I've been boarding for about 3 years now and can definitly recommend Les Arcs 1800 in the French alps been there twice now and its really good for beginners and your pretty much guaranteed good snow, also good nightlife. We went to Chamonix this year and had rubbish snow, it was really expensive (8 euros a beer) and some little w****r stole my board from the appartment. Heard good things about Austria, probably going there next year for my stag do! (god help me)! Try the world snowboard guide, found that really useful.