I'll add in my thoughts on the resorts we have skiied.
Some context - we are a family of four. DH and I are mid 40s. I have been skiing since I was 11. From being the most competent skiier in the family I am now the worst... Kids are 12 (very good skier, will try anything) and 8 (has progressed enormously. Will ski blacks happily). We live in the SW of France so ski a lot of weekends in obscure pyreneen resorts that I won't bore you with!!
I won't cover all the resorts as many I have ony vague memories of (11 was a long time ago :-) )
VARS - France
PROS
Lots of longish "motorway" skiing
Never that busy
Good snow even early in the season (have had good snow every year we have been either at Christmas or NY)
Well signposted
Are trying to update the lifts
Nice enough village
CONS
LIft linking is a bit dodgy - you can end up pushing to get from Var <-> Risoul
Not that many mountain restaurants
Some ifts need uodating quite soon
Predominantly French (not really a con for us but the Vars ski school seems very French orientated)
For those who don't like doing the same run twice, there is limited skiing
TIGNES - France
PROS
Fabulous skiing (may be biased as we had a powder week)
Lots for all levels
Very good ski school
Brilliant "race" track piste hidden away
CONS
Town is souless (Val Claret) though we liked the shops....
Were not keen on VDI side (I thik we are in the minority here though)
Mountain restaurants can be eye watering expensive
GRANVALIRA- Andorra
PROS
lots of motorway skiing
We ski here a lot so it feels like home
Reasonably priced
Apart from a couple of lifts at the top of the base station, not too much queuing even in peak weeks
Some good mountain restaurants
CONS
Not much to challenge an advanced skier
Snow can be dodgy
Towns are souless - especially Pas de la Casa (though good shopping there ;) )
The drive up from the French side can be long if there is snow on the road (French and driving on the snow = not a good combination!)
I should add that we always drive so transfer times are immaterial to us and having a ar means that we can move around if needsbe!
