In reply to GridNorth:
> The best place I have been to which I would consider to be the most suitable for novices is Andorra. Not only is it relatively tame it's also cheap.
If you avoid Pas de la Casa that is. The place is so busy, and the runs are steep and the bars are dangerously cheap!! Soldeu would be a better place to stay and is prettier. However, the snow can be non existant.
Italy seems to have had good early season snow the last few years, although I have never skied there so don't know the resorts. You could also look at Les Arcs/La Plagne, both have a great area for beginners and advanced skiers. Don't dismiss Chamonix either, Le Tour is a great place to learn to ski and there are plenty of nice easy runs at the Brevent too. Chamonix is also high so better chance of good snow.