Vast quantities of piste at Europe's highest resort (Val Thorens)

Member Name: rassling

Product:	Val Thorens
Date:	03/10/07 (87 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great for intermediates, proximity to rest of 3 Valleys, reliable snow, decent resort

Disadvantages: Bleak (to unpleasant) in bad weather, crowded pistes

My partner and I, both decent intermediate skiers, spent a week over New Year 2006-07 at Val Thorens, and got very lucky with the snow. While much of the Alps struggled, we had lots of glorious fresh snow to play in, with some excellent piste conditions.

VT is the highest resort in Europe, so while you are likely to get the best of the snow, there are drawbacks. There aren't a lot of trees that high (you can get a pass covering the whole Three Valleys, although the snow lower down was mostly poor while we were there) so in bad weather it can be bleak and at times the visibility was appalling. It's also very cold. But on a clear day with new snow it's a wonderful place to ski. Many many runs to test the intermediate skier with enough to keep advanced skiers happy also. The runs into the resort can get very crowded at times, though, beware, and for complete beginners there are probably better places to go. Snowboarders looked like they were having fun, and there is a choice of snowparks (although one was inaccessible when we were there).

It's a fairly big resort, and as such there are extensive facilities for ski school, eating out, drinking and entertainment. In addition there is lots of choice over where to stay, and due to some clever use of lifts, the resort doesn't feel that huge. Several mountain restaurants on offer also, none fantastic, but all made decent stops for a timely vin chaud.

This is somewhere I would certainly ski again, and with a Three Valleys pass there is so much ground to cover that there's no excuse for getting bored with the same runs again and again.

Summary: An excellent resort for the intermediate who wants to cover the miles.