LES COCHES, FRANCE

Part of the vast Paradiski region that boasts 265 miles of pistes, Les Coches is a village resort, with a smattering of good bars and restaurants.

Family Ski's Chalet Les Arolles is situated right on the piste and just a short slide from Les Coches' main six-man chairlift.

It offers childcare and a ski programme for babies and children.

Family Ski (01684 540333/www.familyski.co.uk) offers seven nights at Chalet Les Arolles from £549 per adult and £478 per child (four sharing), half-board.

easyJet (0843 104 5000/www.easyjet.com) offers return flights to Geneva from £56.

Click here for fantastic Les Coches deals

GERLOS, AUSTRIA

This pretty resort is part of the Zillertal Arena with 100 miles of slopes, many catering for children.

The Gerlosstein ski area is accessed by cable-car, ideal for families wanting to ski away from the hordes and home to a four-mile toboggan run.

Stay at the Kroller Family Resort Kinderhotel which offers childcare, as well as an indoor playground, climbing wall, cinema and pony rides.

Kinderhotels (0845 082 2422/www.kinderhotels.co.uk) offers seven nights at Kroller Family Resort from £1,601 (four sharing), all-inclusive.

easyJet (as above) offers return flights to Innsbruck from £62.

Click here for amazing Gerlos deals

East European ski resorts can be a great budget option for beginners and early-tointermediate skiers with three-course evening meals from £11. Borovets is Bulgaria's oldest and biggest resort with pistes set among the Rila Mountains.

Childcare is available for those aged one upwards, with ski school for the over-fours.

There's also a bowling alley and horsedrawn sleigh rides.

Balkan Holidays (0845 520 1260/www.balkanholidays.co.uk) offers seven nights at Hotel Victoria from £876 (four sharing), half board.

Price includes return flights to Sofia and transfers.

For great Borovets deals, click here

LAAX, SWITZERLAND

Just 90 minutes from Zurich, Laax has three "Snow Wonderlands" for children aged two upwards.

Family accommodation ranges from traditional hotels to the ultra-modern sugar cube-shaped buildings of Rocksresort.

All children love La Vacca, a restaurant in a tepee that is lined with cow hide.

Ski Safari (01273 224060/www.skisafari.com) offers seven nights at Rocksresort from £1,920 (four sharing), self-catering.

Price includes return flights to Zurich and transfers.

For amazing Laax deals, click here

Catherine Cooper is author of Travelling With Children: A Parent's Guide, (Forward Press), £9.99