The cost of pre-Christmas ski holidays is well below last year’s prices, with savings of up to £100 per person.

The reason for the reduced prices is that poor snow last season left ski hotels with empty rooms, so holiday companies are still discounting this year while demand is low.

These reduced prices, together with some of the best pre-Christmas snow conditions in 20 years, means skiing in the next four weeks could offer some of the best breaks this winter, and at bargain prices.

According to the Co-operative Travel and Travelcare, the best bargains are on Italy holidays, with prices down 16 per cent compared to last year, to an average £597 for an all-inclusive week’s skiing. In Bulgaria prices are down 13 per cent and in France and Austria prices are down over 3 per cent.

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The bargains are less good on long-haul holidays, where snow conditions were good last season, as demand remains high.

Here are the best of the bargains for pre-Christmas breaks in Europe:

FRANCE

Alpe d'Huez: Depart December 15 for seven nights at the three-star Chalet Les Eterlous, which sleeps 30, for £249 per person. Price includes breakfast, afternoon tea, and dinner with wine for six of the seven nights, flights from Gatwick and transfers. Book through Ski Solutions

Val d'Isere: Chalet Valpierre is available from December 12 for one week for £8,215 for the hire the of the entire chalet, which sleeps up to eight guests, has a sauna, massage service and steam shower. The price includes champagne and canapes daily, breakfast and afternoon tea daily, children’s lunch and supper every day, dinner with wine, an open spirit bar and a range of soft drinks and daily newspapers, plus resort chauffeur. Book through Descent International.

Tignes: Prices for a seven night holiday have now slipped to £349pp based on two sharing with Lastminute.com - down by £100 since yesterday. The price includes accommodation at the three star Chalethotel Toviere which has a pool, terrace and a bar. The package includes breakfast, six evening meals, afternoon tea and wine with dinner as well as local transfers and flights departing Gatwick on December 9.

Val d'Isere: Co-opTravel has deals from £299 per person, staying seven nights half-board at La Vieille Maison in Val d'Isere, leaving Gatwick on December 15.

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