It has been the best winter for years and it is far from over - that is the message this week from Europe's ski resorts. Check the snow report and, from Alpe d'Huez in France to Zermatt in Switzerland, conditions are uniformly excellent, boosted by heavy snowfalls last week.

The slopes remain so enticing that enthusiasts who have already enjoyed a week's holiday - and those who have yet to take one - are eager to book a late escape, for a long weekend at least.

“Skiers have been coming back from one holiday and saying they've just got to go again,” says Simone Clark, sales and marketing director of Igluski.com. “Those who cannot afford the time or cost of taking a full week are looking to book long weekends. The key to making that a success is to spend as little time travelling and as long as possible skiing.”

Chamonix is little more than an hour from Geneva airport, which is well served by low-cost flights from many UK airports, and that makes it a popular destination for weekenders.

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If you book appropriate flights, Nomadic Ski guarantees to have you on the slopes before lunchtime on the day you arrive and give you almost a full day's skiing on the day you fly back. The company will even have skis, boots and lift pass waiting for you on arrival.

A three-night break from Thursdays to Sundays costs from £375 including half-board, beer, wine, in-resort transport and, for groups of four or more, return Geneva airport transfers.

For those who can get away for a week, Ski Total has a half-price deal to the resort, starting with a flight from Stansted on March 15. It now costs £350, with catered accommodation in Chalet Cachat, which has an outdoor hot tub with views of Mont Blanc.

Among good deals with Rocket Ski is a week's half-board in a two-star chalet in Mayrhofen, Austria, from £319, with flights from Gatwick or Manchester on March 14 and transfers.

The most sought-after long weekend before the end of the ski season is the Easter break and Alpine Weekends still has availability in Morzine and Chamonix from £534. The price includes flights from Heathrow on the evening of Thursday April 9, returning on Monday night, transfers and B&B in a hotel or chalet.

Some of the best deals available with Igluski are for the weekend after Easter. Four nights' B&B from April 16 in the Hotel Elite in Taesch, near Zermatt, costs £480, with a flight from Heathrow and transfers. For skiers on a really tight budget, Igluski has overnight coach travel and B&B to Brides-les-Bains near Méribel for £179 and Chamonix for £229. Both leave on April 16 and provide three days' skiing.

www.swanhellenic.com - 020-8254 3034

www.nomadicski.com - 020-7043 8951

www.skitotal.com - 01252 618333

www.rocketski.com - 01273 810777

www.alpineweekends.com - 020-8944 9762

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