Val Thorens is the highest of the Three Valleys resort chain and is therefore the safest bet for snow; especially as the slopes include glacier skiing. At 2300 m this is also the highest ski resort village in Europe, which is quite a claim when you consider the competition. The resort is a good all rounder and is often listed in last minute budget holiday deals so you might well grab yourself a bargain and have a really good holiday.

For freestylers there is a park by the 2 Lacs chairlift and in recent years this has been receiving much more care and attention than in past years. There is a halfpipe, which wasn't up to much during the tme I spent there, but the excellently fun boarder cross more than made up for this. If you're really only interested in park skiing then this isn't the best resort to go to; why not try looking at other cheapish resorts such as La Plagne or Les Arcs.  Luckily there are plenty of natural hits to supplement the park features and this should be more than enough to keep most happy.

Beginners will find friendly learning areas in and around the village as well as numerous gentle blue runs slightly higher up the mountain which will allow for a little progression. Intermediates will also enjoy these blues which include “tete ronde”, a fantastic run which leads from the Glacier de Peclet to the very bottom of the slopes. For more advanced skiers there is a shortage of black runs, but definitely not a shortage of steep terrain; just make sure you are prepared to cut the corners between the red runs to get to some excellent off piste skiing.

It is worth mentioning that the glacier at Thorens allows skiing until August and does have a small, but fun park. Not quite as good as that of Les Deux Alpes or Tignes though.

 Boys might be interested to know that this is a very popular resort for Swedish and Dutch groups. If you are looking for a good all round resort that should please everyone, and is guaranteed snow, then Val Thorens is often available as a great budget option. I would avoid visiting in December or January because the weather can be fairly ferocious during these months.