I am interested in skiing the Alps region the first week in December and would like some advice. I gather the snow will not be great in most parts. I'd like to stay somewhere with a good shot at snow ( Zermatt ?) or at least a place with good rail access or transportation ....Italy? Austria? Thanks in advance...
Chris

I'm not an expert on this, but from what I understand, you need to go where there is glacier skiing to have guarantee of snow that early in the season.

Zermatt has skiing almost year round, thanks to glaciers. You can also ski into Cervina Italy from here.

The Jungfrau region of Switzerland will have snow. The area around Interlaken always has snow year round. Chances are good that the snow conditions will be okay.

Having skied several times in the Jungfrau area, I really have to disagree about the year-round snow. On the summits, sure - but the skiing is quite a bit lower in elevation. In fact, from a skier's perspective the entire Berner Oberland is considered only moderately snow-sure, and I'd never take a chance on being able to ski there in early December.

As others have posted, the only way to be absolutely sure is to head for one of the resorts that has glacier skiing all year, such as Zermatt/Cervinia. We were there this past spring and they do indeed ski on the glacier from the Kleine Matterhorn all year, but it's pretty tame skiing and would quickly get boring for all but novices. I haven't been to the other glacier areas, so can't comment on what the skiing may be like there.

Parts of the Dolomites have had early snow this year, and ski lifts have opened early in some areas, e.g Madonna di Campiglio, Tonale ...

Not that that's a guarantee

Steve