Best 2017 Christmas ski breaks to book now

With the kids back at school and the evenings getting shorter, it’s a great time to book a holiday to look forward to. Don’t wait until next summer; we’ve found some fantastic family ski holidays for Christmas 2017. The only stove you will need to stand over during the festive season is the one heating up the cocoa! All prices quoted are based on a family of four.

1/10 6 nights’ self-catering in Clotes apartments, Italy, £774

Stay just 50 metres from the main chair lift in these lodge-style apartments in the Italian Alps. With over 400 km of ski runs and a hub of restaurants and bars including popular pizzerias, this package is ideal for families wanting a complete break over the festive period. The kitchenette has a hob, oven and fridge and is above a restaurant for a hot and tasty breakfast each morning. There is a double bed in each unit plus a sofa bed for kids as well as a balcony for guests to enjoy the mountain views.

2/10 7 nights’ catered (half board) in Sainte Foy, France, £3,380

Ski-in accommodation in The Sunday Times World number one Family-Friendly Ski Resort. Chair lift, shops and restaurants are within a five minute walk and you’ll enjoy free access to a private spa and swimming pool facility with in-house masseuse. The Ofsted standard creche accepts children from 12 weeks to 12 years old and the Black Diamond Lodge restaurant is rated number one in Sainte Foy on TripAdvisor.

3/10 6 nights’ half-board at the Hotel Bruxelles, Andorra, £1,664

This Neilson Mountain Collection hotel is run by local owners Manu and Regis and is a quaint and charming small property. The hotel is in the centre of the village and is a short walk from the gondola and resort shops. The sun terrace enjoys stunning views over the slopes and hotel has a resident chef who produces top quality international cuisine, including a three-course dinner each evening for half-board guests.

4/10 6 nights’ half-board at Neilson Hotel de Clos, Andorra, £1,664

This idyllic mountain lodge is the epitome of a classic ski hotel; with wooden cladding and a sun terrace that overlooks the slopes it is the ideal base for a family break. Kids can enjoy the Neilson-run children’s clubs with arts and crafts, team games and snow fun while adults can hit the 210 km of slopes. Free ski or snowboard guiding and coaching is included in the package, as is daily afternoon tea with half-board meals. The hotel features a games room with pool table, free Wifi and guest lounge with open fire.

5/10 6 nights’ self-catering at the Residence Club MMV Le Hameau des Airelles, £1,400

These postcard-perfect chalet apartments with an outdoor pool are perfect for families who want to be able to ski up to their front door. The Residence features an indoor and outdoor pool, spa, steam room and hot tub as well as a kids’ club for children aged 4-11. The resort is popular with beginner and intermediate skiers due to the gentle slopes and great apres ski. The hotel is just metres from the Chalvet gondola and is nestled in one of the oldest and most picturesque ski resorts in France.

6/10 6 nights’ self-catering at the Grand Montana, Bansko, Bulgaria, £740

Located just five minutes’ walk from the main gondola lift, the aparthotel Grand Montana is ideally located for a convenient break in the popular ski resort of Bansko, Bulgaria. Families can enjoy spacious apartments with fully equipped kitchens to come home to after enjoying the 70 km of snow-covered runs over the mountains. Families can also visit the breathtaking glacial lakes and dense pine forest at Vihren Peak, or book little ones into kids’ ski school and enjoy a hot spa. The apartments have their own swimming pool and are near to the resort’s most luxurious hotels.

7/10 3 nights’ half-board at the LION hotel, Borovets, Bulgaria, £786

This hotel has a large swimming pool, children’s pool and fully equipped gym for guests to use if they have energy left after a day on the slopes! There are three dining and beverage options to choose from including the main restaurant, a cafe and a separate bar. The hotel offers a complimentary shuttle to and from the main ski lift, and the town centre with its shops, restaurants and bars is less than a kilometre away. Each room has a king-sized bed plus sofa bed for children, a kitchenette and Wifi.

8/10 7 nights’ half-board at Hotel Harfenwirt, Innsbruck, Austria, £2,056

In the heart of the Alps the Thaler family welcome guests to enjoy the spacious slopes of Niederau at the Hotel Harfenwirt. Enjoy hot chocolate by an open fire and spot stars from your balcony or take a walk to the oldest pub in town and listen to Herbert the owner play the harp. Traditional dances are held as entertainment at the hotel and the restaurant offers a hot and hearty breakfast and choice of dishes at dinner. The cross-country tracks pass the front door of the hotel, and the free shuttle bus ferrying resort guests to the ski runs also stops at the hotel.

9/10 7 nights’ self-catering in apartments in Courcheval, France, £3,534

Indulge in the celebs’ favourite resort of Courcheval at these cosy apartments with in-and-out skiing. From your front door traverse to the centre of the village for a hot chocolate or hop onto a red run to the Tovets chairlift and head to the Three Valleys ski area. The apartments sleep six people and have kitchenettes for a relaxed and convenient Christmas break.

10/10 7 nights’ self-catering at Flaine apartments, France, £2,396

Two minutes’ walk from the ski lifts in this popular resort are the cosy family apartments with living and dining areas and fully equipped kitchenettes. Most rooms have balconies with pine-lined vistas and are ideally located for a ski and snowboarding break. The 265 km of slopes are immaculately groomed and there is a snowpark for those looking to improve their skills. The apartments include a €30 voucher for the local supermarket so you can stock up on hot cocoa and French wine on arrival.

Want to ski closer to home? Here are the best indoor ski centres around the UK.