There is excellent value for money to be had when looking for some 'piste' and quiet at one of Europe's lesser-known ski resorts. We've picked out what we think are the top 5 most underappreciated resorts to help you get away from the big names, big crowds and big prices.
Who doesn't love quiet slopes, cute mountain restaurants and sleepy villages.
Serre Chevalier is a big south-facing valley, with 13 villages dotted along with old-style villages and cobbled streets. Each resort is served by a good lift system with access to over 250km of pistes.
Set in magnificent scenery directly beneath the towering north face of the Eiger. There are over 200kms of pistes to explore, as well as the longest toboggan run in the Alps, running more than 15km in total.
The attractive town of Bad Hofgastein has a bustling centre and excellent amenities, not to mention the famous spas known for their thermal healing water. The ski area also has 200km of pistes to discover.
El Tarter sits at the heart of the 210 km of pistes that make up the Granvalira ski area in Andorra. It is a very attractive resort with a peaceful and friendly atmosphere that has skiers and snowboarders returning year on year.
Val di Fassa is made up of 7 resorts, the most well-known being Canazei, Campitello and Pozza di Fassa. They are surrounded by the Sella Ronda, part of Dolomiti Superski with 1,200 km of pistes - good luck doing them all!