Just as Alpine resorts are reporting the best start to the ski season since 1996, sterling has slipped to a record low against the euro, meaning that perfect powder costs more than ever this winter. Your holiday pound is now worth €1.12, but many airport bureaux de change are offering just one euro to the pound.

Research from the Post Office shows that in January 2008, a week’s ski hire in Courchevel cost £108. This season, it will cost £133. Dinner for two in La Thuile will now set you back £44 – up from £35 – and a gluhwein in Garmisch has risen from £2.65 to £3.25. Rising costs are already scaring off many skiers – a survey last week revealed that as many as three in four had shelved winter-holiday plans.

They may be missing a trick. According to the Sunday Times’s ski editor, Sean Newsom, the industry is “awash with discounted holidays” and there’s rarely been a better time to go. “I’ve not seen so many or such big reductions before,” he says. “The tour operators have been caught out and Chris Haslam have a lot of unsold stock on their hands. You may be paying 20% extra on your lift pass, but you’ll have saved £300 on the price of your holiday.”

Among the deals on offer is a week in Finland for £156, including flights, with Inghams (020 8780 4433, www.inghams.co.uk ) – a saving of more than £200. Crystal (0871 231 5659, www.crystalski.co.uk ) is offering a week in La Plagne for £199 and the upmarket chalet specialist Snowline (0844 557 3118, www.snowline.co.uk ) has cut £270 off a week in Morzine, now on offer at £599.

Canny skiers will save money in the resort by taking flasks and packed lunches onto the slopes, says Betony Garner of the Ski Club of Great Britain (www.skiclub.co.uk ).

Or abandon the Continent altogether. After some good dumps of snow, the Cairngorm ski area is reporting six out of 12 lifts open. Ski hire is £56 for two days; a weekend ski pass £55. The nearest station is at Aviemore, served by First ScotRail (www.firstgroup.com ).

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