If you’ve never been you HAVE to go!! The ski runs are amazing, a huge varied selection for all ability types, beginner through expert, and the mountains are so huge you rarely feel crowded on the runs. Ski school instructors are great, highly recommend the Max-4 program where no more than 4 skiers are matched with an instructor. Skiers are matched based on ability, 1 (first time/beginner) through 6 (expert/extreme) allowing everyone in the group to benefit from the instruction and not be overwhelmed by any terrain issues. The resorts employ over 1200 instructors and it’s not unusual to end up with only 2 or 3 skiers per instructor. And they cater to all levels and ages, not unusual to see groups with 3 or 4 year olds right up to super experts which head out to the double black diamonds, steeps and mogul runs, of which there are plenty if you are so inclined. Instruction for snowboarders follows the same format, beginner to expert. Levels 1 to 3 meet at the base of the mountain so easy to get to for first timers and nervous beginners. Level 4 to 6 meet at the top of the gondola, so do make sure you give yourself time to get to the top, it’s about a 25 minute gondola ride and lineups in the morning can take up to 30 minutes, so plan on an hour altogether. Good thing is that while the ski school usually starts on time at 9:45 they will take a first warm up run (about a 15 to 20 minute run) and come back to the meeting point to pick up any late arrivals, so don’t fret about being a few minutes late. As mentioned, the runs are pretty crowd free and most instructors know the quieter runs so will head to those for some nuisance free instruction. Ski lifts can get crowded but ski school groups get preferential lines, an added bonus. Line ups do move well, most lifts are 4 to 6 skiers per chair so you never spend a lot of time waiting. There is no night skiing so pay attention to time later in the day, most uplifts close at 3 but some of the outer lifts close at 2:30, don’t get caught in the outer areas as you may have to walk out, they all don’t have ski out capability. Remember that they are mountains and conditions and visibility change from top to bottom, dress appropriately and watch your goggle choice, if you have interchangeable lenses take sunny and cloudy/low visibility lenses. It’s not unusual to have sun at the top and clouds half way down or snow at the top and rain at the bottom. The village at the mountain base has everything you could need, great accommodations for most budgets, but it does get expensive during the peak season, luxury hotels can go over over $800 CDN. Restaurants are varied and plentiful, covering most tastes and budgets. Shopping is also good, tons of big brand name stores as well as grocery stores, drug stores, liquor store, etc. And even a movie theatre for evening entertainment. Quite a few bars and nightclubs too. For apres ski drinks I’d recommend the Girabaldi Lift Co. and the Longhorn Saloon, both are right at the mountain base and give good views of the incoming skiers while have good menu and drink choices as well. If you are looking for non-ski activities there are plenty of those too, movie theatre as mentioned, snow mobiling, dog sledding, tobogganing, sightseeing tours, snowshoeing, or be adventurous and try the Olympic bobsleigh or skeleton course. There are also some good restaurant tasting tours. Go and have the time of your life, I’ve been every year for the past 5 years and love it each and every time!!