Ski Europe: Find the best food, parties and kids' amenities

by Felix Milns

Fancy a trip to the Alps this winter? Europe's top resorts are gearing up for another five months of frenzied partying and fun on the slopes.

Discover where to find the most powder, the best mountain lunch, and the best après-ski, as well as advice on where to take the kids. Ratings for kids' amenities and snow quality are on a scale from 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest). A la saison!

Val d'Isère, France
The Crown Prince of European skiing, Val oozes ski and sex appeal
http://www.valdisere.com/

Best for: intermediate and adventurous by day, wild by night
Kids: 4
Cost: £££££
Snow: 5

Linked with Tignes in the adjoining valley, Val is one of the biggest and highest ski areas in the world; offering the intermediate skier endless miles of sculpted cruising, and the expert an incredible variety of hardcore runs and lift-accessed off-piste. It is also a good place to learn, with a great variety of English-speaking guides and instructors, though it is not as focused on beginners as some other resorts. The car-free village has a great ambience and it is almost as well known for its booming nightlife as its mountains; sleep comes at a premium here. Though expensive for families, the resort has an impressive "children's village" and many of the tour operators have good childcare facilities.

Méribel, France
The heart of the three valleys, the soul of England abroad
www.meribel.net/welcome.htm

Best for: mixed ability groups and day-long picturesque piste-bashing
Kids: 4
Cost: £££££
Snow: 4

The epicentre of the biggest lift-linked ski area in the world, Méribel is paradise found for mileage-proud intermediates. Experts have couloirs, cliffs and bumps in every valley. Though expensive for families, it's a good place to learn, has specialist English-speaking ski instructors and most of the tour operators offer their own childcare facilities. The lift system is state of the art and the piste-grooming second to none, enabling you to cover large distances in your skiing day. Méribel itself is a charming chalet-style village with a nice atmosphere, but the satellite resorts are a bit soulless. Val Thorens is better for snow, Courchevel is more chic and French, Les Menuires cheaper, but none are as well positioned. Don't expect to speak much French, most people you meet will be Brits...