Ski resort guide

Ski Resorts

Zermatt - Switzerland The charming town of Zermatt is Switzerland's best-known ski resort. Nestled on a high plateau, it sits at the foot of the highest and most photographed peak in the country, the Matterhorn (14,692ft or 4,478m). The resort is a picturesque, if rather sprawling, old mountain village that is car-free with Swiss-style chalets. Read more

Pas de la Casa - Andorra In the last decade or so the tiny mountain principality of Andorra, atop the Pyrenees between France and Spain, has become a world favourite for winter sports enthusiasts, helped along by its good snow, sunny clear weather and duty-free status. Another plus is the fact that the tiny country's mountain resorts are just a short hop (109 miles or 175km) from Barcelona International Airport, and close to the French border. Read more

Pas de la Casa, Andorra

Esquiar en Chile

Chamonix - France sits in the shadow of Mont Blanc and offers some of the most challenging skiing in Europe. The town is in the centre of a string of villages spread out along a valley cutting deep through the Alps; the village of Argentiere is six miles (10km) up the valley, beneath the renowned Grands-Montets slopes, and Les Houches is a small resort a few miles below. The huge variety of on- and off-piste skiing in Chamonix attracts ski bums and serious weekend skiers (the town is only 50 minutes drive from Geneva) and this is reflected in the sportive atmosphere in the bars and restaurants. Read more

Chamonix, Francia

Cortina d'Ampezzo - Italy Regarded by many as one the most beautiful resorts in the world, Cortina d'Ampezzo, or Cortina as it is often simply called, overlooks the spectacular Dolomites region of the Italian Alps. Located in northeastern Italy, the resort is popular with international celebrities, the in-crowd from Milan and Rome (many of whom own private chalets), as well as those who can afford it from elsewhere in Europe and North America. Read more

Mapa de Cortina Dampezzo

Aspen - United States Aspen's reputation precedes it; the name is synonymous with glitz, glamour, unparalleled skiing and spectacular mountain scenery. Most reviews would have one believe that it is a resort exclusively for the rich and famous.

Although this elite resort does see super stars such as Jack Nicholson and Cher, anyone with a lot of cash can experience the powder snow, superb skiing, sophisticated accommodation as well as good dining and high-society shopping, with an unrivalled range of winter and summer activities. Summer is more affordable; prices are lower at this time, and there are numerous trails for hiking, biking and horse riding, as well as renowned cultural festivals of dance and music. Read more