Where to ski before Christmas

Skiing before Christmas is usually the best time to find cheap ski holidays and great ski deals. But booking a ski holiday for the very start of the season can be problematic.

The 2006-7 season began with heavy snow in Colorado and British Columbia but much of the rest of North America, and ski areas in Europe, were too warm for snow except at the highest altitudes.

Snow machines couldn't operate and even the once 'safe bet' of heading up to northerly latitudes didn't work as the precipitation fell as rain even in the Arctic circle – global warming stories filled the newspapers.

Heavy snowfalls

Then in 2007-8 it all changed. Kitzbuhel opened in early November, its earliest opening date in 80 years of operation, because there was so much snow blanketing the Alps.

In Colorado however it was warm, and the crucial US holiday weekend of Thanksgiving at the end of the month was a bit of a loser for resorts like Aspen, which could barely open its ski area. The snow did arrive a week later and many Colorado ski areas eventually recorded record snowfalls for the winter.

So the lesson we have learned is that, despite ski resorts collectively spending billions on snow making machines around the world, there are no longer any guarantees of good snow cover anywhere. Perhaps there never were, it is just that our expectations have risen.

Go for altitude

That said, there remains the opportunity to at least hedge your bets. Indeed the world's largest ski resort operator, the Compagnie des Alpes, which owns 20 or so of Europe's major resorts, has made a successful business model from one of the key rules that remains true today for booking a ski holiday at the start or end of the winter - aim high. They only run high altitude ski areas.

Glacier resorts

To make doubly sure, pick a ski resort that has a glacier, particularly one that is open year round, or for skiing in the summer at least.

France

France has some of Europe's highest resorts and ski slopes. Tignes is the first resort in the Alps to open for the 'winter' each September. It's a pretty safe bet.

As is its neighbour, Val d`Isere which is the second of three French areas still offering summer skiing. The fourth is Les Deux Alpes, which holds major ski season opening festivals in October each year.

Other French resorts with glaciers include:

• Alpe d`Huez
• Chamonix
• La Plagne
• Les Arcs
• Val Thorens

Switzerland

Switzerland is another country with high ski slopes. Zermatt has the continent's highest and is one of just a few resorts that still opens 365 days each year for snow sports.

Engrelberg and Les Diablerets both open from mid-October and Zermatt's neighbour Saas Fee is also open in summer and autumn. St. Moritz and Verbier both have glaciers that once offered summer skiing.

Italy

Italy has high slopes too. Cervinia has access to the glacier area above Zermatt, and Passo Tonale has a glacier all of its own that is open right through spring, when almost all other Italian areas are closed.

The Marmolada glacier provides a guarantee for skiers staying in Corvara or Arabba and the Monte Rosa glacier above Alagna and Gressoney is another former summer ski destination.

Austria

Austria has more summer ski areas than anywhere, but not all are close to major international resorts. Pitztal, for example, which is one of the first ski areas in Europe to open each September, and has just installed a remarkable new snow-making system from Israel that makes snow at positive temperatures to top up its glacier cover, but it isn't currently in the British brochures.

Tux however, which is like Zermatt, open 365 days a year, is bookable with holidays in Finkenberg and Mayrhofen on the same tickets.

Ski holidays to Ramsau and Schladming provide access to the Dachstein glacier, and to Innsbruck or Neustift for the Stubai glacier. Solden has two glaciers of its own and stages the first WorldCup races of the Northern Hemisphere's calender each October.

Non-glacier choices

In Austria, Obergurgl is one of the continent's highest traditional villages and always aims to open in November.

Most resorts in Scandinavia tend to open in October or November – except in an exceptional year such as autumn and winter 2006 – but you are normally safe in places like Ruka, Hemsedal, Levi and Yllas.

In North America, Whistler – Blackcomb has the longest season and twin glaciers to guarantee snow cover, not that it has ever been a problem in recent memory.

Colorado and Utah's resorts also have a strong reputation for quality snow, with the exception of the slow start to 07-08. Normally however, Keystone is one of the first on the continent to open in late October or early November, and celebrates by opening its lifts and floodlit slopes for 36 hours non stop.

Otherwise, in Europe, look for ski areas that rise above 2000m, or ideally 2500m. Lower than that and your odds of a white pre Christmas ski holiday should still be good if ski holidays are being sold there, but perhaps less than the areas listed above.

Ski holidays before Christmas 2008