Best Vacation

European Ski Vacations

The season is just seven weeks away and British skiers are expected to head for the slopes in greater numbers than ever. In the first part of our annual guide, Peter Hardy picks the best breaks for first-time skiers and families.

Unless otherwise stated sample prices are per person for a week based on two people sharing a twin or double room. They include flights, transfers and half board.

Contact details for all ski operators are listed below.
First-timers (Prices for departures on Jan 10/11)

Champoluc, Italy
This charming little village is linked to Gressoney and Alagna with a 24-lift ski area in the Aosta Valley. Ski2, which runs its own well organised school here with BASI instructors, offers Hotel Petit Tournalin, a family-run three-star property, for £755, including transfers but not flights.

Flaine, France
A top resort for ski convenience – which is crucial for beginners carrying their gear. The ESF teachers are good but I also recommend both the ESI and Guy Pezet’s Moniteurs Independants. Pierre & Vacances’ Résidence de la Forêt is ideally positioned and has comfortable refurbished apartments. A two-bedroom unit sleeping up to seven costs £856 through Erna Low, including Eurotunnel tickets.

Big White, BC
There is much to be said for learning in your own language. The ski school has a sound reputation for friendly instruction and the nursery slopes are good. Big White Condos are scattered throughout. Frontier Ski offers a one-bedroom unit, lift pass included, for £989.

Arinsal, Andorra
Easy nursery slopes and good instruction from British teachers. Hotel Princessa Parc is my favourite budget four-star, if that is not a contradiction in terms. Baked beans on the breakfast table. £565 with Crystal.

Obergurgl, Austria
This high Austrian resort has a sound snow record and generations of British skiers have taken their first turns here. The four-star Hotel Bellevue is in a ski-in, ski-out location. £775 with Inghams.
Families (Prices for departures on April 4/5)

Selva Val Gardena, Italy
Chalet Marta sleeps 33 and has its own in-house crèche. The nursery slopes are only 60m away and there is a full range of care for children aged from four months to 12 years. £849 with Esprit Ski; child discounts are avilable but childcare costs extra.

La Tania, France
This is a relaxed car-free resort that suits families on a budget. It also has the best tree-lined pistes in the Trois Vallées. Chalet Michèle sleeps eight and is close to the crèche. £980 with Le Ski.

Les Deux Alpes, France
Chalethotel Bérangère has heated indoor and outdoor pools, and full ski- and non-ski childcare with English-speaking nannies for children aged four months to 12 years. It also suits teenagers. £945 with Mark Warner. Discounts for children, childcare extra.

Ardent, France
A hamlet below Avoriaz in the Portes du Soleil. Chalet Plagnat sleeps 12. Full childcare for three months to seven years, plus a nanny who helps out in ski school classes. £849 with the Family Ski Company, excluding flights. Child discounts available, but childcare extra.

Les Gets, France
Two almost identical units – Chalets Portes du Soleil – each sleep eight and are located in the heart of the village. Full childcare is included in the holiday price of £725 with Ski Famille. Flights extra.

Méribel, France
Suits small children as well as teens during peak weeks. Chalet Le Ruisseau, a short walk from the piste, sleeps eight. Children are picked up by minibus for creche and ski school. Full creche and nanny service for children from newborn to 12 years, plus ski school for older children. £1,025, with Four Winds Meriski. Childcare extra.

Vaujany, France
This little French village in the Alpe d’Huez area is ideal for families with older children. The Swallow Bar has a cult following among British teenagers. The three-star Hotel Rissiou has simple rooms and outstanding food. £883 with Ski Peak. Childcare for small children also available.

La Rosière, France
Usually uncrowded resort with ski convenience. Chalet Papillon sleeps eight to 17 people in each of six separate units. The crèche is based here and English-speaking nannies cater for children up to seven years. £859 with Ski Beat. Childcare extra.

Zell-am-See, Austria
Varied skiing for all standards both here on the glacier, and in nearby Kaprun, and plenty of nightlife for teenagers. The four-star Hotel Tirolerhof is in a quiet location near the town centre and the crèche with English-speaking nannies takes children from six months to four years. It has a large spa and fine food, family rooms available. £825 with Thomson. Childcare extra.

Arosa, Switzerland
Great for small children, with benign runs for non thrill-seeking adults. The five-star Hotel Tschuggen Grand has the finest spa in the Alps and its own monorail lift from the lobby. Full range of childcare with English-speaking staff. The drawback is the price, but other less expensive hotels are available. £2,365 with Powder Byrne. Childcare extra.

Tour operators

• Crystal (0871 231 2256, www.crystalski.co.uk)
• Erna Low (0870 750 6820, www.ernalow.co.uk)
• Esprit Ski (01252 618 300, www.esprit-holidays.co.uk)
• Family Ski Company (01684 540 333, www.familyski.co.uk)
• Frontier Ski (020 8776 8709, www.frontier-ski.co.uk)
• Inghams (020 8780 4433, www.inghams.co.uk)
• Le Ski (01484 548996, www.leski.com)
• Mark Warner (0871 703 3888, www.markwarner.co.uk)
• Four Winds Meriski (01285 648 510, www.meriski.co.uk)
• Powder Byrne (020 8246 5300, www.powderbyrne.com)
• Ski 2 (01962 713330, www.ski-2.com)
• Ski Beat (01243 780 405, www.skibeat.co.uk)
• Ski Famille (0845 644 3764, www.skifamille.co.uk)
• Ski Peak (01428 608 070, www.skipeak.com)
• Thomson (0871 971 0578, www.thomson-ski.co.uk)