What do you think makes a great ski resort?

So, I've been having heated debates with my mates about ski resorts, and it got me curious... what makes a good ski resort for you?

Regardless of snow conditions, which are of course entirely dependant of when in the season you choose to go i.e. just because you got a big dump before you arrived doesn't make any difference to the resort, the pistes will be the same pistes year after year, the snow conditions don't count, but how well the pistes are groomed/kept and how technical/easy they are does count.

what in and around the resort makes it good for you? Purpose built resorts or traditional villages? does altitude really matter...? WTS&S warns of low resorts which normally have approx 6m How much snow do you really need to ski on?. Does ski in/ski out matter? once you're out skiing you're out skiing... I don't need to go home mid-day!

what other factors etc... basically everything counts apart from snow conditions.

Well I would consider most important to me.
Terrain, both variety and vertical. Anyone who has skied north America will understand the frustration of skiing with limited vertical despite having some fantastic terrain. To get both you are only really that left with Switzerland and France (I agree 1-2 exceptions but that is it).

A real town:- Again try somewhere like Whistler mountain resort and you will realize the downsides of 1 company influencing whole resort, Disney Land. Realistically this means that resort need to sustain year round activity and have reasonable permanent population, so you get those great restaurants, bars, locals etc. Problem with some of the high remote towns that have limited number of months with a real population they become hyper touristic. Think Marbella/Meribel. I would prioritize this over ski in, ski out (they tend to be lower). Never really understood why this is so important to people, not as if you go for a lunchtime snooze. Nice but certainly low priority.

Having said that have never had a bad days skiing anywhere in world. Yes there are resorts I would never return to Livingo/Whistler/Les Deux Alpes/Banff and there are others I would love to do despite not really matching above e.g.Telluride. Have never been there but I would suggest Zermatt Is probably as good as life gets. Chamonix probably has best terrain in world and certainly more classic runs that are accessible to strong recreational skiers than anywhere else in world (Col de la Gliere Traverse, Col Du Passon, Crochues-Bernard, Col Du Chardonnet, Col De belvedere, Dent Du Gent, Vallee Blanche, Trient, Col Du Tacul, Couloir Rectiligne, Pas De Chevre etc etc etc). Engelberg for massive snow and great offpiste. Would definitely recommend Bulgaria as great ski instructors and fun country. Italy certainly has the best food and coffee which counts for a lot ?.

With friends Chamonix.
With family or mixed group Cervinia.
With love Zermatt.
With cowboy boots Telluride.

I've been to Zermatt, although the skiing there is good it's very boring... there are no trees to ski amongst and it takes literally FOREVER to get up the mountain properly - and the snow at altitude is no different to anywhere else I've been. also mountain restaurants are lacking so come lunch you've got to go back to Z town or head to Cerv. I also found the altitude Is so high it hits your stamina pretty hard.

I've also been cham and found it full of so many wanna be's who fancy themselves that it made it difficult to enjoy myself, having to constantly look over my shoulder to see if anyone was disregarding the downhill skier right of way in some insane attempt to show off - I think being in a world famous mountaineering/freeriding/back country etc etc town does things to people...

I've never been to Canada, but I did go to Bolivia which has the highest lift in the world... but as I said before this myth people seem to have about altitude having the best snow is something I've never noticed

I'm sure the criteria varies hugely from person to person.

For us:

1. Ski in ski out - we're prepared to walk a 100 yards or so but no more than that (unless we can store our ski boots/skis near to the slopes, then a 10 minutes walk is quite refreshing as a warm up).

2. Speed of access to main slopes - early morning long queues and time consuming gondolas not our idea of fun at the start of the day. We like to be up and into the mountains toot sweet. This is one of the reasons we like Val d'isere so much.

3. Decent village - we like to have plenty of choice for bars, restaurants and also a few shops to peruse in.

4. Extent and variety of slopes - plenty of all classifications is a preference. Nice to have some trees as well alongside lower slopes.

5. Good mountain restaurants - got to be able to buy a decent coffee and reasonable lunches. Not too concerned about prices - we don't go on skiing holidays to save money!

6. Good lift network - we hate drag lifts of all types. Therefore chairs (fast if possible) and cabins are a must.

All fairly obvious stuff!!

"I've been to Zermatt, although the skiing there is good it's very boring... there are no trees to ski amongst"
Is this as in tree line skiing or skiing between trees in which case you really need to go to US/Canada. Most of the tree skiing in Europe is bush whacking in comparison.

Altitude does 2 x things for given region, one you get more snow and two it is lighter (lower temperature) so when you get into the powder is easier and hence more fun. No problem to ski on wet snow on piste myself but places like Whistler would be much better resorts if they were a bit colder. Of course wind often associated with altitude is enemy of all.

Ranchero_1979 wrote:"I've been to Zermatt, although the skiing there is good it's very boring... there are no trees to ski amongst"
Is this as in tree line skiing or skiing between trees in which case you really need to go to US/Canada. Most of the tree skiing in Europe is bush whacking in comparison.


Altitude does 2 x things for given region, one you get more snow and two it is lighter (lower temperature) so when you get into the powder is easier and hence more fun. No problem to ski on wet snow on piste myself but places like Whistler would be much better resorts if they were a bit colder. Of course wind often associated with altitude is enemy of all.

I live at about 1300m and we ALWAYS get lovely fresh powdery snow, and it's cold here and we always stay well below zero for 90% of the season, last year it was below -30 for a month even after it didn't come above -10 until april. so this is what I don't understand about the general obsession with altitude

oh, and I mean pistes than run in the trees as well as skiing off-piste in the trees

Wow where are you living, -30 is a bit much for me?

However Chamoniox having a lift to 3800m does give it 2800m of vertical. Never a bad thing unless you like lifts.

I'm pretty secretive about where I live, Wickers has been trying to find out for ages (but I've not told him) I'm worried peeps might think i'm plugging etc... but that's not the case I just want experiences to be taken for their value.

I forgot to mention we had 12meters of snow this year, and we normally have an average 6-7meters. Plus I think consistency is important. Anywhere can get a big dump (it happened in UK this winter) but it's whether the resort gets regular and decent amounts... isn't that more important?

yes cham gives 2800m of vertical but that's absolute highest to lowest, the whole thing won't have such high stats and unless you can/want to ski Black from the G Montets that's not enough to swing it.