Industry’s top skiers name their favourite resorts

With such a mind-boggling array of winter sports resorts to choose from, how on earth do you know which to recommend to seasoned skiers, especially if you’re not a skier yourself? Well, we had a think about this and decided that the best people to ask were the bosses of some of the top ski companies, so we did just that. Clever, hey? Here are their recommendations and insider’s tips for you to pass on to your clients – they’ll never know you’re not an expert!

Ian Davis, Crystal Ski product director:

"I love Whistler. This is where my kids first cracked skiing; we loved the spacious accommodation which is perfect when you are travelling with kids; there’s a world leading children’s ski school and fun lessons for children of all ages. The lift system is modern and the skiing is varied from easy groomers to ‘double diamond’ runs where you can really scare yourself! And it has the best heli skiing there is. The food is good – you have to go to the Sushi supermarket  and the Sushi place that does Saki margaritas.

Ian’s top tip: I like the Aava Hotel, which is a couple of minutes from the slopes, not in the town, so it’s quiet. I’d recommend B&B so you can take advantage of eating in town, and it works well with the kids as on the first few days they’ll be too tired to have a late dinner so they’ll have "après-ski food" then sleep.

Sample price: Crystal Ski has a week’s bed & breakfast from £875 per person at the Listel Hotel including scheduled flights from Gatwick to Vancouver and transfers, departing January 22.

Andrew Dunn, founder of Scott Dunn:

"Zermatt in Switzerland is my all-time favourite resort because of the supremely majestic scenery. It’s under the Matterhorn,(you know, the mountain on the back of the Alpen box). Also, it’s car-free, which I love, and the skiing is fantastic. On top of that, the mountain restaurants are the best; two I never miss are the Zum See and Franz & Heidi, but there are about 40 altogether. Also, you can ski from Zermatt down to Cervinia in Italy, which is a monstrously long run, then eat some of the fantastic Italian food.

Andrew’s top tip: You can’t ski Zermatt on a shoestring so recommend it to intermediate to advanced skiers with a love of food.

Sample price:  Scott Dunn has seven nights in the Ski Boutique chalet from £1,350pp departing on January 13, 20 or 27, including BA return flights and transfers.

Fraser Ewart-White, co-founder of Powder White:

Verbier (Switzerland) has to be my favourite resort. It’s got great on-piste and off-piste skiing, twinned with, in my opinion, some of the best mountain restaurants and bars in the Alps. Visitors should definitely try La Cabane de Mont Fort, which seemingly sits above the clouds. Order the cheese fondue outside on the terrace – it’s absolutely delicious and all the other food goes cold! Otherwise I never miss a trip to the Carrefour restaurant. Their speciality is the Rosti – delicious with ham and eggs! In terms of runs, the Gentianes to Tortin itinerary route in Verbier has superb skiing, great scenery and is very peaceful.

Fraser’s top tip: On the rare occasion that it is open, go up the rickety cable car to the top of Mont Gele (translation Frozen Mount!) to enjoy, more often than not, fresh powder combined with a steep gradient!

Sample price: Powder White offers seven nights in the Chalet Napoli for £549pp based on a January 12 arrival. Flights and transfer can be arranged on request.

Andy Sturt,founder and managing director of VIP SKI:

My favourite place to ski depends on the time of year, my mood, the snow conditions, the weather, and who I am skiing with. It would have to be Zermatt for unbelievable character and scenic backdrop, St Anton (Austria) for extraordinary après-ski and Val d’Isere (France) for easily accessible and challenging off-piste. In St Anton, it is hard not to be to be completely engaged by the hedonistic bedlam of the Krazy Kanguruh at 5pm. Enjoy the ski down to resort afterwards while you can. It can surely only be a matter of time before European Health & Safety eventually puts a stop to the joyous mayhem:
In Val d’Isere, a couple of lifts across from the Solaise or a quick bus ride from the centre and cable car up to the Fornet offers endless off-piste with slopes in every direction. Grand Vallon and Col Pers rarely disappoint.

Andy’s top tip:  "In Val, wait for a fresh dump, take a guide, get to the top and get there early. Leave your signature on the hill before the masses arrive and follow it up with a long lunch at the excellent Signal.

Sample price: VIP SKI offers seven nights in the Hotel Montjola in St Anton from £949pp including breakfast and dinner, return flights and transfers. In Val d’Isere it has 13 chalets to choose from and has seven nights at the Madrisah from £869pp including return flights and transfers.

Melvin Westlake, Inghams senior product manager, France

My favourite resort is Val Thorens (France). I spent my second ski holiday there, when I was actually managing to stay up on skis and not constantly falling over, so it holds good memories. I just remember the wide open pistes  near the resort, good snow and good bars in which to celebrate the achievement of improving every day. I love the resort because of the feeling of being on top of the world, above the trees and looking down with fantastic views. I particularly love the skiing in the ‘4^th valley’ in to the Maurienne and also La Masse above Les Menuires.

The resort has a great sports centre, tennis is always good as the tennis balls seem to go much faster because of the altitude which unfortunately I cannot repeat at sea level.

Melvin’s top tip: Try to ski the 4^th Valley, La Masse, the Mont Vallon and down to Courchevel 1850 all in one day.

Sample price: Inghams offers seven nights catered accommodation at  the 3.5 Chalet Maryse from £579pp including flights and transfers.

(By the way, there aren’t any koalas in Val Thorens, or any other ski resort that we’re aware of, but this is the best photo we have of Melvin. Just in case you were wondering.)

By Linsey McNeill