Where next after Livigno?!?

Hoping someone can give us some advice.

My wife and I have been skiing for the past 3 years, each time to Livigno and have really enjoyed it (apart from the transfer!). We are going with friends this year who are better skiers than us and are struggling to find somewhere we are all happy with and that is reasonable snow sure.

My wife and I would like somewhere with a lot of good intermediate runs where we can really enjoy our skiing. We would also like somewhere with a nice town for some late afternoon, early evening drinks and shopping (nothing too lively). I prefer the more typical alpine villages to the purpose built resorts.

Our friends are more hardcore skiers and like to go out first thing in the morning and come back last thing at night (barely stopping for lunch!) so they need an more extensive ski area. They went to Sauze D'Oux last year and enjoyed it.

We would be very happy going back to Livigno as it has everything we want but I don't think the ski area will be extensive or difficult enough for our friends. I think they would be happy to go back to Sauze if we can't find somewhere else.

So in summary we are looking for:

1. An extensive ski area with a good variety of runs

2. Somewhere snow sure for first week of January.

3. A good B&B/HB hotel which is close to the slopes and town.

4. A relatively inexpensive apres ski

5. Somewhere with a nice atmosphere (not too lively or quiet, more family orientated.

We are from N Ireland so ideally we can fly from Dublin or Belfast or DIY with a lost cost carrier. We would be prepared to fly to the UK first if necessary.

Really hope someone can help us with some good suggestions and thanks for reading!

Just watching the Women's Giant Slalom from Soelden at the moment and I can't wait!

Thanks

Darren

Easy. St Anton. See you in the Mooserwirt for a beer on the 5th of Jan.

Lech/St.Anton area has superb skiing and atmosphere with easy transfer from Innsbruck or Zurich. Stayed in Lech week before Christmas last year - bucket loads of snow and even saw Chemmy ski in St. Anton! Good ski bus links around the resorts. Take a look at Madonna area in the Dolomites or Sella Ronda, also Alpe d'Huez or La Plagne in France although not quite the same atmosphere as Austria?

If it has to be Italy the Sella Ronda would fit the bill otherwise the Portes de Soleil (Morzine sounds ideal for you) would also be excellent for what you describe.

St Anton/Lech if you can get a deal.

Saalbach Hinterglemm