Me skiing @ Les 3 Vallées, France

Me skiing @ Les 3 Vallées, France, a photo by GlobeTrotter 2000 on Flickr.

The largest ski resort in the world, without competition, is Les 3 Vallées in France with the major villages Val Thorens, Les Menuires, Meribel and Courchevel. Les 3 Vallées has 600 km of piste which no other linked ski area is close to.

In terms of general skiing conditions, the worlds' best ski resort has to be Whistler, one of the biggest and best in North America, attracting more skiers than any other resort in the world. The magnificent and highly developed all-round resort of Whlstler-Blackcomb, as it is now referred to, boasts two magical mountains full of amazing glaciers and bowls, incredible high-speed lifts, acres of expert and extreme skiing, together with a bright and vibrant village with immense charm - all key elements for the worlds' best ski resort. In Europe, a contender for the worlds' best ski resort would have to be Chamonix-Mont Blanc - its' notoriously challenging terrain comprising the worlds' biggest vertical of over 2,800m and the longest and best-known run in the Alps stretching for 22km. Some other notable challengers would be the ever-popular Vail, the largest single ski area in the US; Courcheval, offering the best skiing in the extensive Trois Vallees region; Kitzbuhel, for its major ski areas, combined with classic Tyrolean charm and accessibility, and Zermatt, with its' high altitude slopes and fairy-tale beauty.

Off the slopes, the worlds' best ski resorts for apres-ski would feature St. Anton and Val d'Isere for their young and lively non-stop party scene, and Aspen and Cortina, both towns known for vibrant and upscale establishments. For exclusivity and glamour, the worlds' best ski resorts would have to include Gstaad, St Moritz, and Lech - all known for a sophisticated atmosphere, jet-set image and stylish clientele. For all-round family-friendliness, the worlds' best ski resorts should feature the versatile resorts of Breckenridge, Les Arcs and Leysin, offering great facilities and plenty of varied terrain.