What constitutes a great ski resort is the subject of debate around chalet fireplaces and across après-ski bars the world over. For some – typically those with an appetite for powder days and frozen early-morning chairlifts – it’s all about high altitude and deep snow cover. For the romantics among us, car-free streets, wooden chalets twinkling at dusk and fine-dining restaurants serving hearty mountain fare are key.
The more practical traveller might look for ski schools, an efficient lift system and convenient transport connections when choosing a winter sports destination. Others, with their eyes set on clocking up leg-burning distances, might favour piste maps bursting with opportunity.
To help settle the debate once and for all, we turned to data science to reveal the world’s best resorts, according to the facts and figures that form the foundations of ski holidays. Firstly, The Telegraph’s ski experts compiled a shortlist of 50 fantastic resorts, before sizing them up against one another across 36 criteria in four main categories: Location, Mountain Terrain, Resort Luxuries and Natural Prowess.
We’ve assessed everything from vertical drop to après vigour, leaving no snowflake unturned in our search for perfection on the pistes. Our research stretched to every corner of the globe, from the depths of British Columbia and the powder fields of Japan via the heights of the Alps and wilderness of Scandinavia. It was a closely fought affair, with the top 10 resorts separated by a mere 100 points, and the top three by fewer than 50 – and there are some surprise exclusions as well as expected triumphs. Nevertheless, the winner is undeniably a worthy one – it is, after all, one of the most extensive, enticing and exciting ski destinations on the planet.
Zell am See, Austria
(Total score: 828)“Zell is a real one-off: a resort town with a traffic-free medieval centre and lovely lakeside setting that’s as busy in summer as in winter. Its local slopes are linked to those of Saalbach, giving a huge ski area to explore, with the added bonus of a snowsure glacier a short bus ride away in Kaprun.”
Dave Watts, TELEGRAPH DESTINATION EXPERT
What is it like?
A lively Austrian town with a growing appeal to skiers and snowboarders, Zell am See might strike some as an unexpected entry in our top 10, but its position among the greats is increasingly justified. Officially named Zell am See-Kaprun, the resort is sandwiched between a giant lake and the local mountain (the Schmittenhöhe). There’s a train station at its heart, Salzburg Airport is just 80 minutes’ drive away and the town’s gastronomy scene (over 180 restaurants on and off the mountain) earned it top rankings in our Location and Luxuries categories. But it was Zell’s connections on the slopes and expanding ski area that propelled it into our top 10. The resort’s lift pass extends to nearby Kaprun and the Kitzsteinhorn glacier (surpassing 3,000m altitude), and thanks to the recent linking, by gondola and bus, to the 270km Saalbach-Hinterglemm-Leogang-Fieberbrunn ski area, and the wider Skicircus ski area beyond that (totaling over 400km of pistes and 121 heavy-weight lifts), its credentials have skyrocketed. Access for skiers to a swimming pool, spa, kids club, a plethora of ski schools (16) and the town’s charm rating among our experts helped bolster its score further.
Holiday highlight
The two black runs down the front of Zell’s local Schmittenhöhe mountain are great fast blasts when groomed – which they usually are every night. Try them in the morning before they get bumped up.
Crystal Ski Holidays (020 8610 3123; crystalski.co.uk) offers the resort’s only five-star, the Salzburgerhof, from £1,439. The hotel is near the lake and just a few minutes’ walk from the town centre and lifts – a private shuttle is available to guests. The 3,500sqm wellness area is set over three floors with various pools, different types of saunas and steam rooms, an outdoor hot tub, Feng-Shui garden and more. The gourmet restaurant serves up delicious dinners.
Lech, Austria
(Total score: 833)“Tucked into a picturesque valley in the Arlberg, the ancient town of Lech is the epitome of ‘gemütlichkeit’. But there’s more to it than charming sun-blackened chalets and frescoed inns: in addition to some of the Alpine world’s most luxurious, and discrete, chalets, Lech delivers access to some of its snowiest and most challenging ski terrain, within Austria’s largest ski area.”
Gabriella le Breton, TELEGRAPH DESTINATION EXPERT
What is it like?
Often overshadowed by the boomboxes and adrenaline-fuelled thrills of nearby St Anton, the blueblood of Austria’s ski history shuns its noisy neighbour for a place in the top 10 – helped undoubtedly by its charm fostered from its origins as a farming village, five-star hospitality and impressive snow record (431cm on average). Luxuries are where Lech excelled in our study (missing out on second place in the category by just one point.) It’s home to more luxury hotels than any other of our top 10 (78) and a score of 30 for the prominence of Gault Milau listings among its restaurants (second only to Zermatt). The resort’s performance in the terrain category is not to be sniffed at either – while the local slopes (115km) aren’t earthshattering, its place within the Arlberg ski area saw the resort gain high marks for access to heli-skiing, 13 ski schools and over 80 high-speed lifts, which granted it a top rating for lack of queues. Luxuries and terrain aside, Lech’s roster of famous patrons, including Princess Diana and the Dutch royal family, are drawn by the resort’s long-standing reputation as one of the snowiest destinations in the Alps – it was awarded an impressive number of points for average snowfall (431cm) and snow depth record (220cm).
Holiday highlight
Enjoy après-ski with a difference, sipping artisanal gin and tonics in the intimate fire-warmed comfort of The Yurt, a hand-stitched Kyrgyz yurt set in the garden of the Hotel Arlberg.
Inghams (01483 945 143; inghams.co.uk) offers Hotel Arlberg, widely regarded to be the best hotel in the resort, from £2,869 a week. The hotel is central and elegantly rustic, built in chalet-style. As well as the main candle-lit traditional restaurant, there’s a classic Austrian stube and another restaurant offering Italian fine dining.
Tignes, France
(Total score: 850)“Simply put, a winter sports holiday requires snow-covered slopes; Tignes guarantees them. And what slopes. As well as the virtually year-round snow of the Grande Mötte glacier, its runs are challenging at every level, from long thigh-burning blues to epic backcountry routes. While restaurants and accommodation are constantly improving there is still a relaxed, unflashy vibe to resort life that skiers of all abilities know and love.”
Chris Madigan, TELEGRAPH DESTINATION EXPERT
What is it like?
Consider a ski holiday in Tignes and your attention will be blinded by the resort’s reputation as one of the most snow-sure destinations in Europe – an accolade that shot the French hotspot up the rankings. The resort’s altitude, topping out in the highest village of Val Claret at 2,100m, scoring it a stack of points, as did possessing one of longest seasons in our study (163 days) and the best average snowfall of any French destination (590cm). Its ski area, which reaches an eye-watering 3,456m on the Grand Mötte glacier, is hard to beat for variety (300km shared with Val d’Isère) and vertical drop (1,956m). Despite its lofty credentials though, the resort performed well for travel convenience (Bourg St Maurice train station is just 30km away) and gained bonuses for off-the-slope facilities such as Le Lagon waterpark, kids club and its commitment to sustainability, boosted further by its location at the heart of the Vanoise National Park (30 points).
Holiday highlight
If the main resort is a little brutalist for you, Tignes Les Brevières offers a more villagey feel for lunch or as a base – find both at Tetras Lodge Hotel.
Peak Retreats (023 9283 9310; peakretreats.co.uk) offers Hotel Village Montana, including return Eurotunnel crossing, from £1,240. The hotel is a complex of Savoyard-style serviced suites and rooms in Le Lac, some across two floors, conveniently located in Le Lac.
Val Thorens, France
(Total score: 863)“It’s difficult not to love Val Thorens. In recent years the high-altitude outpost has undergone a five-star makeover, as newer, smarter hotels have opened. It has some of the best snow in the Alps, fabulous long, high runs from the rim of peaks that surround it, and is an excellent gateway to the Trois Vallées – the best and most varied ski area in Europe, if not the world.”
Nick Trend, TELEGRAPH DESTINATION EXPERT
What is it like?
At 2,300m purpose-built Val Thorens is not only the highest resort in the 600km Trois Vallées ski area, but the highest in Europe – its position in our top 10 goes unquestioned thanks to these lofty credentials alone. The resort came second only to powder-haven Niseko when investigating snow depth records and with a season that spans November-May (170 days) it performed well for natural prowess. At the head of the Belleville Valley, surrounded by a horseshoe of dramatic peaks, Val Thorens is truly spectacular in winter. It’s made all the more enticing by the size of its ski area (150km local; 600km linked) and the facilities available to winter-sport enthusiasts – 160 lifts, 13 ski schools and a dedicated beginners area. The resort’s reputation for luxury is less well documented, but an ongoing five-star makeover thanks to a roster of new hotels and fine-dining establishments helped it stay afloat in the Luxuries category – it did particularly well for après-ski appeal (48 bars plus a bonus for a Folie Douce venue) and received additional points for off-the-slope activities – all adding up to a ski holiday with heightened appeal.
Holiday highlight
Fly high above Europe’s loftiest resort on two zipwires. La Tyrolienne at 3,230m connects the Orelle and Val Thorens ski areas with a flight of over 1,300m up to 250m above the ground, taking nearly two minutes. Above the village there’s La Bee, a double wire open to pedestrians and skiers for a flight of 1,800m 65m above the ground.
Skiline (020 8313 3999; skiline.co.uk) offers the Altapura, a cutting-edge hotel at the foot of the slopes, from £1,919. The four-star hotel boasts a luxury spa, with outdoor pool and a choice of three restaurants, including chic Casa Alta serving beautifully-presented French classics.
La Plagne, France
(Total score: 868)“The purpose-built La Plagne was designed very specifically for alpine skiers. Downhill skiing for all levels is truly exceptional and the resort – actually an assemblage of 11 conveniently different ‘villages’ – delivers dizzying Mont Blanc views, diverse ski-in/ski-out boltholes and outdoor thrills in spades.”
Nicola Williams, TELEGRAPH DESTINATION EXPERT
What is it like?
With 11 separate villages forming the resort, from traditional farming villages to purpose-built satellites, there was a lot of scope for La Plagne to perform well in our study. It excelled in the Location category in particular. With the resort’s highest village sitting at 1,970m, a train station less than 40km away and the bonus of car-free streets, it’s hard to deny its appeal to those looking for snow-sure convenience, particularly families. Despite having an impressive 225km of its own terrain, the giant Paradiski area (425km) helped La Plagne punch above its rivals, thanks largely to a vertical drop of 2,000m and extensive lift system (129), including the double-decker Vanoise Express, which spans a 1,800m valley to connect the resort with Les Arcs. The sheer size of the ski area and vastness of the resort means La Plagne earned points for an impressive number of restaurants both on (20) and off the slopes (99) – this is where it gained the most recognition in the Luxuries category. It fared better in terms of natural prowess, thanks to its location in the Vanoise National Park and a trustworthy snow record (477cm on average). All-rounder La Plagne is the perfect example of a reliable French resort, without any frills or spills.
Holiday highlight
Skiing aside, overnighting in a recycled piste basher at 2,385m or snowshoeing like a tumbling marmot up and down the rollercoaster hillocks of the surprisingly little-known Cembraie nature reserve with a guide are both unforgettable.
Ski World (0330 102 8004; skiworld.co.uk) offers cosy but contemporary Chalet Benoite, from £1,339, based on eight guests sharing the entire chalet. The four bedrooms are ensuite and the chalet has its own sauna and a hot tub on the terrace. Guests are treated to afternoon tea, five nights full catering and unlimited wine with their meals.
Val d’Isère, France
(Total score: 872)“The medieval village of Val d’Isère is as resoundingly beautiful as the Alps gets, the restaurants and bars deliver happiness and hangovers in equal measure, and then there’s the main event: always, everywhere, miles of heroic pistes and near-secret backcountry bowls taking you to heaven on earth.”
Mike MacEacheran, TELEGRAPH DESTINATION EXPERT
What is it like?
Starting the top five, and beating its closest contender by less than five points, Val d’Isère is arguably one of the most well-known ski resorts among British skiers and snowboarders – and, according to science and public opinion, for good reason. Linked to neighbouring Tignes to form a ski area of 300km of pistes and 78 lifts, Val offers high quality, snow-sure slopes for everyone from complete beginner to veteran powderhound. Access to the Grand Mötte glacier, at 3,456m, makes it one of the loftiest ski areas in Europe, all backed up by the support of an impressive amount of ski schools (16), snow depth record within the top 10 (270cm) and an efficient lift system that saw it score bonus points for a lack of queues. What sets Val apart from its neighbour (ranked just three places behind) was its performance in the Luxuries category. The resort, which stretches for three miles along a narrow plateau flanked by steep mountains on both sides, from La Daille to the hamlets of Le Laisinant and Le Fornet at the foot of the Col de l’Iseran, is home to a growing number of luxury hotels (14 above four-star) and to the original incarnation of the on-mountain cabaret experience, the Folie Douce – which helped Val performed particularly well for the number of après-ski establishments (30). Long may the party continue in this consistent Alpine charmer.
Holiday highlight
The highest hotel in France, Le Refuge de Solaise doubles as a swanky mountain eyrie and gift for early birds — it’s at 2,551m, meaning you’ll have the day’s first runs all to yourself.
The Oxford Ski Company (01865 817420; oxfordski.com) offers Le Refuge de Solaise, from £6,084 B&B. Once the Solaise gondola closes at 4.30pm guests have the mountain to themselves and an extra five hours of daylight (two in the morning, three in the evening) compared to those staying down in the village.
Zermatt, Switzerland
(Total score: 884)“Zermatt is one of the world’s most iconic ski resorts, thanks in part to the Matterhorn towering above. This car-free high mountain village has it all: 360km of pistes for all skiers, five-star hotels, fantastic mountain restaurants, and a glacier that provides reliable, snow-sure skiing over one of the longest seasons in the Alps.”
Abigail Butcher, TELEGRAPH DESTINATION EXPERT
What is it like?
Ski resorts don’t come much more iconic than Zermatt – from its views of the world’s most photogenic mountain, the Matterhorn, to its narrow streets lined with wonky, weathered chalets. Every Alpine clinché is alive and well in this car-free town (bonus point) that’s full of life all year round. With such a world-renowned reputation it would be easy for the resort to rest on its laurels – but it’s the luxuries of a ski holiday where Zermatt excels with finesse. The Swiss bolthole topped the Luxuries category by a country mile, with more Michelin Stars or Gault Millau than any other resort in our study, a place in the top three for après appeal and as the top-ranking Swiss resort for plus-four-star luxury beds. The resort boasts impressive natural prowess too – scoring a total of 213 points in that category alone, helped largely by bonuses for its unequivocal charm and a season that spans 181 days. Zermatt’s ski area (360km) has no issue catering for such a long season thanks to the glacier it shares with Cervinia, across the border in Italy, and which reaches a staggering 3,899m (the loftiest skiable point in our study). Despite missing out on an overall podium place by a mere 11 points, Zermatt’s iconic legacy is unweathered by both science and public appreciation.
Holiday highlight
The family-run Chez Vrony set at 2,130m in Findeln is a Zermatt institution and rightly so. Serving organic home produce in a small mountain farmhouse with an outstanding Matterhorn view. Booking is a must, as is sampling the Vrony burger.
Ski Solutions (020 3944 6830; skisolutions.com) offers Hotel Alex, a characterful Zermatt institution near the station, from £1,735. The hotel has colourful, warm, sometimes eccentric décor, excellent food, a 25m pool, a spa, gym, squash court, badminton and indoor tennis.
Aspen, USA
(Total score: 895)“Aspen has all the top-drawer skiing you want – from artfully groomed beginner slopes to stellar powder – combined with its ace card: a characterful town with history and style rather than a fake mountain village designed by megalomaniacs. It also has a food and drink scene snazzy enough to keep even the Hollywood set amused.”
Leslie Woit, TELEGRAPH DESTINATION EXPERT
What is it like?
The old silver mining town of Aspen was brought back to life thanks to the American skiing boom of the late 20th century – since, it has become one of America’s leading mountain destinations, famed for its challenging runs, glamorous, cultured town and celebrity visitors. The science stakes up too, clinching it third place in our study. The resort is home to four separate mountains, all with their own ski area and connected by a free shuttle bus – in total its skiable area covers 515km of slopes with a top height of 3,813m. Despite having one of the most expensive lift passes in our study, the resort grants access to all the thrills on every skier’s list, from heli-skiing, cross country tracks (96km) and terrain parks (12) – all with the luxury of non-existent queues. Aspen’s location is almost as impressive as its ski area – sitting at 2,560m it’s higher than any resort in Europe (beware of altitude sickness), and there’s an airport just 4km away. Naturally, its geography is just as staggering. As part of the Rocky Mountain National Park (bonus point) the average snowfall surpasses 700cm. Glamorous and fashionable, off the slopes Aspen is a delight, with 100 restaurants, spas, a swimming pool and all the indulgence that makes an American ski holiday great.
Holiday highlight
Take a taxi to Woody Creek Tavern, haunt of late gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson. It’s recently been sympathetically updated but remains the finest place to meet local characters and get your drinking boots on.
Ski Safari (01273 257313; skisafari.com) offers the Wildwood Snowmass, right in the centre of Snowmass and stone’s throw from the slopes, from £3,093, room only. The hotel’s bar, Last Chair, offers daily après ski and evening dining with the addition of some great draught brews.
Les Arcs, France
(Total score: 916)“There is much to adore about Les Arcs, not least its egalitarian ethos built into its very architecture by the designer Charlotte Perriand, its easy access by train from the UK and its doorstep slopes. With everything from long wooded runs to epic swooping bowls, it’s as loved by beginners as it is experts.”
Rebecca Miles, TELEGRAPH DESTINATION EXPERT
What is it like?
When the French set out to build an empire of ski resorts in the 1960s and 70s they had a point to prove as the epicentre of skiing in Europe. While some might loathe the jagged architecture and apartment blocks that others love, the formula work and Les Arcs’ position on the podium is proof enough. The resort, which is split across four ski-in/ski-out bases at 1,600m, 1,800m, 1,950m and 2,000m, offers something for every type of skier and snowboarder. You’d be hard-pressed to be disappointed by its score in our Location category – the nearest train station (16km) is accessed directly by funicular lift and the streets are traffic free. But it is Les Arcs’ performance on the pistes that have secured it the silver medal – clocking up 451 points in the Terrain category alone. The ski area, which it shares with La Plagne (ranked sixth) is an Alpine heavyweight with 425km in total and a high point of 3,226m. Three terrain parks, 30km of cross-country tracks, 14 ski schools and a dedicated beginners area means, across the vast area, it’s hard to get bored. When in the resort the variety is just as mindblowing: 124 restaurants, 38 bars, including a Folie Douce, swimming pool, spa, kids activities… the list is endless – much like Les Arcs appeal.
Holiday highlight
Take the Aiguille Rouge cable car to the summit at 3,226m, the highest peak in Les Arcs, and from here not only do you have gorgeous views of Mont Blanc, Mont Pourri and the Pierra Menta, you also have an epic ski run swooping down reds and blacks to Villaroger, a vertical drop of 2,000m below.
TravelSki (0800 260 5082; uk.travelski.com) offers that chance to arrive by train direct from London and stay at Residence Edenarc from £734, based on a group of four, including train travel, transfers from the station, self-catered accommodation and lift pass. The ski-in/ski-out complex is located in a car-free area above Arc 1800 and has a large swimming pool and an on-site restaurant.
Courchevel, France
(Total score: 938)“Courchevel’s beauty lies in the immense variety of accommodation, enticing restaurants, and hard-to-leave watering holes, both on and off the mountain. They’re all flanked by seemingly endless pistes and whoop-worthy freeride terrain that never fails to inspire, excite, and satisfy – no matter your level of expertise. Les Trois Valleés is still the world’s largest properly linked ski area and Courchevel is the delicious crème de la crème of it.”
Peter Hardy, TELEGRAPH DESTINATION EXPERT
What is it like?
Any skier or snowboarder would struggle to find a ski resort with more rounded appeal and unquestionable credentials than Courchevel. While its reputation as a bolthole for oligarchs and the A-list is not unfounded, its geography, set over five distinct villages ranging from the prestige of Courchevel 1850 to the rustic heart of Courchevel 1300 (Le Praz), cements its appeal to all budgets and abilities. Its five personalities can be upped to six if you include the lower community of Saint Bon, which can be reached on skis when conditions are good but lacks any lifts of its own. While catering to the entire ski spectrum, the resort, where the Prince and Princess of Wales famously went on their first family ski holiday and where Parisians head to be seen and to flash their cash, shone in the Luxuries category – its fine dining blew the closest French competitor out the water. It also topped the French list for the highest number of four-star-plus hotels and après-ski haunts. However, it’s on the slopes, beyond the Rolexes and Palace hotels, that the resort clinched the top spot (454 points). While helped unquestionably by its position at one end of the world’s largest lift-linked ski area – Les Trois Vallées (600km) – Courchevel has stature in its own right with 150km of local pistes backed up by 55 slick lifts, which won it bonus points for lack of queues. Consistent performances in the Location (25km to the nearest stations; 110km to the airport, excluding private landing strips) and Nature categories (thanks to the Vanoise National Park) rounded off Courchevel’s stellar performance in our study – a true ski resort star, who’s sparkle is unchallenged.
Holiday highlight
Belair is what a French mountain restaurant should be, but rarely is: The menu has barely changed this century – classic French dishes (not a foam in sight), a dozen snails, côtes d’agneau and a gratin Savoyard, all washed down with the house red at €18. Stunning sun terrace and the friendliest staff too – all reached by gondola from Moriond. Booking essential.
Scott Dunn (020 8682 5080; scottdunn.com) offers Le Chabichou, one of Courchevel’s classic five-star hotels, from £2,200, B&B. The distinctly white building is right on the slopes and has 41 sumptuous bedrooms and suites, a two Michelin-star restaurant, an 1100sqm spa area (the largest in the Alps) and its own ski and boot rental shop.
Unless stated otherwise prices are per person for a week’s stay, including half board, flights and transfers, based on two sharing.
The people’s champion
Courchevel may have clinched the title in our scientific study, but when The Telegraph’s avid ski and snowboarder followers had their say on Twitter, another French favourite came out on top.
Over the course of three weeks we hosted the Twitter World Cup of Ski Resorts to decipher the people’s piste-perfect champion. Featuring a series of polls, the 50 resorts included into our study were divided into 13 groups for the opening round. The winner (or winners) of each round progressed to the quarter and then semi-final rounds, before a final showdown delivered the winner.
Unsurprisingly all the big names won their playoffs comfortably – it was hard for their competitors to touch the likes of Verbier, Tignes, Whistler and St Anton in their respective polls. Courchevel showed its prestige too, topping its playoff with 60 per cent of the votes. But as the finals began, science’s champion lost ground to its competitors in Canada and Switzerland.
There was no stopping the French though – with Whistler facing off Zermatt, and Val d’Isère battling Verbier in the semi finals. Despite the Swiss’ best efforts there was one very clear favourite.
Val d’Isère won its playoff with a staggering 62 per cent of the vote. In the quarter finals it overshadowed its neighbour Tignes, supreme Courchevel and Italy’s closest contender Cortina d’Ampezzo with over 40 per cent of votes, before wiping the floor with Verbier by clinching 70 per cent in the semi final. It faced Canada’s biggest resort in the final and went on to prove, by public opinion, the French slopes are hard, if not impossible, to beat.
🏆This is it
⛷️Two heavyweights of the ski world, 🇨🇦Whistler and 🇫🇷Val d’Isère, have fought off competition from every corner of the globe to be named the finalists in the ski resort World Cup
⌛️You have 24 hours to vote for your favourite, before a winner is crowned
— Telegraph Ski & Snow (@TeleSkiSnow) November 10, 2022Credit needs to be given to Whistler though – which performed disappointing in the science stakes. It swept through our reader polls, a clear contender from the outset – only to be beaten by Val d’Isere in the final. It put up a good fight receiving 40 percent of votes, to Val’s 60 – its ‘ego snow’ obviously leaving a lasting impression on those who have visited British Columbia in winter.
The individual category winners
France’s domination of our largest category – Terrain – will have gone a long way to influencing the nation’s overall success. Courchevel topped the individual group that considered criteria such as ski area size and the number of lifts.
Switzerland had good results in the Location category, helped inevitably by the convenience of both Geneva airport and the nation’s railway network. Wengen, the winner of Location, is both car-free and has its own train station.
Austria was king of Luxury overall with six places in the top 10 – its resorts, like Kitzbühel and Lech, quite rightly, pride themselves on their hospitality, which will have boosted their ranking.
Canada was unlucky not to top any of the categories or get a top 10 ranking overall – Banff was its closest contender in 32nd – but North America, home to some of the world’s best snow records, showed its weight in the Nature category.
There were minor victories for Italy in both the Terrain and Nature charts thanks to Cortina d’Ampezzo too. See the tables below for more information.
Our methodology
In conducting our research we considered 36 different criteria, using official sources and corroborating with resorts directly, divided into four subcategories: Location, Terrain, Luxuries and Nature.
In the Location category, we assessed the resort’s position on the global map and its accessibility to skiers and snowboarders according to the following criteria: resort altitude (village level – if multiple villages form a resort we considered the highest of them), nearest airport (km) and nearest train station (km). There were bonuses for having direct rail access into the resort centre and car-free streets.
Terrain was by far the biggest, and therefore, naturally, the most influential category – after all the crux of a ski holiday is time spent on the mountain. We assigned each resort a score according to its performance in the following criteria: slope altitude, vertical drop, ski area size (both local and linked via lifts and lift passes), the number of resorts that were linked, number of lifts (both local and linked), lift pass price (both local and linked for a six-day period), the number of terrain parks, whether there is a dedicated area for beginners to learn, if heli-skiing is possible, the ability to go cross country skiing and the size of its network, the number of ski schools in the resort and how it fares in terms of lift queues.
For Luxuries, the criteria were as follows: number of four-star and five-star hotels, number of mountain restaurants, number of restaurants in the resort village, how many Michelin stars or Gault Milau toques are held by resort restaurants, number of apres-ski bars, whether the resort hosts an annual music festival and is particularly popular for parties, access to a public swimming pool and spa, the availability of a kids club or nursery and whether the resort actively promotes a sustainability programme.
The final category, Nature, looked at whether the resort is naturally blessed by the key qualities of a winter destination. The criteria were: average annual snowfall, snow depth record, whether the resort and ski area are within a National Park or protected area and the length of its ski season.
Our Twitter poll was the deciding factor for our people’s champion – an independent survey to gauge the preferences of The Telegraph’s ski and snowboard readers.
Is Courchevel really the world’s greatest ski resort? If not, which alternative gets your vote? Please leave your comments below.
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