Why Austria?

If staying in a picturesque resort with a warm welcome is high priority, Austria will generally come up trumps. Many resorts have grown up around traditional farming villages and offer cosy hospitality and foot-stomping but friendly après (which has been significantly muted due to Covid).

As for the skiing, while Austria may not have the giant ski areas of France, its villages are backed up by some heavyweight lift systems and modern snowmaking facilities – but don’t worry about the mileage you’ll be able to cover linked ski areas such as the Arlberg, which includes popular resorts such as St Anton and Lech, and Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn have piste maps that will satisfy even the most hungry of mile munchers. Travel restrictions are currently in place, find out more here.

Why Switzerland?

France and Austria both have their particular strengths, but in many respects Switzerland is hard to beat. It has an unfair share of the most dramatic mountain scenery including the Matterhorn peak in Zermatt, and ditto the most captivating traffic-free old mountain villages, the best mountain restaurants, and some of the most impressive ski runs.

Sadly, with the poor exchange rates of recent years, Switzerland has also become very expensive. Even in the cheapest Swiss resorts you are likely to be paying more than in the average resort in the Eurozone countries of Austria, France and Italy. But if you’ve got the budget you can enjoy world-class skiing and five-star service in resorts that prove ever-popular with the world’s skiing elite. Travel restrictions are currently in place, find out more here.

Why Italy?

If low prices, good food, and fabulous ambience are important, then Italy is the place. As a destination, it’s much more laid back than its rivals in France, Switzerland and Austria, with the holiday emphasis on fun and relaxation rather than sporting excellence. As a result, the enjoyment factor is all the higher. Families with young children are welcomed even in the chicest hotels and restaurants.

Italy is also blessed with a number of giant ski areas. For beautiful scenery and a variety of terrain, the central core of the Dolomites is unbeatable. This area is also home to the famous Sella Ronda – a circular network of lifts and pistes around the Gruppo del Sella, a majestic limestone massif, taking in a host of resorts. Travel restrictions are currently in place, find out more here.

Why North America?

Compared to making the short hop to the Alps, few Britons venture across the Pond to the slopes of North America in Canada and the USA, but nearly all who do relish the experience and think it well worth the considerable travelling time and additional expense. The attractions include frequent dumps of snow on quiet – often deserted – mountains that boast immaculate piste grooming operations, efficient lift systems and few queues.

The resort villages have high-quality accommodation and high standards of service and courtesy. For those who enjoy powder, there’s another huge attraction – the knowledge you can safely play in it without paying for a guide or carrying avalanche safety equipment, because everything within the boundary is patrolled and avalanche-safe. Travel restrictions are currently in place, find out more here.