Montgenevre

My son (aged 12) and I are going to Mongenevre on Boxing day for a weeks skiing, staying in a caterd chalet. Although this is not our first skiing holiday, it is the first with only the two of us. We are both quite good skiers.
Any advise on which are the best areas to explore on the mountian and what entertainment there is in the village? :D

Lucky you!
If you're both good skiers then the sky's the limit with regard to skiing from Montgenevre.
Montgenèvre's ski area is varied and extensive. The village ski area extends over 75km and there's vast intermediate territory on both sides of the valley. The wooded Prarial sector is packed with fairly short but fun reds and sheltered blues with a steep black if you want. In the Gondrans sector and Le Chalvet, there are wide open pistes and a few challenging runs. We particularly like going up the Serre Thibaud lift and dropping down to the right into a magnificent valley with several swooping runs and a couple of challenging blacks. Continue down the valley for a super experience and a back way into Clavière.

Most skiers prefer to take the Monts de la Lune ski pass option (110km) and be able to ski over the border into Clavière, Italy. You need to be a confident intermediate to go over the top via the difficult Crete draglift, but the blue runs from Le Prarial are delightful. You'll also find that meals and drinks are a bit cheaper on the Italian side.

If you like clocking up the miles, you can explore over 400km of pistes in the biggest international ski domain known as the Vialattea [Milky Way], which includes the ski terrain of Clavière, Cesana, San Sicario, Sestrière and Sauze d'Oulx. We particulary love San Sicario for it's intermediate cruising and it's not too far to get back. If you do go further afield make sure you can get back in plenty of time.

Look at www.Montgenevre.com for an events programme and ideas of what there is to do. As you'll be there on New Years Eve there will almost certainly be a fireworks display and other festivities. Have a wonderful holiday, it's one of our favourite resorts.
By the way, if you can, get down to Briancon and explore the old town - wonderful narrow streets with some interesting buildings and shops including an Italian bakers and tea shop which serves the best ever real hot chocolate. :)

Kevin, I've skied 3 days on separate trips in MontG and liked it there, but its quite limited as a ski area for decent intermediates, so you will want to explore further afield. I'd recommend the full ViaLattea lift pass so you can ski over or take a bus to Sauze and Sestriere. I didnt get to ski SanSicario as the snow there was poor and the links not open, but I am told its great skiing as well.
In addition, take a day trip just across the pass to Serre Chevalier, included on your lift pass for a day out. The best skiing in the area IMO. Dont get off at Briancon, stay on up to Chantmerle or Villeneuve (Les Salles des Alpes) where access is far better and it takes you up into the best areas right away.
I havent skied Claviere.

Whatever you do try not book with Skitopia renamed to Zenith now I think, the chalet was only good because of the occupants but the host turned up more than once in a dirty muddy tshirt which was off putting to say the least. We were also massively delayed there and back due to the reps and the transport provided, the reps couldn't wait to get rid of us so they could slope off :twisted:

Had a great time in monty on both sides of the valley and although we were only there for the day we found a lovely mountain restraunt and patisserie at the end of the day!
To say it's a steep black is a huge undertstaement! ha! scariest run ever but really good.
Definitely would go to this place and make sure you spend a day in sestriere! easily accessible from Monty.

Matt28nw wrote:
To say it's a steep black is a huge undertstaement!

Wheres this steep black? Or did you mean "step back" instead???? )

I am not sure which part but we came off a chair lift and were faced with a narrow fairly flat blue or a steep un pisted black with a large drop!
Not that many on there as the skiers chose the blue route. Had loads of fun over there and would definitely go back.

I second Julia Moss. Get the Monts de La Lune pass and there will be more than enough skiing.

You get:
Claviere every day for cheaper and better lunches.
A day on the Milky Way
and a Day Free day in Serre Chevalier if you are getting bored.
Actually you can get days in another 4 resorts as well, but you'd need a car.

Do the chalet operators offer ski hosting? it's worth it to get your orientation.