Resort shortlists

11th January 2013, by Chris Gill

So much choice ... [(c) TO Aravis]

Choosing the ideal resort isn’t easy, especially if your group is a mixed bunch with very different priorities. Step in the Where to Ski and Snowboard resort shortlists, updated annually from our guide book. Here is the 2012 list.

To streamline the job of spotting the ideal destination for you, we have compiled lists of the best ten or so resorts for 22 different categories…so far.

Some lists include both European and North American resorts, but most are confined to Europe because the US has too many qualifying areas (eg for beginners), or because the US does things differently - making comparisons invalid (eg for off-piste).

You can read the overview for each resort on the site. And, of course, the book provides the comprehensive, no-nonsense guide to the whole resort.

Below are the headings that we feature in the book and will be grouped for this feature.

• SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE
• RELIABLE SNOW IN THE ALPS
• INTERNATIONAL OVERSIGHTS
• OFF-PISTE WONDERS
• HIGH-MILEAGE PISTE BASHING
• DRAMATIC SCENERY
• TOP TERRAIN PARKS
• CHOPAHOLICS (Heli- or Cat-skiing)
• POWDER PARADISES
• BLACK RUNS
• MOTORWAY CRUISING
• WEATHERPROOF SLOPES
• SPECIALLY FOR FAMILIES
• RESORTS FOR BEGINNERS
• BACK-DOOR RESORTS
• SNOW-SURE BUT SIMPATICO
• SPECIAL MOUNTAIN RESTAURANTS
• VILLAGE CHARM
• MODERN CONVENIENCE
• LIVELY NIGHTLIFE
• OTHER AMUSEMENTS
• CHEAPER THRILLS

Choosing the right resort to match your group and ability is very important. A shortlist can help to narrow the search.

So, here is Where to Ski and Snowboard’s pick of the bunch for ‘beginners’, ‘families’ and ‘something for everyone’. Each resort has a link to its relevant review page on the site too - just click and go…

Resorts for beginners:

European resorts with gentle, snow-sure nursery slopes and easy, longer runs to progress to:

• Alpe-d’Huez, France

• Cervinia, Italy

• Courchevel, France

• Flaine, France

• Montgenèvre, France

• Passo Tonale, Italy

• La Plagne, France

• La Rosière, France

• Saas-Fee, Switzerland

• Soldeu, Andorra

Specially for families:

Alpine resorts where you can easily find accommodation surrounded by snow, not by traffic and fumes.

• Les Arcs, France

• Avoriaz, France

• Flaine, France

• Lech, Austria

• Montchavin (La Plagne), France

• Mürren, Switzerland

• Puy-St-Vincent, France

• La Rosière, France

• Ste-Foy, France

• Saas-Fee, Switzerland

• Vars/Risoul, France

• Wengen, Switzerland

Something for everyone:

Resorts with everything from reassuring nursery slopes to real challenges for experts.

• Alpe-d’Huez, France

• Les Arcs, France

• Aspen, Colorado

• Courchevel, France

• Flaine, France

• Mammoth, California

• Vail, Colorado

• Val d’Isère, France

• Whistler, Canada

• Winter Park, Colorado

We all hope for good snow conditions when choosing our resort. Sadly, we can’t always predict the weather. When it does snow, we look for sheltered slopes; when the sun pops out, we don’t want it melting away too fast. And sometimes we just fancy a cosy village to hole up in. Where to Ski and Snowboard shortlists some of the best.

Reliable snow in the Alps

Alpine resorts with good snow records or lots of snowmaking, and high or north-facing slopes

• Bregenzerwald, Austria

• Chamonix, France

• Cervinia, Italy

• Courchevel, France

• Hintertux, Austria

• Lech/Zürs, Austria

• Obergurgl, Austria

• Obertauern, Austria

• Saas-Fee, Switzerland

• Sölden, Austria

• Val d’Isère and Tignes, France

• Val Thorens, France

• Zermatt, Switzerland