Create your own top-5.
This is highly subjective, of course. Mostly because of the super-hyped expectations and reputations that simply are not delivered on. In my case, combined with features that I find very annoying.
Here's my list (in no particular order):
Zermatt (Switzerland) - overpriced (for EU standards anyway) and not too well connected. You simply spend too much time on endless lifts and the runs aren't worth it. The Italian side (Breuil-Cervinia) is a great area. Luckily, you can get a ski pass for that area alone.
Sölden (Austria) - a dirty expensive town without any atmosphere. A badly interconnected ski area that is mostly crowded. And expensive. In the skipass, you also pay for access to Obergurgl-Hochgurgel, which you hardly ever use.
Les Quattre Vallées (Switzerland) - overpriced, again. Old-ish infrastructure and not very intelligent connections that close the minute the snow falls. And this area needs snow badly, since only the off-piste terrain is worth the trip. If you can afford a guide...
Ski Arlberg (Austria) - this area needs natural snow, otherwise important connections simply do not open. But if it snows, it's so crowded. If it doesn't snow, it's also crowded because people can't get away from the area they stay in. Lay-out of that area is not too good. Even the Flexenbahn can help that, really.
Portes du Soleil (France & Switzerland) - poorly connected. The French side (Avoriaz especially) is the ugliest village in the Alps; the Swiss side is terribly outdated and inefficient. As soon as winds are above 'moderate' there are lift closures. And any warm air quickly eats the snow away. There is some elevation, but the area is so much prone to Föhn it doesn't matter.
Have fun complaining and debating...
This is highly subjective, of course. Mostly because of the super-hyped expectations and reputations that simply are not delivered on. In my case, combined with features that I find very annoying.
Here's my list (in no particular order):
Zermatt (Switzerland) - overpriced (for EU standards anyway) and not too well connected. You simply spend too much time on endless lifts and the runs aren't worth it. The Italian side (Breuil-Cervinia) is a great area. Luckily, you can get a ski pass for that area alone.
Sölden (Austria) - a dirty expensive town without any atmosphere. A badly interconnected ski area that is mostly crowded. And expensive. In the skipass, you also pay for access to Obergurgl-Hochgurgel, which you hardly ever use.
Les Quattre Vallées (Switzerland) - overpriced, again. Old-ish infrastructure and not very intelligent connections that close the minute the snow falls. And this area needs snow badly, since only the off-piste terrain is worth the trip. If you can afford a guide...
Ski Arlberg (Austria) - this area needs natural snow, otherwise important connections simply do not open. But if it snows, it's so crowded. If it doesn't snow, it's also crowded because people can't get away from the area they stay in. Lay-out of that area is not too good. Even the Flexenbahn can help that, really.
Portes du Soleil (France & Switzerland) - poorly connected. The French side (Avoriaz especially) is the ugliest village in the Alps; the Swiss side is terribly outdated and inefficient. As soon as winds are above 'moderate' there are lift closures. And any warm air quickly eats the snow away. There is some elevation, but the area is so much prone to Föhn it doesn't matter.
Have fun complaining and debating...