In reply to tnewmark:
Firstly good on you for getting out there and giving it a go! Secondly, Gael Force is right, there is a world of difference between piste skiing and off piste. The main thing is that any faults in your piste skiing will show up like a sore thumb when you get off piste, which will often lead to crashes gallore and frustration! Get some side country in and then by the end of that week of doing side country, perhaps further and further from the piste, thats the time to spend your money. The worst result you could have here is that your wife gets discouraged and throws the towel in because she finds it too hard! The trouble with touring is whilst you don't have to be Lindsey Vonn or Rachel Gleich, you do need to be able turn where you WANT to turn, and be able to do it safely, in conditions which are usually far from perfect, in a rapidly changing snowpack which can be powder one second where the sun hasn't gotten to it behind a gully wall, to hard wind blown slab within a metre. That said its a fun process learning, as long as you take it steady and put in the ground work. What could be better than skiing?
So where to go. I'm massively biased because I own a place in the Dolomites, and thats where I'd recommend. But here's why.
Good skiing. The Dolomites is the largest linked ski resort in Europe, if not the world. It is massive. The pistes are very well prepared, and you can ski uninterrupted for an eternity. We've had comments from well travelled skiers (including the ex head of army skiing) that its the best skiing they have done anywhere.
Cost. That massive lift pass is cheaper than any french lift pass. Seriously, check it out at Dolomiti Superski. Not only that but accomodation is a reasonable price and food is a normal price, not 8 euros for a punnet of chips. For that you get a proper meal.
Variety. Speaking about our place now, we're not IN a resort, but we are within a half hour drive from Malga Ciapela, Alleghe and the Civetta Zoldo Range, Arraba, Canazei and the Sella pass, Pozza di Fassa, Passo Falzarego and Falcade. You can ski fresh pistes every day without ever repeating runs.
Off piste. We are five minutes from the lift at Malga Ciapela, the lift to the top of. Marmolada. This only has one run down which is often crowded. So why would I recommend it? The lift is a three stage lift that gives you 2200m of uplift in one hit and dumps you onto the largest glacier in the Dolomites. As its several KM wide, it means you have a wide open slope which is less skied than any slopes in resort in France. It means in terms of side country you can ski a familiar piece of terrain repeatedly, getting further and further from the groomed slopes and build confidence. Once you get bored of Marmolada you can go over to Arabba from Malga Ciapela which is famous for steeper skiing, and which has many off piste runs. From here the Sella Group is an easy target, where you can ski routes like Val Lasties, Val Mezdi, Val Setus and many others, all lift served with the odd walk along often well trodden tracks as its a fairly popular "tour" albeit it one you dont have to use skins or touring skis for. Take a guide with you and they will be able to recommend the best thing to do, but these tours are what I would consider sking to be all about. Stunning scenery, a mountain journey and a fun day out.
If you fare well on that day, our local rental shop also rents out touring gear, so by the last day you should be ready for a proper tour. For this straight out of the house you have excellent back country to the south skiing from Malga ciapela you can go towards Falcade over one of the passes, or up to Malga Ombretta beneath the south face of Marmolada, or up Sasso Bianco. Or if you feel confident enough you cousld look at the two day tour around Civetta.
And when you get bored of that you can go ice climbing in the Serrai di Sottoguda which is five minutes from the house and only has 30 plus routes to be getting on with. But that's never going to happen right
?
Cheers,
Mike