Our great Easter ski guide

Organising a family journey to the mountains always means treading on thin ice - and at this time of year it is melting. The Easter holidays traditionally have the best chance of sunshine and warm weather but, in the closing stages of the trickiest season for snow in a generation, you need to aim high and choose with care where you go.

Annoyingly, organised parents have already booked up a year in advance for the crèches or their favourite chalets. This leaves the rest of us with limited choice and the pick of the holidays already sold.

But don't despair. Holidays over the Easter period are still available and here's a selection of resorts where sufficient snow is guaranteed.

MARCH 24

Val d'Isëre is great for families with older children, and Mountain Rooms is flexible enough to offer selfcatering or "scatering" ( semicatering) in its properties. No 1 Lillaz has four bedrooms, a fireplace, and Sky TV. Self-cater at £264pp or halfboard at £633pp (based on eight sharing), travel not included. Mountain Rooms and Chalets (0700 2000 456, www.mountainrooms.com).

MARCH 24 AND APRIL 7

Vaujany is one of the best resorts in France for families with children of all ages. The unspoilt farming village is low in traffic and sophistication. Family-friendly Hotel Rissiou is £599-£699 per adult and £499-£599 per child. Call Ski Peak (01428 608070, www.skipeak.com).

MARCH 25

Verbier is a favourite among teenagers and experienced skiers, with a lively nightlife to boot. Beautiful Chalet Cheyenne is available for £1,452pp (based on 10 sharing) and has a chauffer available until 4am. Travel not included. Contact Ski Verbier (020 7385 8050, www.skiverbier.com).

MARCH 31

If you want somewhere totally different and away from the usual British haunts, this is it. Superdèvoluy (in France) is traffic-free and usually uncrowded. Chalet Superdévoluy is £359pp self-catering, including a six-day lift pass. Call Thomson (0870 6061470, www.thomson-ski.co.uk).

APRIL 1

The Trois VallÈes are fairly snow-sure with a glacier at Val Thorens, and Les Menuires is one of the cheaper accommodation bases. £658 for a three-room apartment (sleeps six) in Le Hameau des Airelles, including self-drive package through Erna Low (0870 750 6820, www.ernalow.co.uk).

APRIL 1 AND 8

After a couple of metres of fresh snow in recent weeks, Tignes is at its very best. Chalethotel Hauts de Toviere is in the centre of Tignes Le Lavachet. £798-£1,076 per adult, £598-£876 per child sharing. Children from seven years are escorted to and from ski school by staff with supervised lunch and tea, £130 per child per week. Call Mark Warner (0870 898 8942, www.markwarner. co.uk/es).

APRIL 6

If you are brave enough for long-haul travel with children, there is nowhere better for them to learn than North America - but don't bring babies to Breckenridge as the 3,000m altitude can cause dehydration. Convenient Beaver Run Resort is £1,058 per adult, £586 per child, excluding meals, through Ski The American Dream (0870 350 7547, www.skidream.com).

APRIL 7

Children and parents love Lech with its flattering pistes and comfortable hotels. Four-star family-owned Hotel Omesberg is £1,242 per adult, £758 per child, and children six years and under ski here for e10 for the whole season. Call Made to Measure (01243 533 333, www.mtmhols.co.uk).
Good-value Valloire is popular with families and has some long intermediate runs. Self-catering Les Chalets du Galibier has an indoor swimming-pool and is £378 for a one-bedroom apartment (sleeps four) or £453 with a self-drive package through Lagrange Holidays (020 7371 6111, www.lagrange-holidays.co.uk).