Where to ski without the crowds

Seiser Alm isn’t a conventional ski resort but a collection of buildings scattered around the piste. Adler Mountain Lodge, reached by a track or gondola from the valley village of Ortisei, is one of the most remote hotels in the Alps.

Couples or families wanting privacy – you’re unlikely to bump into anyone you know, and celebrities will be left well alone. Foodies will love it too: chef Hannes Pignater uses ingredients sourced from local farms in South Tyrol to create dishes such as omelette with meadow herbs and hay-roasted lamb.

January or March are best, although this far corner of the Dolomiti Superski area is quiet even in high season.

We fly to Milan seven days a week from London Heathrow.

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Located in the Spanish Pyrenees, Baqueira Beret has remained one of skiing’s best-kept secrets since it opened in 1964. It is a great alternative to the over-crowded resorts of the Alps, and the prices are good, too.

The King of Spain has a home in his country’s most upmarket ski resort. Otherwise, it’s mainly chic Spaniards who start their skiing day late, take a siesta at 6pm after a 3pm lunch, dine at 11pm, and party until dawn. David Beckham and family have stayed in the small and charming Hotel La Pleta.

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Avoid Spanish school holidays: January and March are the best times to visit.

We fly to Barcelona from London Gatwick and Heathrow; or fly to Toulouse from London Heathrow. Both airports are within easy driving distance of Baqueira Beret. Add a car to your booking with Avis for free winter tyres with your rental.

For the steep slopes and thin crowds. Portillo is the country’s oldest ski area, located near the Argentinian border, with 28 miles of piste and exhilarating off-piste. Another reason is the retro-luxury Hotel Portillo – the only accommodation here – on the shore of the gorgeous Laguna del Inca surrounded by the imposing Andes.

People who are looking for a real challenge; the US and Austrian ski teams, including Lindsey Vonn and Marcel Hirscher.

During the southern hemisphere winter, from June to October.

We’ll be flying direct to Santiago from London Heathrow on the new Boeing 787-9 from 3 January 2017.

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Why not stop over in Santiago on your way to the slopes? The Ritz-Carlton Santiago has a rooftop pool with unbeatable views of the Andes.

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Snow-sure skiing on two glaciers, and lively après-ski. The resort is relatively undiscovered internationally, especially to Brits. That may change though thanks to Sölden’s glitzy Ice Q restaurant being featured in the latest Bond film, Spectre. The world’s fastest gondola also opens here this October.

The party resort is climbing upmarket: glamorous Das Central hotel, the Ice Q and Daniel Craig have made sure of that.

The snow is reliable from October to May. In fact, you can ski here for ten months of the year.

We fly to Innsbruck daily from London Gatwick and Heathrow. Add a car to your booking with Avis.

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For the wide variety of resorts, both big and small, set around the tantalising turquoise lake. Squaw Valley and Heavenly are the best known, but Kirkwood, Northstar and little Mount Rose also have exciting terrain.

A laid-back West Coast crowd who enjoy barbecue lunches on the sunny slopes.

This is a great spot for spring skiing in March and April.

We fly to San Francisco twice daily, with a service on the Airbus A380.

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The modern Tahoe Lakeshore Lodge and Spa.

Lake Louise is the biggest of three separate ski areas in the Banff National Park that share a lift pass and a total of 26 lifts and 7,748 acres of trails. It is a 45-minute drive from the lively town of Banff, but also has its own quieter accommodation base at the foot of the slopes.

Everyone, from beginners to experts. Lake Louise attracts people who want to ski amid strikingly beautiful scenery with reliable snow conditions.

It can be extremely cold here, so the optimum time to ski is from February onwards. But even in high season, the slopes are never as crowded as major Alpine resorts.

We fly direct to Calgary from London Heathrow once a day. You can check in your baggage and ski gear for free.

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Fairmont Banff Springs kick-started modern tourism to Banff 125 years ago. Expect grand, elegant décor and heart-stopping views from the floor-to-ceiling windows of Bow Valley Grill restaurant.

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For the adventure. South Korea’s first ski resort opened in 1975 and is gathering popularity as the up-and-coming Asian resort, with its 14 lifts and 28 slopes.

South Koreans mainly. Also international racers – the resort is a venue for the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, and has hosted the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup four times.

From mid-November to early April.

We fly nonstop to Seoul Incheon from London Heathrow seven times a week.

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This peaceful little Norwegian village is great for families. Its easily-navigable slopes become practically empty during the week and, down in the village, everything is within walking distance. Why not try air boarding? If bombarding down the slope on your belly isn't for you, there's dog sledding, ice fishing and cross-country skiing in the Jotunheimen National Park.

Parents – the ski schools have excellent, caring English-speaking instructors. If you'd rather have a good Norwegian meal than several shots of akevitt then this is the spot for you – the après ski is rather sleepy.

The snow will be there – and so should you – from mid-December to May.

We fly direct to Oslo every day from London Heathrow.

The cosy Bergo Hotel is great value for money. There's local food for dinner, followed by a stint in the on-site sauna. The slopes are a short walk away.

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Lying between Oslo and Bergen, this is one of the best resorts in Scandinavia for family skiing. Oleevar. The Havsdalen ski arena has one of the longest toboggan runs in the country, while Vestlia has excellent childcare. Geilo is also a major centre for cross-country skiing, has options for floodlit night-skiing and is also an excellent place to kite-ski. There are just over 21 miles of mainly intermediate piste and 20 lifts.

Families, cross-country skiers and those wanting an all-round winter-sports holiday.

Any time between mid-December and May.

We fly to Oslo daily from London Heathrow; or fly to Bergen from London Heathrow twice daily.

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Vestlia Resort is a four-star hotel with a spa, bowling alley and huge indoor play area for children.

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