ABOVE: Where to stay?

Choosing a place to stay on a skiing break

If you’re going with the family, look for a property where you can book several apartments. Most smart self-catering will have a communal lounge with open fire, great for cosy get-togethers.

Get the best of both worlds; choose a small village resort linked to a big domain to enjoy great skiing and the charms of a traditional French Alpine village. Keep non-skiers happy; choose a resort with plenty of non-ski activities.

Samoëns is a genuine mountain village that offers boutiques and cafes to while away an afternoon, gentle snowshoe excursions and even a botanical garden.

Self-catering doesn’t mean that you have to cook every night. Choose accommodation near shops and amenities and you can enjoy the best of the local Alpine cuisine, or even order a takeaway after a hard day on the piste!

Stay low, ski high. For a really cheap ski holiday stay in a lower resort that is linked to a higher one – all the benefits of great skiing but at really low prices.

Plan your holiday to coincide with local events such as the international snow and ice sculpture festival held in the traditional village resort of Valloire every January.

If you are skiing in a mixed ability group, then choose a resort with a wide range of runs, plenty of greens and blues as well as red and black runs.

If you’ve got young children, look for properties that are close to the slopes or ski-in/ski-out.

If you are a beginner, choose a smaller resort to avoid busy slopes.

Choose properties with extra facilities such as pools, sauna and steam room for relaxing après-ski.

www.lagrange-holidays.co.uk