EUROPE

Europe offers an endless choice of towns and villages close to the ski hills, with the chic and vibrant lifestyle of the major European cities usually only 2-3 hours away.

The Alps cover most of Austria, so it's really no surprise that this country is one of Europe's top ski destinations. Austrian ski villages are chocolate-box traditional and pretty. The slopes in Austria tend to be well laid out, with excellent mountain facilities, modern lift systems and pistes that don't tend to get too clogged with skiers. Resorts include Innsbruck, Kitzbuhel, Lech and St Anton.

France has some of the most extreme ski areas in the world. Les Trois Vallées, for example, is made up of the three valleys of Courchevel, Méribel and Val Thorens, with a massive 600km of pistes. The country has two main mountain ranges, the Pyrenees and the Alps, with ski resorts scattered around both. French resorts really vary in style. Resorts include Chamonix, Courchevel, Meribel and Val d’lsere.

Italy's skiing spreads from the French border in the west, to the stunning Dolomites in the east, with French, Italian and German spoken in different areas. Resorts include Cortina and Courmayeur.

Switzerland is one of the world's skiing meccas with beautiful mountain villages and awesome scenery. Top slopes, stunning vistas and fantastic eating on and off the mountain. Resorts include Interlaken/Wengen, St Moritz, Verbier and Zermatt.

Romania offers great value for money and a unique snow and cultural experience not to be forgotten. Resorts include Poiana Brasov.