---
created: 2026-06-24 08:10
modified: 2026-06-24 08:10
type: note
tags:
  - holiday
  - travel
  - ski
  - italy
aliases: []
---
# [[Italy Ski House]]

Susa Valley Ski Base: Operational Blueprint

1. Selected Base Region: Val di Susa (Piedmont, Italy)

- **Location**: Flat valley floor west of Turin, cutting directly to the French border along the **A32 Autostrada**.
- **Target Towns**: Susa (central crossroads), Bussoleno (commercial hub), Exilles (mountain fortress village).
- **The Advantage**: Low property prices, flat highway transit, high-speed rail access, avoids high-altitude winter mountain passes.

2. Accessible Ski Fields

- **Via Lattea (Milky Way)**: 400 km of interconnected pistes (Sauze d’Oulx, Sestriere, Claviere, Montgenèvre France). _~15–30 mins away._
- **Bardonecchia**: 100 km standalone Olympic resort (Jafferau, Colomion-Melezet). _~20–35 mins away._
- **Les Trois Vallées (The Three Valleys, France)**: 600 km network accessed via the **Orelle Backdoor Gondola** through the Fréjus Tunnel. _~35 mins away._
- **Chiomonte Frais**: 15 km micro-resort for cheap, local powder days. _~15 mins away._

3. Real Estate Portals & Search Keywords

Primary Websites

- [Idealista.it](https://www.idealista.it/en/) (Comprehensive portal)
- [Immobiliare.it](https://www.immobiliare.it/en/) (Largest Italian inventory)
- Subito.it (Classifieds site for direct private sales—_Vendita da Privato_)

Crucial Search Filter Adjustments

- **Region**: Select **Piemonte**.
- **Province**: Select **Torino** (Susa is indexed under Turin, not as its own valley macro-region).
- **Property Categories**: Filter by **Terreni e rustici** (Rural/Stone structures) or **Case Indipendenti** (Independent houses).
- **Italian Keywords**: Use **"Baita"** (Alpine stone chalet) or **"Casa di Paese"** (Village house already registered as residential). Avoid the term "Rustico" in Piedmont.

4. Non-Resident Vehicle Options (For Australians)

Tourists cannot register cars in Italy. You are restricted to the **90/180-day Schengen tourist rule**.

Option A: The German Export Route (Ownership)

- **Process**: Buy a Left-Hand Drive (LHD) vehicle from a dealership in Germany. Register it using an Australian passport via German **Export/Customs Plates (_Ausfuhrkennzeichen_)**.
- **Duration**: Valid for up to 12 months with temporary international insurance. Garage the car in Italy, but it must return to Germany before the 12-month plate expires to renew.
- **Platform**: Mobile.de (Filter for "HU neu" to guarantee a fresh 2-year safety inspection).

Option B: Corporate Expat Proxy (Ownership)

- **Process**: Use specialized proxy brokers like Visitor.eu or Car Turf. They legally buy and register the car under their European corporate shell and name you as the primary insured driver.

Option C: French Tax-Free Transit Lease (Short-Term)

- **Process**: Lease a brand-new vehicle through factory programs like **Peugeot Open Europe** or **Renault Eurodrive**. Pick up/drop off at Milan Malpensa airport. Best for zero-maintenance, short 90-day winter stays.

5. Licensing & Driving Rules

- **The License**: Your Australian driver's license paired with an **International Driving Permit (IDP)** is fully legal for your 90-day tourist stints.
- **Right-Hand Drive (RHD) Warning**: Avoid importing an Irish or Australian RHD car. Overtaking on narrow alpine passes is hazardous, Italian toll booths/parking barriers are out of reach, and RHD vehicles are unsellable in continental Europe.

6. Critical Logistics & Cost Savers

- **Fréjus Tunnel Pass**: Never pay the casual €70.40 return fee to go to Orelle. Buy a **20-Transit Abbonamento Pass** to slash the price down to ~**€16 per crossing**.
- **The €5 Train Alternative**: During heavy snowstorms, leave the car at home. Take the local **SFM3 Trenitalia Rail Line** from Bussoleno/Susa directly to the lift bases at Oulx or Bardonecchia for under €5.
- **Orelle Parking**: The mega-gondola base station parking lot at Orelle is **100% free**, avoiding the steep parking charges at Val Thorens.
- **The 110% Bonus Warning**: Ignore real estate ads mentioning the 110% Superbonus. It is terminated for residential buyers. Budget your renovations using the current **36% to 50% Renovation Bonus**, which requires upfront cash and an active Italian income tax liability to write off.
