Bulgaria & Slovenia

Still scraping off the rust from the Iron Curtain, this recent member of the EU offers good intermediate skiing at its premier resorts of Borovets, Pamporovo and rising star Bansko. The big draw of Bulgaria is price, which is the main reason for its inclusion in this guide. The country boasts the cheapest package deals in Europe and as a result attracts an increasingly large number of UK skiers each year who would ordinarily be priced out by the usual Alpine big hitters. However, this does have downsides, and those looking for an unspoiled après-ski experience should definitely look elsewhere. But skiing in Bulgaria is undeniably cheap and cheerful and if you're in the market for a bargain, it is hard to beat. Slovenia, which borders Austria to the north and Italy to the west, is about 40% mountainous and skiing is a national sport which Slovenians claim was invented there (Scandinavians might well disagree!). Fathers of skiing or not – Slovenians are snow babies, picking up the sport at an early age, meaning there is a thriving ski scene in the country, reflected by their prowess in international ski racing competitions. Slovenians are a very friendly and polite people, most of whom seem to speak excellent English, so getting around is a smooth operation, and the country is known for its deep natural beauty and traditional ski resorts.

• The Mountains