You can’t have failed to have noticed the many excellent ski deals being offered for the December holiday season. The Alpine Club, for example, is giving away free lift passes to everyone who books with them over Christmas.

The reason is this year’s awkward arrival and departure dates. Many operators have a Saturday changeover day, which means arriving or going home on Boxing Day. It’s not that appealing, you might agree, to leave a resort the morning after…when you’re still recovering from turkey and all the trimmings, surrounded by a mountain of wrapping paper.

Sunday to Sunday holidays might well be a better option and some operators, such as Powder N Shine (see below), are offering 10-day breaks that include both Christmas and New Year.

And (especially important during peak periods) don’t forget to reserve your airport parking at least 24 hours before you go. If you’re flying from Gatwick, Cophall Parking has some offers especially for Welove2ski readers.

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.

Christmas and New Year

Saalbach Hinterglemm from £999pp with Inghams
The skiing has been transformed in Austria this winter with the development of the €20m Tirol-S high-speed gondola linking Saalbach Hinterglemm and Fieberbrunn. Stay seven nights chalet board at the 3.5-diamond Chalet Hotel Pinzgauerhof in Hinterglemm from £999pp (1369€) – saving £229pp (314€) – departing December 26. The price includes return flights from Gatwick to Salzburg and resort transfers. Offer ends September 30. For more information visit Inghams.

Val Cenis from £321 with Peak Retreats
Ski the Maurienne Valley, spending New Year’s Eve in Val Cenis from £321pp (440€) – it was £356pp (488€), so a saving of £35pp (48€). Accommodation is in Les Alpages de Val Cenis at the foot of the slopes and at the end of the village of Lanslebourg, 50m from the Pre Novel chair-lift, the lift pass office and the ski school meeting place. The village centre and its shops is 500m away. The holiday starts on December 26 and can be booked through Peak Retreats.

Sainte Foy for £1,250pp with Premiere Neige
Book Christmas catered accommodation (whether room-by-room or for an entire chalet) in Sainte Foy and one child will have six free days in the creche or kid’s club. This offer is based on a minimum of two adults and two children. For example, five-bedroom chalet South Face, which has five bedrooms is £1,250pp on December 19-26 (or £11,875 for whole chalet). As well as this, you can book any self-catered property over Christmas and receive a 10% discount. See the Premiere Neige Christmas page for more details.

Reberty for £1,500pp with Powder N Shine
Instead of taking a week’s break over Christmas or New Year why not combine them into a longer 10-day holiday in Reberty-les-Menuires? The Christmas and New Year trip runs from December 23 to January 2 and costs £1,500pp. This includes 10 nights full chalet board, plus lavish feasts on Christmas Day and Boxing Day and a party with excellent food and wines on New Year’s Eve. Chalet Le Chamois is ski-in ski-out and has a large and inviting living/dining area, indoor spa facilities and a dedicated children’s room with books, games, Wii and DVD player. Further details from Powder N Shine.

La Rosiere for £281pp with Ski Collection
Spend Christmas in La Rosiere from £281pp (385€)- it was £312pp (427€), so you’ll be saving £31pp (42€). Book before September 30 and receive 10% off the weeks starting December 19 and January 2. Stay in Les Balcons de La Rosiere, which are located right on the slopes at Eucherts, providing the opportunity for doorstep skiing. Further details from Ski Collection.

£356 for an apartment in the French Alps with Lagrange
Book by September 28 to benefit from 15% off one-week holidays on December 19-26 in a choice of seven self-catering residences in a variety of French resorts. This includes Samoens, La Plagne, Arc 1600, Brides-les-Bains, La Toussuire and Valloire. Prices start from £356 per apartment per week, based on accommodation-only. To take advantage of this ski deal, holidays must be booked by September 28. For further information and bookings, visit Lagrange Holidays.

Le Pic du Midi from £224pp with Pyrenees Collection
Fancy spending New Year’s Eve in the iconic the Pic du Midi observatory on a mountain peak at 2877m? For the rest of the week stay lower down in the Residence Pic du Midi, which is recently modernised and located on the road leading up to the Col du Tourmalet pass and a short walk from the slopes and the Pic du Midi cable-car. The week commencing December 26 costs £224pp (307€) based on five people sharing an apartment and including Eurotunnel crossings. Pic du Midi overnight stays from £167pp (229€) including breakfast, evening meal and guided star-gazing. More information from Pyrenees Collection.

Other Dates

La Plagne, Les Gets and Reberty with Ski Famille
Stay in a chalet in La Plagne, Les Gets or Reberty 2000 between January 9 and March 19 and receive up to two additional free child places on group bookings of up to 22 people. Chalets are fully catered and in-chalet childcare is also available. Book before September 30 to take advantage of this ski deal. Further details available from Ski Famille.

Tremblant for £799pp with Ski Safari
Head to Tremblant on Canada’s east coast and explore the groomed slopes and the colourful town centre. Stay here at the Hilton Homewood Suites, with prices starting from £799pp for seven nights, including a 30% discount if you book by September 30. Prices include flights and resort transfers. Visit Ski Safari for more details and bookings.

Les Menuires, La Tania and La Plagne from £249pp with Ski Amis
For the December 12 Early Bird Week, prices now start at £249pp, so you will be saving up to £100pp. Choose from catered chalets in resorts such as La Tania, Les Menuires or La Plagne Montchavin. All the chalets have en-suite bedrooms with free wifi and boot warmers. For further details, visit Ski Amis.

La Rosiere for £599pp with Esprit Ski
Stay at Chalet Braconnier in La Rosiere for £599pp (821€), with free child places available. The chalet has a sauna, and a ski to the doorstep location. Prices are based on a family travelling on January 10 and includes return flights from Southampton to Geneva, resort transfers, free wifi and seven nights catered accommodation. Esprit Baby and Toddler savers are available this week, with half price nursery and children’s clubs plus lots of other goodies. Visit Esprit Ski for information.

Les Arcs 1600 for £654pp with Crystal Ski
Stay nine days half board at three-star Hotel La Cachette in Arc 1600, with its superb family facilities. The price is now £654pp (896€) – a saving of £100pp (137€). Additional offers include €150pp (about £110) of hotel credit, a buy-one-get-one-half-price lift pass – saving another £103pp (141€). Eurostar departure dates are throughout January from St Pancras or Ashford to Bourg St Maurice, with resort transfers included. Direct flights from all major UK airports are also available. Details from Crystal Ski.

Val d’Isere for £419pp with Ski Total
There’s now an extra day in Val d’Isere for £53 (73€) when you stay at Chalet Bonnevie. The price is now £419pp (274€) for eight nights on December 5-13. Set in Le Fornet, this charming chalet is approximately four minutes walk from the Le Fornet cable-car with access into the Espace Killy ski area. The price includes return flights from Gatwick to Geneva, resort transfers, free wifi and eight nights’ accommodation with chalet board. Plus if you pre-book your equipment through the tour operator you’ll receive a 50% discount. Details from Ski Total.

Val Thorens short stay from £340pp with Flexiski
Stay B&B at four-star Hotel Le Val Thorens from £340pp (466€) for five nights – save up to 25% for stays of five nights (excludes the weeks of December 26 to January 8 and February 13 to March 4). Val Thorens is the highest ski resort in Europe and has a good snow record, especially early and late in the season. Flights and transfers can be booked at extra cost. To take advantage of the offer, book by October 1. Visit Flexiski for more information.

Arc 1950 from £412p with Pierre & Vacances
Seven Green Key labelled residences making up the pedestrianised village of Arc 1950, with everything on your doorstep. A new spa, two indoor and outdoor swimming-pools with heated whirlpools are just a few of the extras. Accommodation is priced from £412pp (565€) – down from £500pp (685€) – for seven nights in a one-bedroom apartment for four people. The package is priced at £1,692 (2318€) – down from £2,000 (2741€) – including accommodation, four lift passes and six days’ ski rental for two adults and two children. For more details visit Pierre & Vacances.

Alpe d’Huez from £789pp with VIP Ski
Chalet Chapelle in Alpe d’Huez is built around an atmospheric cobbled courtyard and surrounded by piste, creating the ultimate in ski-in ski-out convenience. The chalet has seven large bedrooms. When booked for December 13, a week’s stay costs £789pp (1081€) – down from £989pp (1355€), making a saving of £200pp (274€). The price includes flights and chalet board accommodation. Visit VIP Ski for further information and bookings.

Whistler for £1,067pp with Erna Low
Save 25% on accommodation in Whistler when you stay for seven nights at the Delta Whistler Village Suites on a room-only basis. The £1,067pp (1462€) price includes return flights from London to Vancouver and shared transfers from the airport to resort. Newly renovated for 2015, Delta Suites offers easy access to Whistler’s lively village centre. The price is based on four people sharing and departs December 12. To take advantage of the offer book before November 15. Details from Erna Low.