Help.... Where to go from Milan??

I have managed to get cheap flights to Milan(Malpensa)on the 17th December and cant wait to get out on the snow for the first time in nearly 2 years and plenty of rehab on a bust knee.
I have not decided where to go and was thinking of either Cervina or mabey Sauez d'Oulx or La Thuile. There is gonna be about 6 blokes going with a mix of good intermediates skiiers and boarders and a few less inclined.
I am loking for good skiing and somewhere for a few beers aferwards but the mountain is by far and a way the most important factor.
I know its only July but I am very excited ( I'm only 35!) and know I'll get good advice from the regulars.
Any ideas :?:

Sauze is a brilliant shout............provided the weather is right for it. Not sure what its like that early, but its a gamble. I reckon Cervinia is your best bet.

We went to Alagna for a weekend from Milan Malpensa a couple of years ago. It was a great place, really old, beautiful village. About 2 hours in hired car.

Skiing is good there & as it is very high up snow is good.

It is linked to Grassoney and Champoluc.
When were there we had high winds and a blizzard which closed the main links, meaning we only had 1 slope for a day.
If the conditions are right it's a great place. If not one could be stranded. But, you could look at Gressony or Champoluc

Went this year to Champoluc,14 of us mixture of boarders and skiers all had great time plenty of snow opens up the area hugely, if not the boarders may find it slightly limiting for them unless they do not venture slghtly off-piste anyway.

Accross at gressonay is great, nice long black down to Alagna.

Nightlife isn't huge there are a few bars and one central bar (pachahontas or something like that) great apres there and food laid on good atmosphere.

Stayed in Hotel De Chapoluc, literally fall out of bed on to the lift!

I liked the look of that area, but its relatively pricey. www.ski-2.com are perhaps the best people to try for accommodation in this area, although some other more well known tour ops now do packages here too.

This is where we stayed in Alagna.

http://www.10elode.net/en/chiSiamo.php
It was a magical place..We just seemed to catch it at the right time.
We were a group of friendsand we (4 women) shared a room and lay in bed watching the snow fall outside.

Probably not really suitable for a group for a week as you do need a vehicle to get to the slopes, which is a bit annoying if you don't want to stick together.

But for a weekend break, if you catch it at the right time. Magic.

The restaurants in Alagna lovely too.

Pluses for ski-2 is that they include transfers, lift passes and lunch vouchers.

First time in champoluc 2 years ago we used then as there was only 3 of us and worked great for us they were really helpful but there own ski hire equipment was a bit dated.

With 14 the deal was done direct with the owner of the Hotel Du Champoluc (Carlos I think) and 5 nights was I think 70 euros a head per night half board. He also organised our transfer which worked out at 50 Euros a head but we were a larger party.

The skiing is great though, less experienced skiers will find it tough going a couple on our party did deffinatelt not a place to learn!

Thanks for the ideas but I think Tony is right, Cervinia is gonna be my best bet because of the altitude. Anyone suggest good accomodation?