Best of the best last-minute spring and Easter ski holidays

It’s not all over yet as ski resorts push the boat out with Easter events and spring celebrations, and longer, sunnier days make high altitude, spring skiing one of the best times to travel, especially for beginners, families, and sun-and-snow seekers.

Easter family skiing, 6th April

Make the most of longer, sunnier spring ski days and head to Val Thorens, Europe’s highest resort, where 99% of the ski area is above 2000m, guaranteeing excellent snow conditions right through to May. When not on the slopes, try the ice driving circuit, the Orelle Zipline (France’s highest), or the Cosmojet toboggan run (France’s longest, at 6km), dinner in a Mongolian yurt, or a visit to the Le Board Sports Centre, with three pools, wellness area, sauna, hammam and hot tub.

• Ski Beat has a week’s ski holiday at Chalet Ibex in Val Thorens, the highest chalet style apartment in Europe, for £1370pp, including return Gatwick or Manchester flights, transfers, and chalet hosts to prepare breakfast, afternoon tea and three course evening meals with wine, based on two sharing. ATOL protected. www.skibeat.co.uk. Tel 01273 855100.

Party time in the mountains, 6th April 

The Brits’ favourite resort of La Plagne brings the ski season to a sublime peak, with its Subli’Cimes week of sunny skiing, lively parties and fun events from 6th – 11th April. The festive celebration brings the five summits of La Plagne to life where in addition to miles of high altitude skiing, there will be roller discos, an oversized ball pit, reverse bungee, a frozen space adventure, parties and après ski, all free to both skiers and non-skiers.

• Ski Beat has a week’s stay in Plagne 1800 for £1208pp, staying at Chalet Arpette, a cosy, modern chalet 80m from the centre, and including  return Gatwick or Manchester flights, transfers, and chalet hosts to prepare breakfast, afternoon tea and three course evening meals with wine, based on two sharing. ATOL protected. www.skibeat.co.uk. Tel 01273 855100.

Toe in the snow beginners’ weeks, 13th April
Ski when the days are longer and sunnier, and take advantage of a late season bargain price of £675pp, for a week’s catered chalet stay in the heart of the French Alps. This year, departing on 13th April, Ski Beat is dedicating two chalets to newbies wanting to put a `toe in the snow’, with beginners’ weeks in La Plagne and Plan Peisey. Chalet staff will help beginners to locate the ski schools, nursery slopes and give advice on the best areas to try out their new skills, learn how to understand a lift map, and where to find the best bars and mountain restaurants.

• Book a ‘Toe in the Snow’ beginner’s stay at Chalet Chamois, in the heart of the snowy village of Plan Peisey, 150m from the slopes and ski school, for £675pp, or, cross the valley in the Brits’ perennial favourite, La Plagne, beginners can enjoy a week’s stay at Ski Beat’s Chalet Arpette, 80m from the ski schools, for £700pp. Prices include return Gatwick flights (Manchester also available), chalet hosts to prepare cooked or continental breakfast, afternoon tea, three course evening meals with unlimited wine, and transfers, and both chalets have their own sauna, to soothe aching muscles, new to skiing. www.skibeat.co.uk, 01273 855100.