Christmas and New Year ski holidays

If you want guaranteed snow on the pistes this Christmas and New Year, there's still time to book a bargain ski breakA MERRY CHRISTMAS ?Save �289 in M�ribel, France One of the best resorts for intermediates, M�ribel is part of the Trois Vall�es and there's a huge variety of skiing for every standard. The best snow conditions are usually found on the north-facing Mont Vallon and on the pistes off the ridge that separates M�ribel from the Belleville valley.? �875pp half-board in the traditional wood-and-stone Chalet Emma (sleeps 14), including a free lift pass, from Alpine Elements (0844 273 5212, alpineelements.co.uk). Flights from Gatwick on 24 December. Another 20 chalets have availability Christmas weekSave �160pp in Alpe d'Huez, FranceThe purpose-built resort is no beauty, but the skiing is convenient and there's a glacier up at Pic Blanc. Snow cannons now cover about a quarter of the resort's 240km of piste, keeping bare patches to a minimum. ? �299pp self-catering in Les Bergers apartments, based on four sharing, from Skiworld (08444 930430, skiworld.co.uk). Includes flights from Gatwick on 23 December. Availability in another apartment and a chalet Christmas weekSave �100pp in Val d'Is�re, France The biggest attraction is the easily lift-accessed off-piste and the on-mountain link to Tignes. It also has surprisingly good beginner slopes. A favourable microclimate ensures good conditions from early December to May.? �1,189pp half-board in Chalet Madrisah (sleeps eight), in a private hamlet overlooking the resort, from VIP Ski (0844 557 3119, vip-chalets.com). Includes flights from Gatwick departing 19 December. Book by November 30. Other chalets available Christmas weekSave �471 in St Anton, Austria The attractive resort is divided into three parts, with the town centre (Dorf) the best place to stay for nightlife and easy lift access. St Anton also has some of the most challenging ski terrain in the Alps. The ideal day ends with a hot chocolate or gl�hwein in the atmospheric Underground bar at the foot of the slopes. For those wanting to party, the infamous Krazy Kanguruh and MooserWirt bars are both on the piste above the resort. ? �599pp half-board in Haus Acksteiner (sleeps 10), a central chalet-apartment, with Supertravel Ski (0844 273 3347, supertravel.co.uk). Own travel arrangements departing 19 December. Other chalet beds and two whole chalets still available for Christmas weekSave �180pp in Tignes, FranceTignes is known for its almost year-round skiing on the Grande Motte glacier, making it a cold but snowsure choice at any time of the ski season. Tignes is divided into Val Claret and Tignes le Lac, and three smaller villages. ? �304pp self-catering, based on four sharing, in the three-star Rond Pont des Pistes apartments in Val Claret, near the funicular to the Grande Motte glacier, from Thomson (0871 971 0578, thomsonski.co.uk). Includes flights from Glasgow, Gatwick (+�45) and Bristol (+�50) on 24 December and transfers. Availability in other chalets and hotel rooms for Christmas week too ? AND A HAPPY NEW YEARSave �114pp in Zermatt, SwitzerlandZermatt has it all: stunningly beautiful scenery, some of the best mountain restaurants in the world, and a lively apr�s-ski scene. The resort is car-free, with transport by horse-and-sleigh, electric taxi and solar-electric bus.? �735pp half-board in the traditional Chalet Annie (sleeps six) from First Choice (0871 664 0130, firstchoice-ski.co.uk). Includes flights from Birmingham, Gatwick (+�20) or Manchester (+�65), and transfers, leaving 31 December. Other chalets still availableSave �420 in Passo Tonale, Italy There's snowsure skiing at this resort from late October until early May, as well as summer skiing on the glacier. Lift queues are not a problem in this quiet resort, and the apr�s-ski is unpretentious even at New Year. The popular Heaven Pub is in the basement of Hotel Sport Vittoria.? �599pp half-board at family-run four-star Hotel Sport Vittoria from Neilson (0844 879 8155, neilson.co.uk), including flights from Gatwick on 31 December and transfers. The resort has 35 other hotel rooms available Save �395pp in Courmayeur, ItalyThe lovely old town has loads of character and there is decent skiing at the foot of Mont Blanc. However, many Italian visitors prefer strutting the pedestrianised Via Roma with its tempting delis, boutiques and interiors shops. As you'd expect, the apr�s-ski scene is lively. Bar Roma is particularly popular, with comfy armchairs and sofas, and a free buffet in the late afternoons. ? �645pp for eight nights half-board in Chalet Hotel Cristallo from ifyouski.com (020-7471 7733), including flights from Gatwick on 31 December and transfersSave �360pp in Verbier, SwitzerlandVerbier rocks, especially at weekends. This is the number one spot in the Alps for having fun over New Year. Farinet is the bar of choice after the lifts close, with skiers and snowboarders crushing into the glass-sided bar to hear bands. Later, Moroccan-themed Casbah gets going downstairs with world-class DJs. ? �831.50pp for nine nights half-board at Chalet Hotel Montpelier from Ski Total (01252 618333, skitotal.com). The hotel has an impressive indoor pool. Includes flights from Gatwick on 30 December and transfersSave �150pp in Peisey Nancroix, FrancePeisey Nancroix is part of the vast 425km Paradiski area, shared with La Plagne and Les Arcs. The area has two glaciers and 70% of the skiing is above 2,000m so it's very snowsure. This winter sees the opening of the new Deep Nature Spa in Arc 1950, which includes an ice cave.? �545pp in the rustic-chic Chalet Algonquin (sleeps 13), a renovated 18th-century building with exposed beams and floorboards, from Alpine 365 (+33 9 81 088345, alpine365.co.uk. Own travel arrangements departing 31 December. Other chalet beds available in the resortSave �421pp in Chamonix, France Chamonix, in the shadow of Mont Blanc, has some of the most challenging pistes and powder fields ? but there's also plenty for intermediate and beginner skiers too. Don't forget to sample the apr�s-ski at Chambre Neuf, where the party's all about the live music, cocktails and dancing on the tables.? �628pp for eight nights fully catered in Chalet Hotel Sapini�re from Inghams (020-8780 6680, inghams.co.uk). Includes flights and transfers, departing Gatwick on 30 December. Flights also available from Stansted, Bristol (+�29), Birmingham (+�25), Manchester (+�29), Glasgow (+�49), Edinburgh (+�59) and Belfast (+�59)Save �25pp in Sainte-Foy, France Sainte-Foy resort is the purpose-built ski base above the old village, set on the road up to Tignes and Val d'Is�re from Bourg-St-Maurice. This is where the locals come to find the best powder after a new snowfall.? �365pp self-catering in four-star Les Fermes de Sainte-Foy, with doorstep skiing and a pool, from Peak Retreats (0844 576 0123, peakretreats.co.uk). Based on six sharing. Includes Eurotunnel crossing departing 31 December All prices are for seven nights unless otherwise stated and correct at the time of publicationFelice Hardy is co-editor of ski information website welove2ski.comSkiingSnowboardingChristmas and New YearAlpsEuropeChristmasWinter sportsFelice Hardyguardian.co.uk © 2011 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Finland skiing holidays hiking hiking holidays Finland hiking holidays