Hi all
No worries Richard ... been a bit distracted with the book recently!
It’s always difficult to predict which resorts are best for early season snow, as it can vary so widely. I’ve had brilliant December days in low Austrian resorts, when high French ones have suffered very poor conditions. Best bet really is to aim for somewhere with a good proportion of slopes above 1800m. Your choice here generally fit that, so that’s a good start.
I don’t think the southern French resorts are any necessarily worse off - look at Isola 2000 a couple of years back. Alpe d’Huez is high and Les Deux Alpes has an extensive glacier. But I wouldn’t recommend the latter for your family choice here Tarquinius. In skiing terms, I’d say it’s the least suitable.
Alpe d’Huez has the convenience and off-slope leisure facilities to entertain - it’s pretty good for a purpose-built resort, where most of the area is above the treeline.
Montgenevre is good for families and novices, but this early in the season may be too much of a risk - given there are no glacier resorts nearby to retreat to if conditions are poor.
Flaine, La Plagne and Les Arcs are good bets for convenience and height. Flaine is quite family oriented, though has little off-slope entertainment. It is very close for transfers though. Of the other two, Arc 1950 is a fun place - most apartments have pools too.