Which location better for skiing holiday in Italy (New Year)?

Cielo Aperto in Monte Bondone or Marivelle 1400 in Marivelle (?)
These are the options given to us by the travel agent, I have never been to Italy and don't have a clue about what these mean..Which one would you recommend, we want
(1) good skiing - access to variety of slopes of different levels (from easy to black routes), also good changes for snow (i.e. the higher the altitude, the more likely there is going to be snow), ski-lifts (are they gondoliers or chair-lifts?)
(2) some restaurants, bars etc to chill-out in the afternoons. The bigger/livelier town, the better.
Thanks a lot for all your answers.
Pawel

You may want to try the high level resort of Champoluc in north west Italy - just 90 minutes from Turin and part of the Monterosa ski area. They normally have good snow at New Year

been to cortina last three new years, good sking and great town center

I did a search of your 2 propsed destinations. I could find nothing for Marivelle, but Monte Bondone has a mere 18km of piste.
Looking at your criteria, you may find Monte Bondone a bit limiting.

Perhaps ask you travel agent to look at more well known destinations with bigger ski areas, and a big village, which will give you the nightlife?

I have skied Cervinia at Christmas, and it was quite wonderful, but the other Italian resort suggestions made so far, have just as much merit.

I've skied Courmeyer, Cervinia and Cortina in Italy and would recommend all of them.

I am going to have to try a resort that doesn't begin with the letter 'C' sometime!

I would recommend the Vialattea ski area, which includes the fun village of Sauze d'Oulx. It would be perfect for New Year, and you have 400km of skiing across one ski pass, so you are certain to find something.
Sauze is great for cruising long runs, Sestriere is more technical, and Montgenevre over in France has a bit of both and is beautiful. You also get Sansicario and Claviere on the lift pass.

Flights are all into Turin from most UK airports, but I would not bother at all with travel agents, as they often dont know enough about the skiing, the resport, the hotel in relation to its position in resort, or anything relating to ski hire etc.

I have found it best to either book direct with a tour company (Inghams, Crystal etc) or alternatively, you will find the best deals available at:

www.bookableskiholidays.co.uk

www.directski.com

www.skideals.co.uk

To give you an idea of the type of savings you can get, I paid £269 for a week half board in Sauze 24th Feb 2008, flights out of Manchester inc transfers. This current holiday is retailing at over £500 through First Choice.

Also, I booked a week 12th Jan in Mayrhofen (I have been 3 times before so I know its not a gamble with the resort) 2 star B&B allocate on arrival through bookableski.co.uk for £159pp, flights to Innsbruck (75 minute transfer) from Gatwick.

Its worth spending some time researching where you ideally would like to go, and then taking a few hours on the above websites to find some deals in those places. I also recommend going and picking up the Crystal, Neilsen and Inghams brochures, as they tend to give decent reviews on the main ski areas, resorts and hotels that you will find on these web sites.

If you want somewhere dirt cheap, try Borovets in Bulgaria bot go B&B as its so cheap to eat and drink out there. But the skiing is limited, you may get bored of it after a few days.

Ideally you need to be on a large ski area: Sella Ronda, Mikly Way, 3 valleys, Zillertaller, etc, but make sure you also have somewhere close at hand which is snow sure, ie well covered by snow making or with a glacier so you are certain to get some skiing in.

Good luck.