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The secret to finding the perfect ski resort

The world's best ski resorts chosen by the experts
The world's best ski resorts chosen by the experts

Whether it’s the variety of France, the charm of Austria, the glamour of Switzerland or the giant mountains of North America, finding the right ski resort for you can be a daunting task.

If your priority is being able to relax in a luxury spa or to dance on the tables after a day on the mountain and if you’re hunting for powder or simply wondering where to go on your first ski holiday, The Telegraph’s experts have picked the best resorts to meet the needs of every type of skier and snowboarder this winter.

How do I choose the right country?

Why France?

More British skiers and snowboarders choose to head to France than anywhere else. The reason is inescapable: the French Alps offer the best variety of resorts of any country in the world. Destinations range from the high altitude and purpose built like Val Thorens, with massive and varied ski areas attached, to lesser-known farming villages with traditional French feel and tree-lined slopes like Les Carroz. Visitors may find their euros go further in bars and restaurants in Austria and Italy these days, but staying in lesser-known resorts, or lower villages that still link to a big name areas such as Les Trois Vallées – the world’s biggest ski area – can help with the budget. The variety of accommodation on offer is also unrivalled with a mix of self-catering in apartment residences, catered chalets and hotels, available with most UK tour operators.

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. 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.

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.

Verbier - Credit: ALEXANDER JACKSON
Verbier is an expert's playground Credit: ALEXANDER JACKSON

Why Italy?

If low prices, good food, and a 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 most chic hotels and restaurants. Italy is also blessed with a number of giant ski areas. For beautiful scenery and 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.

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.

Why Eastern Europe?

Relatively unheard of by most British skier and snowboarders the resorts in Eastern European countries such as Slovenia, Bulgaria, Macedonia and Romania offering a budget-friendly alternative to the traditional Alpine ski holiday. Resorts such as Bansko and Kranjska Gora regularly come out on top of surveys for best-value resorts and are a popular choice for young families or beginners wanting to ease themselves into snow sports without breaking the bank. While snow making facilities and high altitudes in some resorts are a big pull the infrastructure and size of ski areas might not suit experts looking for an alternative to the massive mileage on offer in France. Accomodation is often budget-friendly set in attractive villages where lively après and cheap food and drink bills come as standard.

What if I want to go somewhere off the beaten track?

If all that’s not enough and your keen to escape civilisation and beat the crowds on your next trip there are a number of ski resorts most people have probably never heard of. From Southern Hemisphere turns in Chile and expert lines in Alaska to family-friendly convenience in Norway and the famous powder fields of Japan – if you look hard enough there’s a ski resort at almost every turn on the map.

How do I know the resort will suit my ability?

All our resort round-ups break each country down into categories to help you find the perfect match, but if you need a little more inspiration check out our pick of the best resorts for beginners, intermediates and experts. If you’re looking for something in particular, whether it be terrain parks, big ski areas or powder, we’ve got that covered too.

I’m looking for more than just great skiing, what then?

While the time you spend on the slopes is an essential part to your ski holiday it’s comforting to know you’re heading to a resort where you’ll feel at home. Whether it’s ways to keep the kids entertained, the glamour of luxury resorts like St Moritz, the allure of the world’s most romantic resorts, the gourmet delights of the likes of Courmayeur, the chocolate-box nature of the world’s most charming resort or the dancing-in-your-ski boots delight of the best resorts of après, we’ve narrowed down top resorts to provide useful guides to suit every type of skier and snowboarder.

Where do I find out more?

Once you’ve worked out your shortlist, or even better found your perfect match, our directory of over 100 resorts from around the world will help you iron out the details, with recommendations on where to stay, the best routes to take on the mountain, the hottest après bars and how to get there, our experts have done all the research so you don’t have to – happy skiing!