Val d’Isere vs St Anton

Val d’Isere in France and St Anton in Austria are two of the world’s top ski resorts, but which is the best? TravelMole associate editor Linsey McNeill looks at the pros and cons of each resort.

Ski schools
Val d’Isere seems to have a bigger variety of options for both on-piste and off-piste lessons.

Snow reliability
Here Val d’Isere is a clear winner, so it’s a good choice for holidays at the very beginning and end of the season. Its height, north-facing slopes and investment in snow-making facilities means that its runs are often open when other resorts are forced to close. I enjoyed good conditions in Val d’Isere the week before Christmas last season, when there was very little snow in St Anton.

Off-piste
Both resorts have lots of varied off-piste, but for the less hardened back-country skier, Val is a great choice as it has lots off-piste runs that can easily be reached from the lifts. That said, St Anton has a few marked but un-groomed runs, which are perfect for good skiers who are too timid to venture from the pistes.

Lift queues
I haven’t experienced many problems in either resort, even in high season, although there’s usually a bit of a wait for the gondola up to the Grande Motte glacier in Val d’Isere. Of course, fast, modern lifts mean that the slopes get crowded in both Val and St Anton.

Expert skiers
Both Val and St Anton have a wide variety of steep, challenging runs, but if it’s extensive off-piste you’re after, Val is probably better.

Intermediates
Neither is good for timid intermediates but adventurous skiers with a few weeks’ experience will enjoy both Val d’Isere and St Anton, but they should avoid the home runs at the end of the day, which are tricky, especially when crowded.

Beginners
Groups that consist wholly of novice skiers should look elsewhere, but for mixed groups, Val d’Isere is probably best, if only for its easily accessible nursery slope in the village, which has a free lift.

Snow-boarders
St Anton is more popular with boarders than Val, which is not as good as neighbouring Tignes for boarding. However, Val benefits from few drag lifts and some easier slopes good for beginners. St Anton also has few drags, but on the downside there are lots of flats, so be prepared for a lot of walking!

Mountain restaurants
St Anton wins hands down. It has many excellent restaurants ranging from fast-food burger bars to stylish waiter-service restaurants. Prices for slopeside dining are punchy in both Val and St Anton, but I’d say you get better value in St Anton – meals are often big enough to share.

Apres-ski
St Anton is almost as well-known for its legendary party scene as for its extensive ski area. Dancing kicks off early in a selection of bars on the slopes just a few turns above the village, where you’ll find the Krazy Kanguruh and the Mooserwirt, and continues in bars in the town, including Base Camp at the foot of the slopes. Val d’Isere is quieter than it used to be, but the Folie Douce at the top of La Daille gondola still has dancing on the tables every afternoon.

Eating out
Val d’Isere has more choice as it has more self-catering accommodation, whereas St Anton has more half-board hotels and fully-catered chalets.