We stayed in Risoul in January 2010 and found it ideal for our mixed ability group. Like many others I was surprised by the extent of the skiing, but as others have said this is not the 3 valleys/Portes du Soleil etc. Sun was shining 4 out of the 6 ski days we had. Recommend you do Vars side in the morning and slopes around Risoul in the afternoon. Some good off-piste if you want it. There are quite a few button lifts around, but these are easily avoided if you want with a bit of planning, it doesn't take long to remember where they are. Saying that none of them are too long or violent, I have been on a lot worse. Stayed in Balcon du Sirius apts where you can step out of the boot room virtually onto the piste that takes you down to the lift area. Apts are nice considering you're in France, and again have stayed in much more basic ones with less amenities. If you are after a resort that is party central, this isn't it, though there is a club in the town and a couple of bars where the boarders tend to hang out. There are plenty of places to eat at quite reasonable prices, but the menus don't vary greatly from each place. Supermarkets are fairly small but will cater for most things if you are self catering. If you drive over stop at a larger supermarche and stock up before you arrive. All in all, the resort suited us, skiing conditions were great, enough variety for our group, nice quiet slopes generally and very few queues on the lift system. Don't be put off by the transfer, it's not as bad as it sounds, once we had dropped people off in Serre Chevalier there were only 7 of us heading to Vars/Risoul. We're heading back in January.