Courmayeur

Courmayeur lies on the opposite side of the Mont Blanc valley and only a stone's throw away from the top French resort of Chamonix, which is a short drive back up through the Mont Blanc Tunnel.

Courmayeur, a high level resort gives access to slopes that can be ridden by all. Generally, this is a good place to spend a week or two. However, with its mixture of traditional Italian architecture and its modern resort offerings, Courmayeur is a destination that attracts millions of British skiers and other foreign nationals every year. They then copy their Italian counterparts by cladding themselves in horrid expensive ski wear and clogging up the slopes,often to bursting point.

The village is well spread out, but there is no real chance of leaping out of the nest, ollying over a balcony and landing in a lift queue: you are going to have to do a bit of walking in order to take the cablecar up to the slopes.

The terrain will please intermediate carvers but bore advanced freeriders. Be warned, every man and his dog hits the slopes at weekends and holidays.

The main thing you notice is the amount of plate bindings and ski boots that are about, as this is a carver's pose place, although many don't know what to pose in -(ski boots are a no-no, people). Top Italian female pro Martina Magenta hails from Courmayeur and can often be seen carving up the slopes.