Dolomites trip info

Planning a first time trip to the dolomites for next September. I am going to be on a shoestring budget and I was looking to get some good info on costs and what not. Anybody have any good advice on groceries, van rentals etc? I will be there for about 2 weeks. I need to come up with some sort of budget and outline of what things are going to cost if anyone has any valuable info and/or past trip reports. Thanks!

Unless you can find a great deal on Rome fly into Milan Malpensa, I've been getting in there for about half the cost of a Rome flight. (direct from NYC)

It'll cost you around $300 to rent a small car for 2 weeks, as opposed to a van which runs about $1200 for the same amount of time.

I enjoyed this place in Val di Fassa, got an apartment which was very nice and super cheap. Camping is really cheap there.
campingvidor.it/en/

In Pozza di Fassa you can find a few restaurants and a grocery store, groceries in Italy are super cheap....about 1/3 to 1/2 the cost of America and better quality. You could easily live for a week on €50.

There will be more culture in Bolzano and Cortina d'Ampezzo but they'll cost more.

There was unmarked, free camping on the way up to the Stellas from Canazei.

Closest airport is Innsbruck.

FYI deal right now from LAX to Milan for $682, round trip
Sept 7-21

Tyler Mugg wrote:yeah, i was looking at prices yesterday and was surprised at how good the fairs were. thanks!

Yeah Malpensa is the shit, if you can score an Emirates flight they're amazing. Been getting them for around $650 from NYC though lately it's gone up.

If you get in earlier my lady and I will be climbing in Finale Liguria September 2-9, stop through!

i have no idea about the money situation except that we liked the camping (usually) and the getting cheap food from the market is totally gourmet.

But I have to say that some of the via ferrata were super fun. Especially near cortina.

Munich airport (MUC) is closer to many Dolomites locations than Milano.
. (not closer than Innsbruck, but it has way more trans-Atlantic flights) .

Forget Innsbruck, you'll wont find a cheap flight there as far as I know.

Munich is about 30 minutes closer (using Cortina d'Ampezzo as the destination) and I believe Lufthansa flies there direct from LA, if that's where you're coming from.

Refugios used to give significant discounts on lodging (if you're going to sleep in them) if you had an alpine club proof of membership. I know they mentioned some Euro clubs but maybe AAC would work too - bring proof anyway.

Compared to 2008 & 2010 when we went, it should be dirt (relatively) cheap now (1.11USD to 1 Euro).