Ischgl

The number of visitors does mean however that there is always a buzz around the compact resort centre, especially during après. The action starts on the slopes at Paznauner Thaya, before ending up in the legendary Kuhstall or Schatzi Bar – often continuing through dinner into the small hours. Despite this you can easily have a quieter break and enjoy one of the resort’s numerous family-run hotels, many of which have excellent spas.

Most of the skiing takes place well over 2000m and thanks to one of the best snowmaking systems in the Alps, great snow is almost guaranteed. The network of wide pistes generally suits intermediate skiers best, but there is a great learner area by Idalp and some of the steeper runs in the Palinkopf sector and by the new Gampenbahn are really popular with experts. Intermediates upwards must try the long, winding ‘Duty Free Run’ down into Samnaun, which takes you through a wild valley down into Switzerland.

For Beginners

All of the beginner areas are located up the hill at Idalp. The facilities and the ski school are fantastic, but whilst the altitude guarantees snow cover, it can get cold and difficult to see in bad weather – the heated seats and bubbles on the key Sonnenbahn chair do help though! Once the basics have been mastered, head over Flimjoch to the gentle rolling terrain above Alp Trida in Switzerland. Downloading to town is required at the end of the day however, as the resort runs are steep and can often be very busy.

For Intermediates

For intermediates, there are fantastic options across the mountain. We’d recommend avoiding the busy slopes above Idalp and head to either end of the piste map, especially if the sun is out. There are some great, cruisey runs by Visnitzkopf and the two new lifts in the Palinkopf sector – particularly the Gampenbahn – have improved access to some of the finest long intermediate runs in the resort, including the ‘Duty Free Run’. If conditions are tough, downloading at the end of the day is recommended.

For Advanced/Expert & Off Piste

The best advanced off piste terrain can be found off the Piz Val Gronda cable car and near the Höllspitze chair. If you’re looking for steep groomed runs, head to the Greitspitze, where laps of steep corduroy are made much more pleasant by the heated leather seats on the chairlift back up. Away from the ski area there are some fantastic ski touring options – hire a local guide.

Innsbruck is the nearest airport and is only an hour and a half’s drive to the east. We’d recommend hiring a car only if your hotel has free parking and if you’re looking to ski at the other resorts in the valley. Transfers are easy to arrange but it is also possible to travel to the resort by public transport – catch the train to Landeck and then jump on the 260 bus.

• Innsbruck airport: 1.5 hour (driving), 2 hours (by public transport)
• Zürich airport: 2.5 hours (driving)
• Munich airport: 3 hours (driving)
• Calais: approximately 13 hours driving (612 miles)