Luchon
Was there for a few days, quite chilly in July. Disappointing trails, straight from the cable car is just fire roads. We used the local MTB trailguide. We may have missed trails ?
Ax-Les_thermes
Excellent, been there twice and keeps getting better. Very quiet in July and brilliant technical XC and singletrack descending from the top. Tight and narrow trails, almost natural feeling. Lifts shut for lunch but excuse for a stop at the cafes. There is two main descent down from the resort (Ax 3 Domaines) one in the town that snakes down bermy natural roman trails and one that comes down much steeper to the town. Nice hot thermes in a sweet wee village/town.
Much quieter and peacful compared to the busy and sometimes modern developed Alpine resorts.
I compare Ax Les Thermes with – Alp DHuez 7/10, Les Deux Alpes 8/10, and Lake Garda 6/10.
Ax Les Thermes also has better weather than the Alps and is cheaper for camping etc.