The British are turning to emergency markets for top-value ski holidays, reveals NICK DALTON

Bled, Slovenia
One of those lakes and mountains places that's popular all-year round, thanks to the Church of St Maria poking prettily up from its own island on Lake Bled.

It's only a 35-minute transfer from Ljubljana, though most of the skiing is 30-plus minutes from the village. The daily bus ride, however, is very pretty and free.

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Kobla ski area is small and nice enough but Vogel has breathtaking views over Lake Bohinj.

A third area, Stra?a, is tiny and open only at weekends (and for weekday night skiing) but gazes across Lake Bled.

The village of Bled itself has some lively bars and there's plenty of entertainment on offer such as sleigh rides, snowshoe walks and dogsledding.

First Choice (0871 664 0130/www.firstchoice-ski.co.uk) offers seven nights at Hotel Savica from £485pp (two sharing), half board. Price includes return flights from Gatwick to Ljubljana and transfers.

Beginners ski pack (lift pass, ski school, skis, boots), £207.

Jasná, Slovakia
Slovakia appeared on the populist ski radar rather late but is still winning the race against its old bedmate, the Czech Republic, which also has many ski resorts.

Perhaps Slovakia's prettiest is -trbské Pleso in the High Tatras, with the chateau-like Grand Hotel Kempinski.
However, Jasná, 30 miles away, is the country's biggest and gets most of the attention. It's in the Low Tatras but the mountains still top 6,500ft.

Jasná also has its own lake and its own Grand Hotel, which may be neither as old nor as grand as the Kempinski but is still smart, offering ski-in ski-out, with spa and nightclub.

There is decent skiing on both sides of Chpok mountain with most pistes (and bars) on Chpok North, above the Grand, while Chpok South has off-piste and powder. There's a new beginner area, Maxiland, with lifts and a new boarder park.

In high season there's night skiing. Bars are situated mostly in the numerous hotels.

Zenith Holidays (01737 852242/www.zenithholidays.co.uk) offers seven nights at Hotel Grand Jasná from £547pp (two sharing), half board, including transfers and lift pass.

Return flights to Krakow can be arranged from Gatwick or Stansted from £95.

Poiana Brasov, Romania
This has been a favourite for years, attracting people with its low prices, devotion to beginners and a touch of Dracula.

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The purpose-built resort sits amid the pine forests of the Carpathian Mountains, near the historic city of Brasov and Bran Castle, the supposed ancestral home of the legendary Count (excursions are on offer).

There are only 10 miles of piste but the slopes are uncrowded, the lifts have been recently modernised and the instructors speak good English.

It's what is referred to as a family resort, which translates as good for youngsters starting out and for parents who are modest skiers.
Absolute beginners can get skis, boots, lift pass and four hours tuition a day for £129 (children £104).

The hotels, pleasantly modern, are either at the bottom of the slope or a short walk away.

Inghams (0208 780 6680/www.inghams.co.uk) offers seven nights at Poiana Hotel from £515pp (two sharing), half board, including return flights from Heathrow to Bucharest and transfers.

Bansko, Bulgaria
Only a few years ago if you wanted to ski at Bansko, you hitched a lift to the top with an army truck.

Now it is the leader of eastern resorts with fast lifts, modern apartments and even a five-star hotel, the Kempinski Grand Arena.

It has perhaps not achieved quite the international cachet that the developers, along with the many Britons who bought property in the area, had hoped but it is a fully-rounded destination with some of the best après-ski in this part of the world.

There are bars and restaurants at the foot of the slopes and plenty of traditional inns (mehanas) in the town, the centre of which is now a Unesco World Heritage site.

The ski area is one of eastern Europe's largest with 44 miles of piste including decent reds, the steep Tomba black and a 10-mile run from the top.

The high-point is a respectable 8,530ft and all the slopes are covered with snow cannon to ensure that the conditions are good.

Crystal Ski (0871 231 2256/www.crystalski.co.uk) offers seven nights at the Hotel Katarino Spa from £405pp (two sharing), half board, including return flights from Gatwick to Sofia and transfers. Beginners pack (lift pass, ski school, skis, boots), £138.

Zakopane, Poland
Zakopane (pronounced Zako-pa-ney) is a lovely town that is surrounded by several ski areas.

They're not big but they're fun. Nosal, with its good beginner area and several steep runs, and Szymoszkowa, close to the town centre with snow-making to ensure there's almost always excellent cover, are both open until 10pm for night skiing, while Harenda has lovely runs down between the trees.

Kasprowy Wierch, Poland's biggest ski area, is available as a £60 day trip.

Zakopane is a party town with plenty of bars and nightclubs, including the huge and popular Wierchy.

Sunshine World (0207 581 4736/www.sunshineworldpoland.com) offers seven nights at Villa Karpinski from £425pp (four sharing), half board, including transfers, lift pass, ski instruction, equipment hire and resort transport.

Return flights to Krakow can be arranged from Gatwick, Luton or Stansted from £49.