Chamonix or Val d'Isère?
Chamonix takes 4 of 9, with 2 too close to call. That still does not settle it — only the categories you care about count.
France
Chamonix
A real town with the most serious mountain terrain in the Alps and the shortest transfer from Geneva. The ski areas are separate and bus-linked, which makes it a poor choice for families and a superb one for everyone else.
Worth knowing. The ski areas are separate and bus-linked, which costs an hour a day.
Choose it if
A non-skiing partner
About £1,215 a week from London
France
Val d'Isère
The off-piste benchmark, with a proper village and the strongest guiding scene in France. Prices match the reputation, and the Tignes half of the pass is where the value sits.
Worth knowing. You pay a premium for the name that the Tignes half of the pass does not charge.
Choose it if
Families with young kids
About £1,609 a week from London
Side by side
| Chamonix | Val d'Isère | |
|---|---|---|
| Snow reliability | 66/100 | 86/100 |
| Size of the ski area | 155 km | 300 km linked |
| Top lift | 3842 m | 3456 m |
| Cost before travel | €1190 | €1640 |
| Families with young kids | 4/10 | 7/10 |
| Snowboarders | 7/10 | 8/10 |
| A non-skiing partner | 9/10 | 6/10 |
| Budget and après | 6/10 | 4/10 |
| Off-piste | 10/10 | 9/10 |
Bold marks the winner. Rows where neither is bold are close enough that the difference would not change a decision. Cost excludes travel, which depends on where you leave from.
Piste kilometres, lift counts and prices are indicative and compiled from public sources — they have not yet been checked against the resort's own figures for this season. Costs are planning estimates, not quotes. Spotted one that is wrong? Tell us.