Should we have been surprised that the apres-ski in Are, Sweden is good? Maybe not. After all, in bars all over the Alps you’ll find tight little groups of Scandinavians, all immaculately dressed in the latest ski fashions, doing their bit for the party atmosphere.

But all the same, when Welove2ski checked into the Sunday afternoon session at Timmerstugan, we were impressed. It’s a bit like stumbling into a private New Year’s Eve party, just as everyone realises midnight’s approaching. Except that this party takes place every Sunday afternoon, and it’s full of Swedish people – who, let’s face it, are not exactly unknown for their good looks…

If you can’t see the video, above – check it out here.

Apres-ski in Are, Sweden is actually called after-ski – and it has a slightly different flavour from nightlife in the Alps. Yes, there are some great bars around – as well as Timmerstugan, it’s always worth checking in to the slopeside Fjallgarden hotel to see if there’s a band playing. After dinner, the bars around the cute little square in the centre of town are the place to go – and Bygget is the best nightclub.

However, it’s also worth remembering that the night-skiing is brilliant. Literally: the lights under the VM8 chair in the middle of Are’s ski area were installed for the 2007 World Championships and are so bright the visibility is better at night than on all but the sunniest days. Almost everyone goes – especially on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays – so if you’re standing in a bar and suddenly everyone leaves, you need to grab your skis and follow.

Many thanks to Neilson for the flights to Are, Sweden. The company runs an extensive holiday programme to the resort with all levels of accommodation included. You can also find lots of news and information about the resort at www.skistar.com/en/Are/.