Less than a month to go until Christmas and several resorts are opening this weekend, including Val d’Isere and Val Thorens. Resorts like Ischgl, Zell am See and Verbier are now up and running, along with Les Houches and the Grands Montets in the Chamonix Valley. Corviglia and Corvatsch are opening in St Moritz, and Laax is too. One of our editors at Welove2ski has been out on the slopes where there’s been excellent off piste and blue skies in Tignes today.

See our feature on reliable resorts for Christmas if you’re thinking of heading off during the festive season. Before that, there’s still time for an early December break, or you could opt for a quiet January week where you can be sure of uncrowded slopes.

To have a reasonable choice of where to stay, when to go and how to get there, it makes sense to book as soon as you can. It’s also worth checking for offers on the websites of the major tour operators.

Don’t forget to reserve your airport parking at least 24 hours before you go – especially important during peak holiday periods. If you’re flying from Gatwick, Cophall Parking has some offers just for Welove2ski viewers.

Due to readers’ requests, we now also have our ski holiday prices in euros (with the exchange rate correct at the time of writing), although you should contact tour operators direct for a quote that doesn’t include travel from the UK.

Early Skiing

Reberty for £315pp with Powder N Shine
Reberty now has a wonderfully deep layer of crisp snow, with more expected imminently. It’s a fantastic start to the winter and you can get some good value skiing here. The week commencing December 5 in Chalet Sapin de Reberty is now £315pp (448€), reduced from £500 (712€). It’s a ski-in ski-out chalet that’s half board. Go to Powder N Shine for further details.

Alpe d’Huez apartment from £283 with Pierre & Vacances
Save 34% staying at Residence L’Ours Blanc in Alpe d’Huez. The residence blends into the mountain landscape, offering fully-equipped apartments and contemporary interiors. You can access the pistes in five minutes, thanks to a free shuttle service. There is direct access to the Olympic ice rink through a shopping gallery. From £283 (403€) -down from £434 (618€) – for a week’s stay in a studio apartment for four people arriving December 5. For more information visit Pierre & Vacances.

Val d’Isere for £599pp and free lift pass with VIP Ski
Val d’Isere opens on Saturday November 28, so you can make the first tracks on the newly fallen snow with a free lift pass, for £599pp (853€), arriving November 29 or December 6. The price does not include flights, so you will need to make your own travel arrangements. For more information visit VIP Ski.

Christmas Deals

Zermatt from £1,296pp and free lift passes with Matterhorn Chalets
Save £324pp (461€) at Chalet Ulysse in Zermatt. A party of eight will receive four free lift passes for the whole area (Zermatt and Cervinia) – stay seven nights in Zermatt on the week commencing December 19. A party of 12 people receives six free lift passes. From £1,296 (1,845€) including a five-day free mountain guide and gourmet catered meals. Book before December 8 to take advantage of this deal. More information from Matterhorn Chalets.

Les Gets for £399pp with Ski Total
Stay at Chalet Monet in Les Gets from £399pp (568€) – it was £989pp (1,408€) – travelling out on December 20, that’s a saving of £1,180 (1,680€) per couple. This centrally-located chalet is four minutes’ walk from the nearest piste and has an outdoor hot tub and sauna, as well as a home cinema. The price includes return flights from Gatwick to Geneva, resort transfers, and seven nights chalet-catered accommodation. More details from Ski Total.

Alpe d’Huez family trip from £2,035 with Esprit Ski
Spend a week at Chalet Hotel Mariandre in Alpe d’Huez from £2,035 (2,897€) for a family of four – it was £3,760 (5,353€). The chalet is well located with a traditionally styled interior. This price is based on two adults and two children under 12 years travelling on December 20 and includes return flights from Stansted to Geneva, resort transfers, free wifi, free babysitting and seven nights catered accommodation. Esprit Classic Child Care is available from £215 for a week of exclusive ski lessons. Information from Esprit Ski.

Post Christmas and January

Tignes for £727pp with Snowfinders
Spend a week at Ski Lodge Aigle in Tignes for £727pp (1,035€) – it was £1,454 (2,070€), so that’s a 50% reduction. The departure date is December 26 and the accommodation is chalet board. The price includes Gatwick flights and resort transfers. More details are available from Snowfinders.

Lapland from £249pp with Inghams
Lapland is known for its skiing, reindeers, huskies and Northern Lights. Stay in the resort of Yllas for seven nights, self-catering at the 4.5-star Yllas Saaga Apartments from £249pp (354€) – a saving £299pp (426€). The holiday departs January 17. Price includes return flights from Bristol to Kittila and resort transfers, and is based on six people sharing. For more information or to book visit Inghams.

St Johann in Tirol for £365pp with Crystal Ski
A new three-star hotel, the Adeo Alpin is opening in St Johann in Tirol, and its owner is ski legend Hermann Maier. You can stay here for £365pp (520€) – save £140pp (199€) – departing January 9 from Gatwick to Salzburg, with resort transfers included. Direct flights also available from Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Manchester, Newcastle and Stansted at a supplement. Further information from Crystal Ski.

Spring Skiing

La Plagne for £579pp with Alpine Elements
Stay a week at Chalet Hannah in La Plagne, which is almost ski-to-door and sleeps 12 people. The holiday is for seven nights starting February 7, including flights, resort transfers and half board catering. The price is now £579pp (824€), so that’s a saving of £100pp (142€). More details are available from Alpine Elements.

Avoriaz all-inclusive for £869pp with Club Med
Black Friday travel deals of up to 20% off all-inclusive ski holidays from today until November 30 at 11.59pm. For example, staying at Club Med Avoriaz 3T in Avoriaz, with departure on April 10 from Gatwick for an all-inclusive seven night-holiday now costs £869pp (1,237€) – it was £1,085 (1,545€), which is a saving of 20%. More details from Club Med.

All Season

Whistler from £1,085pp with Ski Safari
When staying at the four-star Aava Whistler Hotel in the Canadian resort of Whistler you’ll receive a discount of up to 20% if you book by December 1. Prices start from £1,085pp (1,545€) including flights and transfers. 
Visit Ski Safari for more information.