 Poster: A snowHead
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Good day all.
My son and I are intermediate skiers aged 60 and 24. We're trying to decide between these 3 resorts. Chatel and Les Con are much easier to get to but Chatel is low altitude (snow reliability); Les Cont has pretty good snow record apparently up in the alpine but seems that Serrw Che has the best chance of good snow. We're coming from Australia so we really want to maximise our chances of snow. Mountain scenery also important as is village ambience. I was thinking we could split our time evenly between Chatel and Les Cont or do the whole week in Serre Che with a day trip or two to Montgenevre. Any advice would be greatly achieved !
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@zenmammon, welcome to snowHeads, I am a little bit biased towards Serre Chevalier, and have no experience of Chatel or Les Cons, but for someone coming from the other side of the world, SC can offer culture (Briancon), some Italian flair (a trip to turin for the day or two), not only Serre Chevalier, but also Montgenevre. La Grave if you are off-piste skiers and some smaller resorts such as Puy St Vincent. We have thermal springs for apres relaxation in Le Monetier-les-Bains, and some decent restaurants. Can't offer you banging apres, but we do have a lot of atmosphere.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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I have previously been to Serre Chevalier (stayed in Briancon in front of the Prorel gondola) and PdS (stayed in Avoriaz).
Intermediate to advanced, skied all pistes from 9 to 16.
Enjoyed them tremendously, when do you plan to be there?
I agree with @Hells Bells and whatever you'll choose this year, choose the other the next time you'll get to the Alps in the winter.
Serre Che with a car will allow you to drive to the exquisite spa of Monetier Les Bains for a relaxing day, to Montgenevre for a different alpine perspective. Briançon old city is an historical and classic European city.
PdS is a larger domain. With more challenging skiing and bigger mileage, above the treeline and in between (useful in stormy days).
Why Chatel? Can you choose Morzine or even better Avoriaz?
It 's quiet and romantic, without cars. Everybody moves on skis, by foot or in horse drawn snow sleigh.
Lovely Apres Ski options in the village at 1800 altitude and easy access to Morzine, a proper city.
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@zenmammon, welcome to snowHeads 
What time of the season are you visiting? This makes a big difference to advice I think.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@zenmammon, other questions if I may?
How did you arrive at your shortlist of those 3? What are the criteria important for you maximise enjoyment from such a big trip from the antipodes?
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Serre Che.
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Between those 3, it's a no-brainer: Serre-Chevalier.
Then depending on what you value most:
1. Monetier, for the nice spa; and more quiet, but also a bit off-centre
2. La Salle; the village I like the most; and smack in the middle of the area
3. Briancon; a real alpine city; with all that comes with it (dozens of restaurants and cobble streets); surrounded by multiple forts
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They are such different places, it isn't clear why they are on the same list.
Serre Chevalier is a good medium sized ski area with several entry points spread along a valley floor. You can certainly have a good week's skiing there, and as @Hells Bells says the old town of Briancon is a nice historic excursion. Chatel is one entry point of a very big ski area, but it isn't at all clear why you would choose it rather than the obvious central town of Morzine which gives easier access to more of the skiing. And Les Contamines is a nice but small resort, it does punch above its weight but you would probably be wanting to explore further before the week was out (the other Evasion Mont Blanc skiing can't so easily be accessed from Les Contamines). It does have the scenic drama of the Mont Blanc massif opposite across the valley.
I suspect people here are itching to give you alternative suggestions, if you indicate the other features you were looking for when you came up with those three possibilities.
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@j b,
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They are such different places, it isn't clear why they are on the same list.
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That's the reason I've asked what time of year and what criteria (apart from maximum snow prospects and mountain scenery) led to this shortlist of 3.
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Thank you for your generous responsiveness ! Really appreciate all the advice.
To answer some of the questions:
We plan to ski in the last week of January.
We prefer the cultural atmosphere of Italy and France over Switzerland and Austria and also prefer smaller traditional villages over purpose built. Having said that my son is very social so I need to take that into account. I'm wondering, should we go to SC, whether La Salle would be better than Monetier for him. The latter seems very quiet (though would suit me !!).
I will be in Geneva (having skied in Les Gets with my sister for 4 days) so I'm a little concerned by the longish trip to the Southern Alps, which will result in the loss of a half-day of skiing. My son can land anywhere so if we went to SC he'd probably come from Milan.
La Rosiere is also on my radar having skied at La Thuile in March 2023 when we were incredibly to arrive shortly after a major dump, which followed many weeks of very little snow. I like what I read about Monterosa except snow record doesn't look great. Livigno is also a possibility.
I've never even vaguely considered St Moritz because of the cost and I don't enjoy hanging around uber ostentatious folk (and yes it's Switzerland) but then last week I chanced upon a YouTube video of the area and was blown away by the magnificence of the mountains. And it's high. And I found a reasonably priced 3 star hotel that has a very good lift pass deal. Anyway all that said, I don't think we'd really enjoy the town. Open to comments though. And t is almost in Italy 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@zenmammon, if your son is landing in Milan and you’ll be in Geneva just before this trip, wouldn’t it be easier to ski in Italy?
You say you like the cultural atmosphere of France and Italy. Also that mountain scenery and somewhere snowsure are important. Finally you prefer smaller villages as opposed to large purpose built resorts.
You’ll struggle to beat the Dolomites for those features. There happens to be a snowHeads Bash that week in…the Dolomites.
So that would also tick the box of your son being sociable,
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Thanks Peaky ! I went to Selva when I was a child and we experienced extreme cold and little snow. That was a long time ago !! Average snowfall I understand is ok but not really above average ? Val Gardena annual average is 310cm.
The Dolomites are very beautiful and my son has expressed interest. Is the culture more Austrian than Italian. German speaking region right ?
As an aside, Ive just read a very negative long-term snow forecast for Europe.
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A concern I have about the Dolomites is that it might be TOO busy. I don't like crowds on the slopes but yes my son is social so there's a bit of tension there !
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You know it makes sense.
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@zenmammon, what about Chamonix combined with Courmayeur for your French / Italian fix. End of Jan should be pretty quiet and if you want stunning mountains nowhere beats Cham. Courmayeur also has some great skiing and Italian flair. Better snow record than Monterosa (and Serre Che I’d guess). It’s close from Geneva and both resorts on one pass. If you have transport you can even do a free day on the lift pass in Verbier if you want even more variety.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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@zenmammon, hi, there are any number of threads and reviews on this website about the Dolomites, which would give you all the information you need.
To address briefly the specifics you mention.
1. Snow…the Dolomiti area has probably the best snow making infrastructure in Europe, having invested heavily in it. Even if there’s no natural snow at all between now and late January, you could expect to ski on completely covered, well maintained, pistes. Over 1000kms of them. The snow quality is consistently good.
2. The culture is difficult to characterise in one national stereotype word and varies in different parts of the Sella Ronda area. Some parts definitely more Italian feel, others definitely Tyrolean. Probably shows through in the food you get in different mountain restaurants, eg pasta plates and gulaschuppe. In with this is the Ladin culture and language (some say dialect). Main thing is the vast majority of locals are welcoming and hard working.
3. Busy slopes? In late January / early Feb the slopes I think have become a bit busier in the last 8 years or so. Rarely felt they’ve been too busy, except at certain times of day, on the main Sella Ronda circuit, eg at Corvara and Selva. There are many quieter offshoots with wonderful skiing and scenery. With over 1000 kms of piste, it’s not difficult to find quiet backwaters.
The acid test? Each year over 150 snowHeads sign up again and again for 1 or 2 weeks, without hesitation.
If I were travelling 10,000 miles to ski I’d want somewhere with a WOW factor. With due respect to those 3 French areas, they don’t match the Dolomites for that.
Nothing fundamentally wrong with any of them, especially if you had a car. If you did I’d swap to St Gervais Les Bains as a base, instead of Les Contamines. I’d stay in Monetier if Serre Che was your choice. I’d probably go for Morzine instead of Chatel in the PdS.
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Poster: A snowHead
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@zenmammon, a bit of an odd selection, to me? If you're coming from Australia, I'd be looking at places that are a bit more "interesting" ... Val d'Isère, Verbier, etc.?
Chamonix for piste intermediates isn't optimised. Although it's not "small" 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@PeakyB, @under a new name,
Take it from me that when talking of skiing most places in Europe are 'interesting' and 'wow' compared to skiing in Oz.
Out of the three I would go to Serre Chevalier but if considering others I would consider Val D'Isere and Courchevel. If the OP can get around the alpine village thing I'd definitely include Tignes too.
I personally don't find the set up at Chamonix a problem and there's oodles for intermediates to get at. I've no problems with buses or walking to lifts and the town has a great vibe. Scenery is kinda ok too.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Of the three, I agree with the other comments that Les Contamines is probably bottom of the heap. I like the place very much but the ski area is quite small and the village itself is not particularly interesting - a small, quiet, ribbon, development and a lot of accommodation is far from the skiing. I don't know Serre Chevalier but it does have a lot going for it. But I do support the Dolomites suggestion too. Chamonix is Chamonix, and unique, but by no stretch of the imagination a "small, traditional, village". It's a sprawling, valley bottom, metropolis!
Late January is an ideal time but yes, snow will still be a gamble and if resort-level snow is important, a "traditional" village won't really cut it as "traditionally" people didn't settle up high in the mountains. There are some people who describe Val d'Isere as a "traditional" village but they are kidding themselves.  As others will stress, the winning factor in the Dolomites is excellent snow making and piste grooming. Selva might have been cold when you went there years ago but it's no more or less likely to be cold than most of those other places. But from Geneva it's a long schlep to the Dolomites. An all day drive (I've done it several times!).
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I imagine the OP might find this thread thought provoking, possibly even challenging…but this is l s, so to be expected. 
Wise words I think from recent posts @under a new name, @sbooker, @Origen, one of whom starts from Australia and I know has done a few European trips.
A couple of further comments. Val D’Isere, Courchevel and Verbier are suggested but are all near the top end of the expensive winter resorts league and are all purpose built, in my opinion. OK, in 2 cases they had original villages but those have long been swamped by urban sprawl. Overall costs could easily run to + 50% higher than the 3 places the OP mentions.
Re the Geneva to Dolomites schlepp. I haven’t checked but would be surprised if there weren’t no frills airline cheap flights (EasyJet etc) from Geneva to Milan, Venice, Verona, Bergamo or maybe even Bolzano?
On a general point, I think best to start with a clearer needs/wants list and maybe an idea of what outcome you’d like from a ski trip to an area you rarely go to.
Then chuck that out to people who know the area well and see what they come back with as advice.
After all, a lot of time and money will be invested in this trip.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Yes, flight to Bolzano or Venice would work, but Milan's still a long way from the Dolomites. There are, of course, other Italian resorts nearer to Geneva, notably in the Aosta Valley, an easy drive from Gva. Aosta is an interesting town and suitable for "road tripping" a variety of resorts.
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@Origen, bravo to Aosta. It’s not even near the brief the OP floated but I’ve been there a couple of times and love it. But then again I’m ok with driving to ski each day of a ski trip.
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@PeakyB, "cheap flights (EasyJet etc) from Geneva to Milan, Venice, Verona, Bergamo or maybe even Bolzano"
Nope. Rome or Naples only. I used to fly to Sicily regularly but that may just be summer flights. Maybe changed in Rome a few times too.
There are fast trains however to Milan ...
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@under a new name, useful to know thanks….if disappointing for the snowsports community
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@zenmammon, if you are starting in Geneva you would be losing more than half a day's skiing heading for the Dolomites! St Moritz can be ignored for the same reason.
As multiple threads here prove, everyone has a list of wants that aren't entirely compatible. In your case, traditional mountain village and good snow. By definition the established villages are low enough down to maintain transport links in most conditions so probably won't have snow in the village much of the time. However there are a number which are bases for higher skiing.
Last week of January should have decent snow anywhere, though the last couple of seasons have disappointed somewhat so nothing can be promised (it might have been bad luck, or a new trend due to climate change). And from your point of view I see no reason to look beyond places easily accessible from Geneva. So some thoughts on suggestions above:
- Chamonix. Definitely a traditional town (a lot bigger than a village) with more than enough sociability for your son. You need to plan your skiing because of the disconnected areas but that should work OK, though some of its skiing is suited more for the off-piste/hard black brigade. If you have a car (or are very organised about public transport) you can go through the Mont Blanc tunnel and ski in Courmayeur.
- Aosta valley. Or base yourself the other side of the Mont Blanc tunnel. However you already know Le Thuile and may prefer new places. Le Thuile with its link to La Rosiere is the biggest immediately accessible resort, but there are Courmayeur and Pila to explore (worth a couple of days each) and further afield others including Cervinia with its link to Zermatt. Assuming you had a car (difficult without) Aosta town is a proper place with its own character.
- St Gervais. As @PeakyB says that would be a good base to explore Les Contamines, even if you don't have a car there is a conveniently timed bus taking you there and both are on the same lift pass. It is much more a traditional village and has enough going on for your son even if it isn't one of the places noted for apres ski partying. While its own slopes aren't as snowsure as Les C they offer a lot of skiing over quite a big area and the constant views of Mont Blanc definitely provide a wow factor. You could also take a day trip to Les Houches (one of the Chamonix valley areas, so not on the StG lift pass) using the rack and pinion railway. There are even thermal baths if that was going to be the incentive to trek over to Serre Chevalier.
- Morzine. Given you will have already been in Les Gets I would discount that; to be fair I can see now why you thought of Chatel which would be a base for the further end of the Portes du Soleil area. There is not much of the former traditional village left now, and it can be rather more of a party town than you might prefer. However it would give you the excitement of skiing over the ridge to Switzerland.
- Samoens. Not actually mentioned by anyone, but a traditional village with lift access into the Flaine bowl which is likely to have good snow even if the lower local slopes are poor.
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I own a place in Les Contamines and love it but I wouldn't put it up there for a special trip from the other end of the world!
Serre Chevalier is probably a good idea but because of Milan logistics I'd recommend you consider Sauze d'Oulx - pretty, authentic village that is part of a big, high ski area (Via Latea) that is great for intermediates. You get great Italian food and the ability to ski over into France. Not a bad drive from Milan.
There are loads of good options but given your criteria, I think Sauze is a standout.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Coming from the other end of the world for an experience? Want guaranteed snow and great scenery? Prefer Italy?
Surely Cervinia?
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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@ster, Cervinia itself is hardly beautiful?
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@ster, I’ve been there a couple of times and it doesn’t do it for me to be honest. Sure if you the links to Zermatt are open the view of the pointy rock is great but the skiing on the Cervinia side is pretty samey but to be fair I was not skiing off piste on those occasions.
It seemed to be all big wide low gradient pistes. I could be missing something though.
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You know it makes sense.
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@j b, lots of good advice there, in particular about the pros and cons of Chatel as a base.
The only slightly different take I have is about ‘losing a half day skiing’ if going from Geneva to the Dolomites. I know what you mean, of course, but I tend to think of my 2 full days travelling there and back from the UK differently.
More of an investment, which rewards me with guaranteed snowy pistes, amazing scenery, human scale attractive villages and a better attitude to customer service generally.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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| zenmammon wrote: |
| ... but Chatel is low altitude (snow reliability)... |
Err, the village may be low but the ski area most certainly is not. Skiing all the way down from Super-Chatel to the village centre is the only run that's likely to be affected if there's poor snow and it's easy enough to take the gondola down if you can't or don't want to ski it. But hardly anyone skis that run anyway, even when it is open.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Châtel 1200-2100 is indeed a low altitude resort for the French Alps and will suffer in a poor snow/warm temps week. You only have to read the thread from same time last year to hear about people worrying about the rain limit at 1600m. Many French resorts have the majority of skiing from 2000m to 3000m and would avoid that anxiety. Not knocking Chatel - in good conditions the skiing there is great.
https://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?t=165526&start=760
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Thank you all for such thoughtful advice. The Dolomites are next level beautiful but I I'm not sure we to deal with the travel time. We won't have a car BTW which I forgot to mention - sorry. I'm feeling increasingly fixed on Ser Chev but wondering if a bit too quiet for my son. I'm assuming Le Salle is more energetic t
than Monetier ? Mountain scenery sounds great, much of the skiing is above 2000m, there's a lot of it and also sounds like a fair amount of traditional character. And we can get the bus to Montgenevre for a day or two. Montgenevre is nicely high too. But the challenge will be getting there. I think I'll get myself to Annecy and from take the TGV to Oulx. But it gets there around 8.10pm so I need to organise a transfer from there to the resort. I think there is a connecting bus otherwise it will need to be a taxi. Unless I bite the bullet and hire a car (bit nervous in the snow, dark and other side of the road ! I know I said we don't really like Switzerland (culture a bit sterile) I have been looking at Bettmeralp. Could anyone comment on village atmosphere and variety of skiing there. The views look breathtaking.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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What do people here feel about Zermatt ? Too crowded ?
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But the challenge will be getting there. I think I'll get myself to Annecy and from take the TGV to Oulx.
Currently no trains between France and Italy due to closure of tunnel near Modane…you will get train to St Jean de Maurienne then a bus will take you onto Oulx…the tunnel is forecast to reopen sometime in the first quarter of 2025 but they have encountered far more issues than expected.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Ok thanks for that. The Mt Blanc tunnel has been closed for repairs too I believe ?
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@zenmammon, yes but that is a scheduled closure the same as there was last autumn. You can confidently expect it to be open for the ski season.
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FAQ
