Very much second division, compared to say the Trois Vallees or La Plagne. Main problem is the piste management; we were there early season and 60% of the pistes were closed and the attitude of the management was "tough luck, we've got your money". Contrast this with the top class resorts where the bashers work night and day to get the pistes open and in shape for the customers. Even 10 days after a major dump of snow some key pistes were still not opened. The pisteing of the low link to Claviere was pathetic.

Signing and lift status is unreliable and on 2 occasions for us downright dangerous (e.g. Chalvet home-run blue signed as open when it was not, forcing inexperienced skiers onto a steep red section). The excellent upper section of the Pharo blue was open, but the long drag lift next to it was closed for a week and a half. Go figure.

Lift planning is also poor: no rope tows on some long flat sections e.g. the low connection to Claviere, no trail across the home run to make it easy to get to the Obelisque and the bottom of Tremplin, no high-level connection back from Claviere, etc.

On the positive side, it was always pleasant to walk down the main street after the lifts closed. The Italian/French mix is a real bonus. If all pistes were open there would be a good variety of skiing. Generally, not big lift queues except Sundays when the day trippers come, but few mountain cafes so they get overcrowded at lunchtime - best to shoot back down to the village.

A note on Claviere: nice short reds but, with the exception of piste 91 which you will need to get home to Monty, avoid everything blue unless you are a fan of long-distance poling. Use La Coche, not Col Boeuf, to get up to the Colle Bercia. Col Boeuf is really just to get back to Montgenevre.

Good value food and drink compared to the top class resorts - maybe 25% cheaper. The lift pass was maybe 15% cheaper, but with all the closed pistes in Christmas week this made even Glenshee and Aviemore look like good value, and there is no higher insult than that.

Probably won't go back, the piste opening is too much of a gamble for keen skiers.