Courmayeur

Mont Blanc dominates every review; people say there is no skyline like it. For experienced skiers the real value is the lift-served off-piste in the Mont Blanc massif. Mountain food and service are good and noticeably cheaper than in France, and the resort feels mellow, with minimal queues on ordinary days and decent value for money.

Size and the awkward link to the village are the sticking points: no piste reaches the town, so you ski down to Dolonne and the gondola base. The terrain is limited, and several reviews say the whole area can be covered in a day or two; little challenges strong skiers, and the slopes are sometimes called bland and indifferently groomed. At weekends a queue builds at the main cable car in the centre, so people advise starting from Dolonne or Entreves. Courmayeur is reckoned one of the priciest resorts in Italy, and the apres-ski is called flat and overpriced.