CORTINA

Perched high up in the Italian Dolomites, the incredibly stylish and picturesque resort of Cortina d'Ampezzo offers over 150km of skiable terrain. The resort is mainly aimed at intermediate skiers and beginners with great nursery slopes and ski-schools. However, expert skiers are also catered for with several testing runs. The charming village is packed full of chic Italian boutiques, fine restaurants, lively bars and nightclubs, guaranteed to keep you off the slopes.

ZERMATT

The popular resort of Zermatt is just as well known for its superb mountain restaurants as it is for its endless undulating slopes. The skiable terrain covers over 245km of pistes and is best suited to intermediate and advanced skiers with miles of winding runs and spectacular off-piste diversions. The high altitude guarantees more snowfalls than anywhere else in Europe, much to the benefit of powder skiers and snowboarders. The village offers some of the best après ski in the Alps, with streets lined with stylish boutiques, traditional souvenir shops, fine restaurants and a multitude of lively bars and nightclubs.

CHAMONIX

Set in a scenic valley at the foot of the majestic Mont Blanc, Chamonix has long been the favourite ski destination of the rich and famous. The resort boasts one of the highest lift-served vertical drops in Europe and a 22km long run. Every category of skier is well catered for, with a variety of nursery slopes for the beginner, endless miles of sculpted cruising for the intermediate skier and a range of hardcore runs for the expert. The Chamonix valley provides plenty of activities and attractions for non-skiers including a casino, an Alpine museum, the Mont Blanc observatory, sleigh riding, dog sledding, ice skating and snowmobiling. The après ski ranks among the best in the world with an abundance of bars and clubs open until the early hours.

SERRE CHEVALIER

Serre Chevalier comprises of a series of enchanting medieval villages along the sunny Guisane valley at the foot of the mighty peaks of Ecrins National Park. The resort has long been popular with the French, but is yet to be discovered by the foreigners, which adds to its unique French ambience. Along with beautiful mountain scenery and hours of sunshine, the resort offers a highly efficient lift system and 250km of undulating slopes catering for every category of skier. The snowboarding facilities are ranked amongst the top in France and include two boarder cross courses and a vertical drop of over 1000m. The resort is mainly geared towards families, hence the nightlife is quieter than in elite French resorts. There are still plenty of non-skiing activities to keep you entertained, ranging from paragliding to horse riding.