WITH winter fast approaching, it's time to book up a top trip to the slopes.

SILVER STAR AND BIG WHITE

Dumbarton and Vale of Leven Reporter:

For blissfully quiet powder skiing, British Columbia’s Silver Star and Big White in Canada really hit the spot.

Both resorts have a short transfer time of only 45 minutes and receive a whopping seven metres of snow on average.

Break up the two weeks of skiing with other winter activities including ice climbing, tubing, night skiing and fat biking which are available across the resorts with the My1Pass.

A 14-night twin centre safari, staying for seven nights at three-star Silver Creek Lodge in Silver Star and seven nights at three-star The Inn in Big White, arriving February 26, 2018, costs from £1,735pp (based on two adults sharing).

Includes flights and transfers. Meals, lift passes and ski hire extra. Book by September 30.

Ski Safari (01273 224 060, skisafari.com)

HOTEL LE MOTTARET AND HOTEL IBIZA

Dumbarton and Vale of Leven Reporter:

This year, Ski France is offering free board to all children aged 17 and under on the same board basis as their parents.

The Kids Go Free deal now takes place all season at Ski France’s two three-star hotels – Hotel le Mottaret in Meribel Mottaret and Hotel Ibiza in Les Deux Alpes.

Parents can book a family room at Hotel le Mottaret or a large northern or duplex room at Hotel Ibiza and kids will stay for free. Valid all winter for children up to 18 years old (on the same board base as the parents – Bed & Breakfast, Half Board or All Inclusive). 

Babysitting services are also available on request at Ski France’s hotels.

Meribel Mottaret is located within the Trois Vallées ski area, the largest linked ski area in the world, along with renowned resorts Courchevel and Val Thorens.

The ski area, totalling 600 km of pistes, provides great skiing for all abilities and the 1992 Olympics Centre houses a swimming pool, ice rink and climbing wall.

Les Deux Alpes, well known for its child friendly approach, is perfect for families. Watch the kids speed through the three daring snow parks, take them on mini snow-scooters and make the most of the snow-sure pistes.

A week’s stay, during the Christmas holidays, for two adults and two children (age 17 and under) at Hotel Le Mottaret costs from £580pp (£2,320 total, with the Kids Go Free deal) on a half-board basis. Return flights and transfers extra. 

A week’s stay, during the Christmas holidays, for two adults and two children (age 17 and under) at Hotel Ibiza costs from £876pp (£3,503 total with the Kids Go Free deal) on a half-board basis. Return flights and transfers extra.

Ski France (0203 475 4756, skifrance.co.uk)

WARREN SMITH SKI ACADEMY POWDER CAMP

Dumbarton and Vale of Leven Reporter:

Advanced skiers can now book onto Ski Safari’s Powder Camp in Furano, where they can develop their off-piste technique within a small six-person group, with guidance from an expert coach.

The Japanese resort’s treeline skiing is legendary and the snowfall record is one of the highest in the world. 

Of the eight days on the mountain, five will be led by a Warren Smith Ski Academy instructor with expertise in ski biomechanics and ski physiology, and the other three will be free-ski days: skiers can find their legs on day one, and practise their new skills alone on the final two days. Academy team will film skiers throughout the camp and provide analysis sessions in the evenings. 

Guests will stay at the resort-style three-star New Furano Prince Hotel right at the bottom of the Furano Ropeway lift. Facilities on-site include bars, restaurants, a bakery and a Japanese onsen to ease the thigh burn after a long day on the mountain. 

The 10-night Ski Academy Powder Camp, departing on either January 24 or 31, 2018, costs from £3,079pp. The trip includes eight nights at New Furano Prince Hotel (B&B) and one night at Sapporo Chitose Airport Hotel (B&B), flights, transfers, an eight-day Furano Lift Pass, and five days of coaching with the Warren Smith Ski Academy. Ski hire extra.

To book, email andrea@skisafari.com

Ski Safari (01273 224 060, skisafari.com)

ALPINA LODGE IN VAL D'ISERE

Dumbarton and Vale of Leven Reporter:

Val d'Isère, in the French Alps, is an ideal resort for an early-season holiday. Opening on November 25, its slopes reach heights of 2,900m plus it has substantial snowmaking facilities.

Located in the heart of the buzzing town, the four-star Alpina Lodge offers beautiful self-catered apartments for guests. Each accommodation comes with a fully-equipped kitchen, television and WiFi, plus special cooking equipment – such as raclette grills – are available on request.

Leave the Alpina Lodge and stroll to the shops, bars and restaurants, or head to the main ski lifts and pistes, just 500 metres away.

A week’s stay, from January 13-20, 2018, costs from £251.50pp (£503 total, was £719 total – saving 30 per cent). Return flights (to Geneva) cost from £58pp with easyJet. 

Val d’Isère: valdisere.com  
Ski France (0203 475 4756, skifrance.co.uk)

LES CHALETS DU FORUM, COURCHEVEL 1850

Les Chalets du Forum is located just 100 metres from the slopes and within close reach of the La Croisette district in Courchevel 1850.

Courchevel 1850 is a family-friendly resort facing Petit Mont Blanc, and is situated in the heart of the Trois Vallées.

The four-star premium residence has contemporary furnishings with wooden touches to give an authentic alpine chalet feel to each apartment. 

A five-night stay at Les Chalets du Forum, from December 18, costs from £927 total / £232pp (down from £1176 total, saving 21 per cent) for a self-catered one-bedroom apartment sleeping four.

Pierre & Vacances (0870 0267 145, pierreetvacances.co.uk)

CHALET MADRISAH IN VAL D'ISERE

Dumbarton and Vale of Leven Reporter:

VIP SKI’s Chalet Madrisah is part of a small private hamlet built on the sun-drenched knoll of Le Cret overlooking Val d’Isère.

Influenced by the traditional old stone village, Madrisah provides a warm, inviting retreat with contemporary touches including a wet suite with hot tub and sauna, and sleeps up to eight guests.

Priced from £1,069pp (down from £1,169pp saving £100pp) for a seven-night stay arriving Sunday, January 7, 2018. Price includes return flights from London Gatwick, transfers to and from the resort, seven nights’ chalet board accommodation and VIP SKI’s dedicated chalet service.

Val d’Isère: valdisere.com  
VIP SKI (0208 875 1957, vip-chalets.com)

MYRKDALEN, NORWAY

Dumbarton and Vale of Leven Reporter:

Skiing in Scandinavia offers great value for money without compromising on the quality.

Make the most of this in Myrkdalen, home to beautifully serene fjords and frozen lakes, with wide cruisy slopes. Norwegian skiing remains a popular alternative to a holiday in the Alps, with uncrowded slopes and a fabulous snow record.

Skiers can now take advantage of Ski Safari’s offer of pay six nights stay seven, at the modern four-star Myrkdalen Hotel, which is valid all season. The hotel boasts a ski-in, ski-out location that is close to the ski school and the village.

A seven-night stay at Myrkdalen Hotel, arriving April 1, 2018, costs from £839pp (based on two adults, two children sharing a family room). Includes flights, transfers and half-board accommodation. Ski hire extra. Book by August 30, 2017.

Ski Safari (01273 224 060, skisafari.com)