MÉRIBEL, FRANCE

Why: Méribel in the Three Valleys is the world chalet capital and it takes something special to raise an eyebrow here. Newly built for this season, La Ferme is one such chalet. Sleeping 16, La Ferme is in the Mussillon area of the resort, a few hundred metres from the centre of town and 100m from Dick’s T-Bar. Every room has its own facilities and a flatscreen television. There is also a fitness area on the lower ground floor with an exercise bike, rowing machine and treadmill — ideal if you need to work off a night of toffee vodkas at the Rondpoint.

How: £535pp for seven days’ chalet board, leaving on April 14 with Skiworld (0870 2416723, www.skiworld.ltd.uk).

PRAGELATO, ITALY

Why: The resort was built for the Turin Winter Olympics last year but was not open fully until this winter. Families are firmly the focus here, with an excellent children’s club, gentle nursery slopes, several child-friendly restaurants on site and good-sized suites and apartments in a cluster of traditional chalets. Pragelato is a small resort at one end of the extensive Milky Way ski area, most famous for the lively resort of Sauze d’Oulx.

How: Scott Dunn is offering seven nights for the price of six for the remainder of the season. Seven nights’ half board cost from £1,250pp based on two sharing, including flights and private transfers. Scott Dunn, 020-8682 5000, www.scottdunn.com.

ISCHGL, AUSTRIA

Why: Apart from having some of the best aprãs-ski on the planet, who could turn down the chance to see the Scissor Sisters for nothing? The high-pitched warblers will reach even greater heights with an open-air concert on the slopes of the Idalp above the town at 1pm on Easter Monday.

How: Seven nights’ B&B at the four-star Hotel Garni Angela cost £535 per couple sharing a room. Book at www.ischgl.com. Return flights from Gatwick to Innsbruck with British Airways (0870 8509850, www.ba.com) cost £171, including taxes. A private transfer with Airport Transfer Service (07092 097392, www.a-t-s.net) costs £196.

SAINTE FOY, FRANCE

Why: The closest that most people get to Sainte Foy is seeing the road signs after Bourg Saint Maurice as they whizz by on the transfer bus to the Espace Killy, half an hour down the road. A new lift this winter opened up an area of the mountain that was previously accessible only after a good hike off-piste. The new terrain has made Sainte Foy a good all-round resort, albeit to grumbles from experts in the know who don’t want to share these glorious slopes. Venture Ski has built some great chalets, with top-notch on-site childcare.

How: £2,810 for seven days’ chalet board for a family of four at Chalet les Sapins from April 13, including transfers, childcare and lift passes. Venture Ski, 0870 2424881, www.ventureski.co.uk.

ZERMATT, SWITZERLAND

Why: The views of the Matterhorn don’t come much better than those from the Omnia, which opened for business last summer. The hotel is new-school Zermatt — swish modern architecture, Mies van der Rohe-inspired furniture, granite and brushed wood and must-steal toiletries from Kiehl’s. Oh, and the best breakfast buffet in the Swiss Alps — the freshest juices, tastiest dried meats and, of course, perfect muesli.

How: From £84 a room a night B&B. The Omnia, 00 41 27 966 71 71, www.the-omnia.com. Return train fares with Swiss Rail (www.sbb.ch) cost £75. Flights from Liverpool to Geneva with easyJet (0905 8210905 — calls cost 65p per minute — www.easyjet.com) cost £110 for a long weekend, leaving April 13, returning April 16.

VAL THORENS, FRANCE

Why: Europe’s highest resort is always a good bet at the end of the season — it closes on May 8. Check out the new l’Epicurien restaurant (00 33 479002130, www.restaurant montana.fr) in the Montana residence. Chef Frédéric Tarride learnt under Alain Ducasse and offers fusion food: home-pressed foie gras with Szechwan pepper.

How: £386 for four nights’ B&B for two adults and two children sharing a room at the three-star Novotel Val Thorens from April 27 (book through www.novotel.com). Flights with easyJet (www.easyjet.com) from Luton to Geneva cost £44.98pp, including taxes. Car hire with Car Rentals (www.carrentals.co.uk) from £85.50.

Hunt down the best of the rest — Tom Chesshyre

Inghams (020-8780 4433, www.inghams.co.uk) has a week’s B&B at the three-star Garni Sunela hotel in Selva Val Gardena, Italy, leaving Gatwick on March 24 from £466pp.

Ifyouski.com (020-7471 7733, www.ifyouski.com) offers a week in La Plagne, France, at the three-star catered Chalet Gemeaux leaving Gatwick on March 24 from £349pp.

Purple Ski (01885 488799, www.purpleski.com) recommends the plush Chalet Iamato in Méribel, France, from £660pp leaving April 8. Flights extra, usually about £150.

Humber Valley Resort (0800 4049251, www.humbervalley.com) offers a week at its well-appointed resort in Newfoundland, Canada, from £569pp, with flights from Gatwick on March 23.

Crystal Ski (0870 1606040, www.crystalski.co.uk) is offering a week at Chalet Les Bruyeres in Val d’Isãre, France, with flights from Gatwick from £569pp leaving March 31. Meals and wine are included.

Thomson Ski (0870 6061470, www.thomson-ski.co.uk) has a week at Selva Val Gardena, Italy, staying in the Chalet Salvan from £378pp, with flights from Gatwick on March 31; food and wine included.

Opodo.co.uk (0871 2770090, www.opodo.co.uk) is flagging up a week’s self-catering at the residence Cybele in Méribel, France, from £149pp, flights from Gatwick on April 7 and transfers included.

Made to Measure (01245 533333, www.mtmhols.co.uk) recommends four nights’ half board at the four-star Hotel Goldenerberg in Oberlech, Austria, leaving from Stansted on April 10 from £1,095pp, transfers included.

Erna Low (0870 7506820, www.ernalow.co.uk) is offering a four-bedroom apartment, the Residence Les Olympiades, at Val Thorens, France, from £418 for a week on April 14. The price includes Eurotunnel crossing, but not flights.

The Alpine Club (07977 465285, www.thealpineclub.co.uk) recommends the “super chalet” La Ferme de Belleville in the Three Valleys, France, from £600pp on April 8, flights not included, but usually £150. Half board with “gourmet dinners”.

Esprit Holidays (01252 618300, www.esprit-holidays.co.uk) has a week for a family of four at the Chalet Schatzi in La Rosiãre, France, for £995 leaving April 15 — a saving of £892. Flights from Stansted and transfers are included.

Snowline (08701 123118, www.snowline.co.uk) offers a week’s half-board at Chalet George in Morzine, France, from £399pp leaving on March 25. VIP (0870 1123119, www.vip-chalets.com) has chalets in Zermatt, Switzerland, for the week of April 8 from £799pp, flights, transfers and food included — £380 off the brochure price.

SNOW REPORT

Best snow

Sun Peaks in Canada had 15cm falls this week. Ski Solutions (020-7471 7700, www.skisolutions.com) has seven nights’ room only (two sharing) at the Hotel Delta Resort for £816pp, including flights from Heathrow on March 24.

Best deal

Save £200 on a week in the Three Valleys with Skibeat (01243 780405, www.skibeat. co.uk). Seven nights’ chalet board at the 12-person Chalet Sapphire in La Tania costs £399pp, including flights from Gatwick on March 24. The Sapphire is five minutes’ walk from the centre of La Tania.

Best idea

Get Cape, Wear Cape, Fly and the Young Knives will perform at Snowbombing, the best party in the Alps, from April 9 to 15, in Mayrhofen, Austria. Six nights’ B&B costs £249, excluding flights. Flights with BA (www.ba.com) to Innsbruck cost £240. More information: www.snowbombing.com.

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