couple dishes that were a miss.||||I will note that we stayed in the Autumn room which is on the ground floor of the Rifugio and there was a room above ours. You're at the mercy of who stays above you when you stay at this Rifugio and the guests above us were loud late in the evening on a few nights. I asked the owners to speak to the other guests about the noise. The owners did and this was very nice of them since admittedly I put them in a difficult/awkward situation. Also to be fair this is a Rifugio so it's a building from the 17 or 1800s, so not exactly entirely sound proof and this issue could be encountered at any Rifugio. No fault to the owners on this, but just be aware of this if you're a light sleeper or want to go to sleep early in the evenings to be up...

Just returned from a week of skiing in Italy. Spent 6 lovely nights at L'Aurola. I encourage you to consider a Rifugio to get a unique European ski experience. The owners are wonderful people and the staff they have working in their restaurant are also really lovely and hospitable. Room was pristine & charming. Beds are comfortable.||||Take note of other reviews in terms of how to get to/from the Rifugio in the winter time. You have to take the gondola up from the town of Champoluc with your luggage. The owners pick you and your gear up at the gondola, but they are only permitted to do this outside of ski hours (9AM - 5PM).The snowmobile ride to the Rifugio is so much fun!||||It's a short traverse from the Rifugio to an intermediate ski run. The ski runs are very easy in Monterosa- it is the off-piste skiing that is challenging. So even if you're a decent beginner skier you will be fine.||||I give the property four stars instead of five because: 1) I wish there was a common area with a fire place to sit around to read/play cards/socialize in the evening, since you are mountainside and there isn't anything else to do in the evenings. The only common area is the restaurant. 2) Most of the food was excellent (especially at the price point), but there were a couple dishes that were a miss.||||I will note that we stayed in the Autumn room which is on the ground floor of the Rifugio and there was a room above ours. You're at the mercy of who stays above you when you stay at this Rifugio and the guests above us were loud late in the evening on a few nights. I asked the owners to speak to the other guests about the noise. The owners did and this was very nice of them since admittedly I put them in a difficult/awkward situation. Also to be fair this is a Rifugio so it's a building from the 17 or 1800s, so not exactly entirely sound proof and this issue could be encountered at any Rifugio. No fault to the owners on this, but just be aware of this if you're a light sleeper or want to go to sleep early in the evenings to be up...