I have recently moved to Mendrisio - Ticino.
I have invited a friend and her two children from the UK to stay for Xmas for 10 days.

They are all having lessons on the dry ski slope in England before they arrive.

I am thinking of driving to a ski resort everyday from Mendrisio.

Where can I go skiing? Is my choice only San Bernadino and Andermatt?

What are these resorts like as they do not seem to be used by UK package tour operators?

Is the tunnel through the Gotthard busy between Xmas and the New Year?

Is the San Bernadino ski resort on the Italian side or do I have to drive through that tunnel?

There's plenty of skiing resorts suitable to beginners in Ticino (by that I mean that you probably won't need very big resorts, and getting there easily is probably the most important thing, especially if you want to drive there everyday). A couple of ski resorts in Ticino which spring to my mind (some of them are pretty small):

Bosco Gurin (probably not easy to get to from Mendrisio)
Carì (near to Faido)
Airolo
Nara
Cardada-Cimetta
...

Nearer to the skiing season, newspapers (e.g. Corriere del Ticino) should report on the amount of snow in the various skiing resorts, so you could look them up there.

The ski resort is on the south/Ticino side of the tunnel.

Thank you for that information. I really need lots and lots of guaranteed snow for the children and it to be scenic as well. They came over for two weeks in summer and fell in love with Ticino.

Interesting article in the Sunday Times a few weeks back about Ticino.
http://property.timesonline.co.uk/to...cle2497973.ece

Hey, I just saw your introductory post and having realized that you're completely new in Ticino, I thought I'd google up some information for you: here's a much more complete list of ski resorts:
http://www.ticino.ch/bollettino/sci.jsp

Thank you for that link which I had used
Two years have passed since then and I shall give you my conclusions.

San Bernadino
It was Ok but because of its position it doesn't tend to get a lot of sun.
Journey is not too bad (1 hour in car from Lugano).You may as well head for Andermatt, though the ski passes are more expensive.
Again it was often shut.
This resulted in continuing to Laax which is then a long drive and more commercial but excellent skiing and scenery.

Nara
I took a girlfriend and her two children there and we ended up going there most of the time. It is a really family friendly ski resort and the staff are helpful and everyone is friendly. The ski passes are cheap and the self service restaurant is very reasonably priced.
It is a shame that it is always of threat of closure due to money and the reason I try to go there and always eat in the restaurant. (45 minutes in car from Lugano.)
Again, you can drive there and find that it is shut and the web site for information is useless. This resulted in continuing up the valley and over the Lucomagno Pass to Disentis.

Adermatt
If you are a serious skier, then it has to be Andermatt and from Lugano the journey is an hour in the car. through the Gotthard tunnel.
Beautiful village, fantastic ski runs (blue, red and black).
I was not impressed by restaurant at Gurschen on the left side (glass house) that seemed to offer only pizzas. I would try the other restaurant next time.

Airola
I tried a couple of times and it was always shut, so ended up going to Andermatt.

We go to Campo Blenio Ghirone - very family friendly about 1 hour from Lugano. www.campoblenio.ch

That looks interesting and I do recall passing it (it was shut) on the way to Disentis over the Lukmanter Pass (often shut during winter).
I recall Campo Blenio Ghirone being smaller than Nara and it is on the other side of the valley and does not get so much sun possibly?

Have you tried Nara, because I would be interested to know your opinion of that resort in comparison to your experience of Campo Blenio?

I dumped that Girl-Friend some time ago so no baggage (kids) anymore (though did enjoy teaching the 5 year old to ski), but I would still go to Nara just to chill out and try and learn a bit of Italian as find people friendly and like the simple restauarant.

As I said before Disentis is a really nice resort. The problem was that whilst we were skiing, it snowed and the Lukmater Pass was closed and ended up having to make an enormous detour towards Chur and do a right to the San Bernardino tunnel.

up in that direction, I've been told that Sedrun's a nice place (also in summer). Friendly, fairly quiet but good even for serious skiers.

Disentis was a lovely resort. Saying that, I only went there twice skiing and it was sunny and a beautiful day and that makes such a difference.
If the Lukminster Pass is not open, it is no point going for winter skiing from Lugano Area.

Have you tried any of the Italian resorts like Cortina d'Ampezzo?

Cortina d'Ampezzo looks quite a distance from Lugano for day skiing.

I did have a look at skiing around Bergamo region as I actually live in Mendrisio so quite close to Italian border.

My conclusion driving and taking the train in Italy - is that is has become a bit of a dump and certainly compared to Switzerland.
I am also loyal to Switzerland and would rather spend my money in Switzerland than Italy.

I haven't yet tried Nara but will give it a try soon and let you know - I heard Andermatt was very cold . Campo Blenio is fairly sunny at least mornings - I think the sun goes away some time after lunch around 14.30 (??)

For a week-end away we have talked about Sestriere in Italy - thats only 2 1/2 hours away from Lugano - anyone been there?