In the debate on whether France or Italy has the best skiing, Mont Blanc sits as an impartial judge between the two countries. If nothing else, as the highest mountain in the Alps, Mont Blanc does appear to have a distinct ambience on either side of its summit.
The Chamonix Valley in France has historical significance in the sport of skiing for being the first host of the Winter Olympics in 1924. The six ski areas in the Vallée Blanche offer different skiing experiences for every level of skier or snowboarder.
The people living and visiting Chamonix are an important part of the resort as is its traditional ski resort charm. Chamonix caters to a wide range of visitors where people on a budget can enjoy themselves as much as any jet setter. Seeing brands like Patagonia, The North Face, Chanel, and Swarovski are common along with bargain-store fashion.
Over in Italy, ‘easy going’ is a term that describes the atmosphere on the Italian side of Mont Blanc with regards to its resorts and après ski. Courmayeur in the Val d’Osta is a small but picturesque, traditional skiing village with more than sixty miles of trails.
Courmayeur itself has a traffic-free village centre but is accessible from the slopes via cable car. It does not matter if personal tastes run from chic to casual; Courmayeur never loses its friendly, welcoming, laid-back charm.
Regardless of which side of Mont Blanc is picked for a ski holiday, the ability to ski in both France and Italy on the same holiday can be done with ease.