Sooner or later, anyone serious about snow needs to head to the place those in the know simply call ‘Cham’. As resorts go it’s not the biggest, or the easiest to get around. The ski area is spread over a 10 mile long valley from Les Houches to Argentière and the buses connecting them can get rammed. But for the experienced or intermediates, no resort comes close to offering the kind of wild, untapped big mountain skiing and riding that Chamonix does. It’s also home to the epic 23km long Vallée Blanche, one of the most spectacular off-piste descents anywhere in the world. The nightlife is wild and it’s just 45 minutes from Geneva so it’s a great place for a weekend hit too. Chamonix is a firm favourite and it’s easy to see why.