Serre Chevalier is a massive ski area which is located by the town of Briancon. It is not the highest of villages, so snow isn't the most guaranteed at resort level, but it does have a brilliant atmosphere and lots of good fun locals. Transfer is a relatively lengthy experience as the closest airport is Turin, which is 2 and a half hours drive away.

The lower slopes of the resort are lined with Larch trees which allow for some excellent tree skiing. I found that the very lowest slopes were just a tad too gentle though to really get the most out of the trees however the runs on the uppermost limits of the treeline are really good.

Freestyle skiers and boarders should really enjoy the resort as there are loads and loads of good natural hits, particularly in the the upper bowls. There are also a number of parks and man made features dotted all over the place, with some particularly good jumps at Pre Chabert. Many riders will tell you that the pipes and boardercross tracks at Serre Chevalier are particularly great and are not to be missed- I would be inclined to believe them.

I wouldn't rate the skiing for beginners as most of the more gentle runs are at the base of the mountain where the snow often gets poor when warmer weather brings rain and melt to the valley. At times when the snow is good though, the gentle runs on offer at the base of the mountains are excellent and will be enjoyed by all. There are particularly good, green runs which lead down to the villages of Chantemerle and Villeneuve.

Intermediates can enjoy forays into tree skiing as well as some open wide bowl skiing at the top of the resort. Serre Chevalier really shines in the area of advanced terrain though. Above the tree line, the mountains steepen and offer lots of possibility for challenging riding both on an off piste. There are lots of locals who really charge which makes skiing here all the more exciting and fun.

In summary I think that this is the ideal area for intermediates, freestylers and advanced skiers. Beginners will also have a great time, but I would be wary of visiting during early or late season when there may or may not be snow on the runs. As a base to do a season, Serre Chevalier would definitely be in my top 5 shortlist because of the size of the base villages, the expanse of terrain, reasonable prices and a brilliant vibe.