Have you missed the snow and want to go back as soon as possible for a quick early ski?  Or do you prefer less crowded ski slopes and more affordable skiing?

Ski deals abound for the first few weeks of the season but where should you go?

Obviously you want to aim for somewhere with snow but it’s not the height of the resort you should be looking at but the ski area itself and whether there is glacier skiing, high altitude lifts, north facing slopes and excellent snow making facilities.

The 4 Vallees ski area in Switzerland, for example, go up to 3330m at the glacier but generally the main skiing area in early December is around Lac de Vaux, Attelas and down to Ruinettes at 2200m.  This is the favourite resort for freeriders and powder hounds and is very well snow cannoned from now onwards so does have a good base for the snow.  Verbier at 1500m generally does not have much snow in the village until later in December.  But you can access this ski area from Nendaz or La Tzoumaz by lifts although there may not be much snow in these villages.

STAY:  Chalet Les Attelas in Verbier for a long weekend 9-13 December 11,700 chf sleeping 12 with professional Chef, 24 hour Driver, Jacuzzi and sauna.

Luxury Chalet Janluke in La Tzoumaz is ski in normally and does have north facing slopes but is only 2 minute walk from the cable car which takes 8 minutes to Verbier.  £6,000 for catered sleeping 8-10 people with Jacuzzi and sauna on 10^th December.

Val D’Isere is a very popular resort but early on in the season it is actually Tignes that is worth shouting about.  You can have a good time on the Grande Motte glacier at 3,455m plus you are quite likely to be able to ski home to Tignes at 2100m.  But Val D’Isere has excellent snow making facilities and easy to get to Tignes side.

STAY:    Chalet Sauterelle in Tignes sleeps 14 with sauna and is only £295pp on a per room catered basis on 25November or 2 December.

Or in Val D’Isere  Santons Solaise is £345pp 2-9 December on a catered basis which sleeps 6 just 150m from the lifts.

Zermatt has skiing nearly all year round with its glacier and generally high pistes plus the village is busy all year round so you don’t get the ghost town effect.  Also snow is already down to 2,400m now in mid October and you can ski 27km with 11 lifts open.  By early December most of the ski area has opened up.

STAY:  High 7 Apartment 4 is 4200chf from 6-13 December self catered sleeps 4

Val Thorens is always a good bet in early December, located at 2300m, with a ski area up to 3230m.  But don’t forget the lower resorts in the same valley are linked in by lift easily; for example  Reberty Les Menuires at 2000m.

STAY:   With fantastic catering we recommend Flocon des Neiges in Reberty Les Menuires which sleeps 15 ski in ski out.  Special offer long weekend 9-13 December £299 pp on a per room basis.

Chalet Jasmine in Les Bettaix, Les Menuires from 10-17 December is now £199pp catered without travel

Or in La Tania from £199pp and Les Arcs from £299pp

Contact us for the best deals today!