Skis, boards and boots can be left at the top or bottom of the lift so there is no need to carry them to and from the hotel. You can pre-book equipment hire getting 10% discount and find ski passes in hotel to have the opportunity to get the slopes as soon as you get the Cime Bianche. Courmayeur is only an hour and a half from Turin and Geneva airports, about 2 hrs 45 mins from Milan and aprox 9hrs by car from Calais (motorway virtually all the way), making it an ideal destination for weekend ski and snowboarding breaks. The Courmayeur ski area is fabulous for intermediate and advanced skiers. There are plenty of testing runs, treeless bowls, mogul fields, steep gullies and wide open pistes. For the more advanced skiers and snowboarders there are lots of off piste opportunities. There is a free bus service to La Thuile/ La Rosiere (150km of piste), only 20 minutes away. The skiing here is easier than Courmayeur but offers plenty to explore in a day. Chamonix is just a short distance away through the Mont Blanc Tunnel, and the more adventurous can tackle the world famous Vallee Blanche (guide recommended). Advanced skiers will enjoy the challenging descent from the Cresta Youla to Val Veny which includes a 9km stretch of unpisted, fresh powder or moguls. Hook up with a local guide to try the steep and deep Toula Glacier on Mont Blanc, with over 7,000 feet of vertical decent and guaranteed good snow. Intermediates will love Courmayeur with its plentiful supply of red runs. A wide variety of pistes to choose from, depending on how much you want to push yourself. Beginners will find the nursery slopes an excellent area to find their feet with the careful and professional ski and board school. Runs away from this area are somewhat limited but guests are often amazed at how quickly they can progress. Snowboarding With an interesting terrain Courmayeur offers much to the freeriders. There is plenty of scope for jumps and bumps and a new snow park. No of Runs 6 blue, 13 red, 4 black. No of lifts 16; 1 gondola, 8 chairlifts, 4 cable cars, 3 drag lifts. Courmayeur attracts a pleasant mix of European clientele, with skiers from the UK, Ireland, Scandinavia, France and of course Italy. The resort tends to have an air of a more exclusive market, with lively aprs ski, a mouth watering selection of restaurants and an interesting selection of pistes to ski during the day. Popular with English tourists for many years, Courmayeur has excellent English-speaking ski and snowboard schools and ski/board shops. The village is picturesque with cobbled streets and stunning views of Mont Blanc. The architecture is traditional in style and, unlike purpose built resorts, Courmayeur is very pleasing to the eye. Aprs-ski can be as lively as you please with pubs, smart cocktail bars and discos. Eating Out The Italians really do take their food very seriously and for the chic crowd arriving from Turin and Milan, eating is just as important as the skiing. In resort you would struggle to go hungry with such a wide choice of places to choose from. Courmayeur has it all from fantastic pizzerias, exquisite local menus to the more traditional food at reasonable prices. Our guests get discounts in some restaurants. Aprs Ski There are a wide range of bars to choose, aprs ski drinking starts right from the slopes and continues till the early hours of the morning. For non-skiers or those taking a rest, there;s ice skating, spa facility, a weekly market, a cinema, shops and boutiques. By night Courmayeur comes alive with an incredible choice of bars, many open late.