Where to ski?

The majority of Brits wanting to take a skiing holiday in Europe head over to France to places such as Meribel, L’Espace Killy, Val D’Isere, Tignes or Val Thorens, but there are plenty of alternatives to these, situated in places not too far away. Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Austria and Poland all boast excellent ski resorts which are good value for money and offer skiing conditions as good as you can find anywhere. Here are some of the best.

El Salvador, Spain – El Salvador is a smaller scale Spanish resort with good ski runs and excellent après-ski opportunities. The difference here being the obvious fact that it’s Spanish, the delight of eating tapas in the sun as you wind down from your hard day’s skiing is something you simply cannot experience in a French resort and the smaller size of the resort gives a calmer atmosphere. Ski lessons are available as the resort is perfectly suited to beginners and intermediate skiers, whilst those who wish to tackle blacks and off piste will find themselves limited. A good place for a family wishing to learn the slopes and relax together.

Cervinia - One of Italy's most popular resorts, Cervinia is a rather chic holiday destination. One of its advantages is it being situated on the border with Zermatt in Switzerland, meaning holidaymakers can ski over to the country next door or, alternatively, take a ski lift. The resort is named after Mt Cervinio, the Italian name for the Matterhorn, which rises above it in spectacular fashion, giving the region its famous scenery. Skiing is for all abilities and hotels are readily available.

Zakopane – Poland’s flagship ski resort, Zakopane is becoming increasingly popular for those who like to ski but don’t have the budget to take them to Val D’Isere, as well as those who can afford both but like to save money nonetheless. And the cheaper prices certainly don’t mean a compromise on quality as the meals, available for around £7 for three wholesome courses, are exceptional and the activities as good as anywhere else. The slopes are excellent and offer something for all level of skiing ability, with a ski pass incredibly cheap at around £50 for 7 days, a pint of beer 50p and ski and pole hire about £3.50 daily. But the main advantage of going to Zakopane has to be the cheap hotels, with a 2 person room available from around £15 a night (from lastminute.com), there really is no better place to ski on a budget.