The snow is falling, prices are rising

La Plagne

You could almost hear a collective sigh of relief from the ski industry when the first few flakes of snow started falling across the Alps last weekend.

And as a resort of the early season precipitation, the phones started ringing again and bookings have been noticeably picking up.

The fear that customers were holding off booking in case the Alps suffered a second dry start to the season in a row had led to some deep discounting in recent weeks.

However, prices are expected to start rising now that temperatures in some of the most popular resorts are falling, so the message to customers is book now before they go any higher.

A spokeswoman for TUI ski brands Crystal and Thomson said: "We had good bookings over the last few months and yes, the snowfall has created a buzz, especially on social media.

"Activity and buying of ski holidays has increased since last Saturday and is continuing.

"We are starting to raise our prices because of stronger demand in December and New Year week, so the message is, don’t wait for the snow , it has arrived."

Nevertheless, there are still some deals to be had for peak weeks.  For Christmas week, Crystal has a half-price offer in  we have a great deal to St Anton, Austria, where it is offering seven nights in a catered chalet for £419, departing on December 19. For New Year, it has knocked 39% off a week in a ski-in, ski-out hotel in the French resort of La Plagne, which costs £695 per person, departing on December 26.

St Anton

Ski Total has a week in a chalet in the French resort Les Gets s from 399pp, down from  £989pp), travelling on December 20. The price includes flights and transfers.

Sister company, family friendly Esprit Ski is offering a chalet holiday for a family of four from £2035, a saving of £1,725, also departing on December 20.

Neilson sales and marketing director Andy Furlong said: "December sales have come late this year, but have picked up recently and were particularly strong over the weekend since the snow started falling.  On the flip side, we have seen very strong demand this season for February half term and Easter holidays, both better sold than last year.  This year we are putting additional flights on just for February half-term to service the increased demand."

Neilson still has plenty of availability over Christmas and New Year, with the highest savings available for Christmas getaways.

For example, it is offering a week club board in El Tartar in Andorra from £469, a saving of £376, for departures on December 20 and a week in Mayrhofen, departing on December 19, for £329, a saving of £440.

Following the snow fall last weekend – and the freezing weather which allowed many resorts to start manufacturing more snow – some resorts are already starting to open for the season.

These include Courchevel in France. Others, including Ischgl in Austria, are due to open this week while Val d’Isere in France and Val Thorens will be open at the weekend.

While most will only open a few runs and some lifts will only operate at weekends until mid December, the season is definitely underway.