This is from a piste skier’s perspective. Despite the smaller individual areas, Chamonix is still great. If you think carefully where to stay, you can use the quick reliable train to easily get to the Grand Montets, Flegere and Le Tour (Valloricine station). The buses are fine and really frequent but the train is easier.

The Brevent-Flegere area is big enough to keep you happy for a couple of days and has terrific views. Le Tour (Balme) is better than I remembered. Grands Montets is really missing the top lift that’s being rebuilt.

Food on the mountain has improved with more options than I remember from my last trip 10 years ago. Food in town is still really good with loads of choice.

It’s easy to get to, I took an overnight bus from Paris which worked well. I arrived at 7, had breakfast in the Plan B hotel by the bus station and was skiing by 9. If that’s too extreme, Geneva airport is just over an hour away and there are good train services from Paris.

If you’re a piste skier who occasionally ventures off-piste, Chamonix is poor as there are so many good powder skiers it gets tracked out in no time. The great off-piste is well away from the ski areas and quite serious.