GIRL'S GUIDE TO SKIING

 

WHETHER YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A LUXURY CHALET OR DANCING-ON-THE-TABLES APRÈS SKI, THEA MONTAGUE HAS IT COVERED

By Thea Montague

BEST PLACE FOR… GUY CANDY

 

Mayrhofen, Austria

The 2008 Alp hot spot for sexy snowboarders is the snowbombing festival in Mayrhofen. From March 31 to April 6, expect a great line-up – dancing, ice hotels, celebs and fit men!

Packages start from £338 a week, including flights and transfers. Visit www.snowbombing.com.

 

BEST PLACE FOR… 24/7 SKIING

Val d'Isere, France

St Anton (Austria) and Meribel (France) both vie for the best partying on the piste, but Val d¹Isere, where Hugh Grant can often be spotted, wins by a nose.

Start at the legendary Dick’s Tee Bar and you’ll still be partying when the lifts open.

Seven nights board at Chalet Reuben, return flights from the UK plus transfers cost from £750 per person. Call 0871 971 0364 or visit www.crystalfinest.co.uk

 

BEST PLACE FOR… CELEB SPOTTING

 

Aspen, Colorado

Nowhere has more celebs per square metre – Hollywood stars such as Mischa Barton (above), Cameron Diaz, and Justin Timberlake all love Aspen’s super-stylish bars, trendy boutiques and heated pavements (yes, really).

An all-inclusive week at the Chalet Rio Grande costs from £845 (based on four sharing). Visit www.igluski.com.

 

BEST PLACE FOR… ROMANCE

Hotel le Chalet Blanc, Montgenèvre, France

The newest boutique hotel in the French Alps is indulgent, luxurious and sooo romantic.

If you ever venture from your room, there’s a great restaurant and spa.

Double rooms from £150 per night www.hotellechaletblanc.com

 

BEST PLACE FOR… BUDGET-BLOWING

 

Verbier, Switzerland

Verbs (sweetie) is the mountain equivalent of St Tropez. Splash out on your own swish pad and treat yourself to a stay at Victoria Apartment. With its private balconies, spa and an interior to die for, you’ll feel like royalty.

Prices from £11,350 (sleeps up to 10) for a week. Visit www.brambleski.com.

 

BEST PLACE FOR… LONG-HAUL HOLIDAY

Whistler, Canada

The skiing Mecca of North America has long, wide, open slopes and attracts the likes of Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt and Geri Halliwell.

Flights and three-star accommodation for seven nights in Whistler costs from £792 per person. www.expedia.co.uk

 

BEST PLACE FOR…CHIC AND CHEAP

 

The Three Valleys, France

Want to do bling on a budget? Choose a small resort outside a super-glam place. La Tania is ideal. It’s just 20 minutes from flashy Courchevel, where Posh and Becks ski (and pose for photos).

Prices for Chalet Jennifer start at £499 a week. Visit www.crystalski.co.uk.

 

BEST PLACE FOR… SHORT-HAUL MINI-BREAK

The Clubhouse, Chamonix, France

Just one hour from Geneva, The Clubhouse is one of the coolest places to spend a lost weekend in the snow.

From its sexy Myla Suite with amazing views across the Mont Blanc Massif to the cosy bunkhouse rooms for six, this place is a minibreak dream.

Prices start at £65 per night, www.clubhouse.fr, Easyjet flies from the UK to Geneva from £49. www.easyjet.co.uk

BEST PLACE FOR… APRÈS SKI

 

Soldeu, Andorra

With two massive nursery slopes, English-speaking instructors and a superb nightlife to help you relax off-piste, this is paradise for ski virgins and party people alike.

Prices for seven nights self-catering start from £341 per person, including flights and transfers. Visit www.inghams.co.uk.

 

BEST PLACE FOR... BEING FABULOUS!

Niseko, Japan

Those in the know have been making skiing pilgrimages here for the last ten years. Why?

Because Niseko has amazing powder, monumental views and 007-style night-time skiing. Go before the rest of the world discovers it.

Prices from £1,147 including flights, transfers and seven nights bed & breakfast in the nearby four-star Rusutsu Resort Hotel. www.crystalski.co.uk

 

BEST FOR… SNOW ACTIVITIES

 

Kasie Davies goes off-piste in Switzerland

Think you have to ski to enjoy a winter mini-break? Not true. Morzine in Switzerland is an all-round winter sports experience.

It’s a great place to learn to ski or snowboard – the slopes are gentle and the ski instructors numerous and expert.

But if hurtling down a piste isn’t for you, try experiencing the thrill of driving a snowmobile, or snow-shoeing (walking on snow in plastic grids – don’t knock it till you’ve tried it, and taken in the breathtaking scenery!).

For lunch, visit the much-hyped hilltop restaurant, Le Vaffieu, for mouthwatering fried Camembert, pan-fried potatoes and vin chaud.

The Chalet Savoy is in a great central location.The bedroom is full of log-cabin character, although sadly there’s no bath to ease your aching limbs.

Lucky then, that the local spa, L’Eau Noire, specialises in deep massage.

And for sheer bliss, don’t leave without a quick dip in the jacuzzi.

Ski Morzine offers seven nights at the Chalet Savoy for £620 per person, including return transfers from Geneva. Call 01932 837636 or visit www.skimorzine.com. EasyJet has return flights to Geneva from £48.90 (www.easyJet.com).

 

BEST PLACE FOR… TAKING THE KIDS

Kranjska Gora, Slovenia

Wide gentle slopes, friendly ski instructors, and brilliant off-piste activities makes Kranjska Gora a skiing Holy Grail for families.

Add to this a free child lift pass, ski school, ski and helmet hire when adults pre-book and who could resist?

Prices start from £433 per person, staying at the four-star Hotel Kompas including flights transfers and free kids club at the Hotel Kompas. 020 8780 4433, www.inghams.co.uk

 

CLICK FOR MORE TRAVEL FEATURES

AUG 31 THE FULL MONTENEGRO

AUG 24 WHATEVER FLOATS YOUR BOAT

AUG 17 STYLE KAPITAL

AUG 10 HAPPY MONDAYS

AUG 3 24-HOUR PARTY PLACES

JULY THE RHODES LESS TRAVELLED, BABE IN THE WOODS, PARADISE FOUND, GREETINGS FROM GLAMSTERDAM

JUNE WELSH RARE BITS, CHIC AND CHEERFUL, MIAMI NICE, SPACE: THE FINAL FRONTIER

MAY RETURN TO OZ!, GOING FOR A SONG, GET CARRIE-D AWAY, SUNSET STRIP

APRIL KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES, SOME LIKE IT HOT, 7 PLACES TO SEE BEFORE YOU DIE, TOTALLY TAN-FAST-IC TRIPS

MARCH GO IT ALONE, GIRL, BLING & BUY IN DUBAI, BROADEN YOUR HORIZONS, COOL CRUISES, FLIGHTS! CAMERA! ACTION

FEB GIRL'S GUIDE TO SKIING, ALT GIRLIE WEEKENDS, 'MAGNIFICANT 7', GET A ROOM

 

All prices correct at time of going to press. Please check with the travel companies for latest offers