Vasilitsa

Snow and forest earn the praise. Regulars reckon this is the most dependable snow of any Greek resort, and the snowfall opens up a wealth of off-piste lines through black pines thirty metres tall. The scenery, the friendly locals and the near total absence of queues appear in almost every review. Passes and accommodation are called affordable and the short handed staff are singled out warmly.

Equipment and housekeeping are what people take issue with. The lifts are old and low capacity, mostly platters, and at weekends the wait becomes long and disappointing. Grooming is poor, the runs are short, and there is not enough steep or varied terrain to fill several days. There is no snowmaking at all, so everything hinges on natural snowfall. The toilets come in for blunt criticism. Understaffing leaves lifts unopened and queues unattended, with some skiers riding without paying.