Les Monts d'Olmes

Cheapness and calm are the strong points: prices are low, crowds do not form, and the people in the shops and cafes are welcoming. The terrain is varied for such a small place, with wide, safe areas where beginners can be brought along gently, and the view from the top stretches down the Ariege valley towards Ax-les-Thermes. The northerly aspect helps the snow last, and Toulouse and Carcassonne are both an easy drive away.

The state of the resort and the running of the lifts attract the complaints. The base area looks spartan. On weekdays several lines stay closed while the pass is still sold at full price, and morning openings are delayed or cancelled with no compensation. The snow depth advertised on the website does not match reality: slopes can be icy under a thin dusting of machine-made snow, described by one visitor as concrete and ice. The area is small and lasts a day or two.