Picture the scene. It’s mid-Feb in Val Thorens — the school Half Term holiday. You’ve treated the kids to a week on the slopes, but blizzard conditions and howling gales are scuppering plans. Visibility is down to a couple of metres and you’re faced with the challenge of entertaining the brood away from the pistes.

Getting to St. Anton from the UK is a relatively quick and simple affair. While Innsbruck is the nearest airport, Zurich and Munich are also popular gateways to the iconic Arlberg resort. Friedrichshafen Airport in Germany offers another close connection, whereas Salzburg is the longest and most involved option that perhaps should only be considered if a good deal presents itself... or if you have an unusually high level of patience!

Getting to St Anton from Innsbruck Airport

Across the Alps, keen skiers and snowboarders with a love for live music and comedy are spoiled for choice – but knowing where to find the biggest gigs and piste-side parties can be a challenge.

Alpine resorts such as Courchevel, St Anton, Val d’Isere or Verbier are known across the world for the quality of their slopes, the vibrancy of their après ski scene, or their suitability for families with children. But away from those perennially popular mega-resorts, there’s a whole host of more peaceful alpine destinations where the lift queues are shorter, the pistes quieter, and – perhaps more importantly – the prices are lower.

Club Med Alpe d’Huez La Sarenne is undergoing an extensive makeover ahead of the upcoming 2019/20 season! The hotel has been going through stages of transformation since April 2018, ready to open its brand new doors for the forthcoming winter ski season.

The beautiful resort of Méribel has been popular among the British skiing public for many, many years – and with good reason. Ideally situated in the heart of the Three Valleys, Méribel offers easy access to some of Europe’s most exciting terrain alongside a lively nightlife and strong family-friendly infrastructure.

Whether you’re aiming for a peak date, fixed on a specific resort, looking for nursery places, or just keen to shave a little off the cost of your Alpine getaway, there are plenty of good reasons to book your ski holiday early.

With chalets and hotels already on sale for the 2019/20 ski season, here are five good reasons to get the ball rolling on your ski holiday research in advance.

The winter 2019/20 ski season is now on sale, and early-bird skiers and snowboarders keen to save money on their bookings could be in luck. It’s usually big groups looking for exclusive use of a chalet who are keenest to book ahead, in order to secure their first-choice accommodation in their top alpine destination. But the question is, what resorts to focus on?