Les Alpages de Chantel, in Les Arcs. Photo: pv-holidays.com

Heads up, bargain-hunters. Self-catering specialist Pierre & Vacances is running a January sale of its ski apartments. The sale lasts until January 29 and discounts of 30% are up for grabs.

The dates on offer include February half-term (February 15-22) – a week which rarely sees discounts – and you can book seaside apartments for the summer, too. But availability is limited, so you’ll need to act quickly if you’re after a peak week.

Today, a quick search of the site turned up an 11% discount over half term on two-bedroom ski apartments (sleeping 4-6) in the Alpages de Chantel in Arc 1800 – part of intermediate-friendly Les Arcs.

The price for the apartment is €2,450 for the week, not including travel. So you’ll need to add about £180 for the Eurotunnel crossing for a car and its passengers. And viamichelin.com estimates £370 return for fuel and tolls from Calais. That gives a basic holiday price of £2,657 including travel through France.

Yes, you’ll have to do your own cooking and driving. But compare the price with a week in a family-friendly chalet-hotel in France over February half-term: currently about £4,500-7,000 half board for a family of four, including flights and transfers.

Meanwhile, in high-altitude Val Thorens, a two-room apartment in the Residence Les Temples du Soleil (which sleeps up to five) is on offer from March 22-29 at a discount of 24%, for €610.

Deal hunters should also check out our ski deals blogs for a survey of the last ski holiday discounts.