The new peak practices

It's all gone "skichi" this season. There's as much Prada in the lift queues in Z?rs as on the Milan runways. Saas Fee chalet staff are asking "Ayurveda?" rather than "are you out of bed?". In Avoriaz, rabbit en cocotte with polenta has displaced spag bol from the menu.

A tailor-made itinerary and pampering at both ends are this season's must-haves, such as FlexiSki's "meet-and-greet" service with airport valet parking. In Courchevel, Ski Scott Dunn's beauty therapist Jenna Bailey gives Indian head massage in your chalet after a hard day in the boutiques, or a pedicure to tidy up nails crushed by those nasty, clunky ski boots. Snow and Rock has sold out of Prada skiwear and £150-a-pair Zanier heated ski gloves. Now that's pampering.

Until now, Andorra was hardly likely to appear in the same sentence as the word "chic" unless accompanied by "not". But smart hotels, such as Soldeu's Sporthotel Village and Arinsal's Princesa Parc, and light therapy at the country's Caldea centre, have changed all that. At this rate, the Three Valleys will have to watch out.

Ultra-luxe accommodation has never been more in vogue. Check out Oxford Ski Company's Chateau Mercier, near Crans-Montana, and Scott Dunn's Eagle's Nest chalet in Val d'Isère before they are booked solid.

While the rest of Europe has been worrying about their new garish banknotes and the loss of their national identities, we've been on a spending spree. We have pounds and we're proud.

Ski holiday companies can't believe their luck. Nick Morgan, boss of Le Ski, talks of an "amazing" number of bookings, while major operators such as Thomson and Inghams are saying that deals are thin on the ground - a little like the snow.

On with the snow

The white stuff got off to a bad start. In December, visitors to Verbier and Crans-Montana were debating whether to take golf clubs rather than skis. Val d'IsËre's offpiste was just that - off. There were snowfalls around Christmas and New Year in Switzerland and France but this week's snow forecast should gladden hearts.

Artificial snow was called for in Italy, but the temperatures were too high for the snow machines. The Ski Club of Great Britain says Cortina and Madonna are running entirely on fake snow. Little is expected to change in the immediate future.

Skiing's A-list - Andorra, Austria and (North) America - have been luckier and resorts like Mammoth in California, the Olympic resorts in Utah, Austria's Obertauern and Kaprun and Canada's Fernie and Whistler are all enjoying fabulous snow. Andorra has had a fine early season but needs a little freshening up - moderate falls are predicted by this weekend.

The cold spell here saw Scotland groaning under heaps of snow but milder weather and rain have melted away hopes for a good season.

Who skis where

On Boxing Day, Robbie Williams did an impromptu session at the Vernissage in Zermatt. At New Year, U2 were seen in Val d'Isère, the Edge being instructed on the use of edges.

Ski-loving Alan Hansen and former team-mate Kenny Dalglish have been spotted in St Anton, while Brad and Jennifer have been seen, yet again, in Whistler.

One resort with a celebrity vacuum this year will be Davos. The annual World Economic Forum has switched for the first time in its history to New York in a move of solidarity with the city. The Swiss resort usually plays host to a highpowered blend of politicians and business hotshots, but this year beds will go begging.

Be seen ...

Treating yourself to a pampering session. Who wants to ski all six days, anyway?

At a Superfly gig. The best Alpine band by far.

With your mum. Two hundred American resorts are running special promotions called Take your Daughter to the Snow, starting on 28 January.

On Swissair. Now why are their flights so cheap?

Out there - which means booking right now. Don't wait for deals, there won't be many.

In an all-in-one - especially if it's Prada.

Don't be seen ...

Euronating. Formerly known as spending a penny in a snowdrift on the way home after too many M¸tzig beers.

Sharing intimate gossip on your walkie talkie - you never know how many might be listening on the limited number of channels.

In big-name resorts. Small is beautiful.

How to cash in

Christmas in Chamonix, half term in Hinterglemm and Easter in El Tarter now mean only a single trip to the bureau de change. Even better, the Deutschmark, schilling and franc shrapnel can be changed free of charge in banks across Europe for newly minted euros until the end of March.

On the piste: a beauty guide