There is plenty of winter and summer action to be had while on holiday in Courmayeur, but also plenty for those seeking some inactivity in beautiful surroundings, such as extensive lunches, cable car rides or soaking up the sun at high altitude swimming pools. Besides the skiing and snowboarding in winter, there is also cross-country skiing, heli-skiing and heli-boarding, snowshoeing, dog-sledding, snow biking, ice skating, paragliding and curling. A sports centre has tennis and squash courts, a fitness club and climbing wall. In summer there is hiking, parachuting, mountain biking and trout fishing available.

The official language of Italy is Italian. English is understood in the larger cities but not in the more remote parts of the country.

The Euro (EUR) is the official currency, which is divided into 100 cents. Those arriving in Italy with foreign currency can obtain Euros through any bank, ATM or bureaux de change. ATMs are widespread. Travellers cheques can be exchanged with ease in the large cities, not so in the smaller towns. Credit cards are accepted in upmarket establishments and shops around the cities. Banks are closed on weekends, but tend to have better rates than casas de cambios.

On weekends the waiting time for lifts can be long.

Visitors on holiday will find that the après-ski in Courmayeur is a drawn out, rather laid back affair with bars spilling out onto the main street, such as the old-world Bar Roma that serves free snacks and the fire-warmed Café della Posta. The newer Cadran Solaire caters for the ritzy folk from the big cities, while the Red Lion and American Bar are more traditional bars. Late night options include discos such as Poppy's Pub, the Jimmy Night Café and Planet Disco Bar.

Like most Italian ski resorts, evenings begin with the passeggiata, a stroll down the main street before a late dinner that typically lasts late into the night. The holiday destination of Courmayeur has numerous restaurants, cafes, pizzerias and trattorias to suit all tastes and budgets, and eating out is almost as popular as time spent on the slopes. Most establishments are informal, relaxed and fabulous, but restaurants like Pierre Alexis offer more romantic and exclusive dining. One of the best spots for traditional Valdostana fare is the charming Leone Rosso, while the popular Pizzeria Tunnel has great pizzas.

Many stylish little shops and speciality shops make shopping an Italian experience for holidaymakers in Courmayeur and there are a variety of goods to choose from.