The Americas

Three main areas – the West Coast running down from Alaska to California, the Rockies stretching from Montana down to Arizona, and the East Coast. Being the US of A, the infrastructure is staggering – lifts are fast and efficient, the slopes are groomed to golf-green standards, and service is with a smile. But this all comes at a price – particularly lift passes. Transfers can be lengthy and some places don’t take kindly to our easy going attitudes to heading off-piste.

This is a big, big country and there is skiing from the east coast to the west. However, if you are going to travel this far for a ski holiday you might as well go the whole hog and head for the Rocky Mountains in the West. Stunning snow, excellent facilities and friendly people all make this a world-class destination. It can get cold, but the bonus is that as the temperature drops, you start to get wonderful, dry, fluffy snow – and lots of it. Whistler is the giant resort nearest Vancouver, loved by boarders. Big White offers great ski-in/ski-out. Jasper is up in Alberta’s wild logging country and Banff is family-friendly, while many believe Lake Louise is skiing paradise.