You cant go wrong with Chamonix, check it out the only downside is that you need to bus it(price covered by liftpass) to whichever resort you choose to board .

You will find that if your traveling through a tour operator that they will offer hire, lift passes etc on transfer from airport to resort.

Personaly if i didnt have my own eqipment I'd arrange hire through the Rep's in the resort as you will get decent equipment. I wouldnt arrange hire of equipment before I left the UK unless it was from a shop in the UK however that will mean paying the cost of transporting board boots bindings usualy adding £15 - £35 on top of hire.

HTH