The best ski deals for 2012 as chosen by us – The Experts!

It is time to dust off your salopettes and head to the mountains for some fresh powder. Not sure what resort to visit this season? Don’t worry we have done all the hard work and have produced a list of what we believe to be the five best resorts for skiing. So what are you waiting for? Book your 2012 ski holiday today, there are some fantastic luxury ski holidays and catered ski chalets out there to give you the perfect holiday.  

Val d’Isere , France – Quality skiing

A ski holiday in Val d’Isere, one of the favourite resorts in the whole of Europe, has something to offer everyone from first-timers to experts. A massive ninety-nine lifts can move more than 135,000 skiers an hour. There is plenty of après-ski to suit everyone and it fitting after a long day on the slopes. If skiing is not your thing, Val d’Isere offers loads of other entertainment options; cleared walks, shops and a sports centre. The resort has 300km of piste and the area also shares its ski domain with Tignes. A common pass for the Espace Killy will allow you to gain access to Tignes mountains as well.    

St Anton, Austria – Best for boarders

Take in the clean and crisp mountain air 1300m up in what is one of the best places for a ski holiday in Europe. St Anton is situated in the Arlberg region and boasts a considerable network of cable cars and lifts across its extensive varied terrain with tough on and off-piste skiing surrounded by spectacular beauty. St Anton is also well acknowledged for having some of the very best snowboarding terrain in Austria, with a substantial array of natural obstacles, steep powder fields and drop-offs providing heart stopping free-riding. First-timers find their own enjoyment on the less-strenuous mountains, or they can go to the neighbouring resort of Lech, just a bus ride away and skiable on the same lift pass.

Whistler, Canada – Situated on the world stage

This resort established itself on the world stage after playing host to the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. One of the world’s most famous resorts, it is a year round destination and is situated along the magnificent coast mountains of British Columbia. The ski resort which is just 75km north of Vancouver covers over 8000 acres of mountain terrain - including a dozen alpine bowls, three glaciers and in excess of 200 marked tracks which are served by 33 lifts, meaning you only ever have to take one or two lifts to get to most parts of the resort. Regular snowfall is above nine metres a year with the season lasting from November through to August. It is a fantastic place to take a ski holiday in North America

Bansko , Bulgaria – Bulgaria’s top resort

Some people think that skiing in Bulgaria is just for beginners or those who are strapped for cash, that isn’t the case. Bulgaria’s number one resort Bansko has undergone a multi-million pound development in the last couple of years and boasts some of the best snow conditions in Bulgaria. It really is a place for everyone. New this season: snow cannons on all of the 70km pistes, guaranteeing sufficient snow coverage from December to May.