Where to go for cheap snow: Skiing can be terribly expensive, but not if you opt for an exceptional package at one of THESE charming Alpine resorts

The new season is almost upon us. Fresh air, mountain scenery and a glass or two of mulled wine await – the only question is whether your budget stretches to a welcome week in the Alps.

We’ve done the homework for you and put together ten of the best budget ski holidays for you – perfect for beginners and experts alike.

Here’s our pick, starting at just over £500 per person for seven nights, including flights, transfers and half board.

Hotel Lion Borovets in Bulgaria has a beautiful swimming pool

ROCK-BOTTOM BULGARIA

Borovets is best for beginners and advanced skiers who are not looking for too many challenges. It is hidden in a beautiful pine forest with large hotels from the communist era. Expect a lively nightlife in traditional wooden-framed ‘meyhanes’ (restaurants/pubs). Meals in restaurants near the slopes cost around £9.

How to do it: Seven nights at Hotel Lion Borovets from £616pp half board with flights to Manchester (crystalski.nl).

Arinsal in Andorra is guaranteed snow, as most slopes are above 1,950 meters

CHEAP IN ANDORRA

For an affordable package, with lively bars and great slopes for beginners (plus a good ski school), head to Arinsal in the principality of Andorra, tucked between France and Spain. The descents may be limited, but snow is usually reliable as most slopes are above 1,950 metres.

How to do it: Seven nights at Hotel St Gothard from £470pp half board with Gatwick flights and transfers (igluski.com).

Hotel Modlinger in Soll, Austria is a bargain for seven nights from £674 per person B&B

SOLD ON SOLD

Soll in Austria is connected to the huge SkiWelt area and is also popular with intermediate level skiers, although in Kitzbuhel there is a gondola connection to more advanced slopes. There is a small village with good restaurants serving traditional Tyrolean dishes and après ski bars.

How to do it: Seven nights from £674pp B&B staying at Hotel Modlinger with flights to Glasgow (igluski.com).

Passo Tonale in Lombardy, Italy, is a great affordable place to go skiing

SEDUCTIVE ITALY

Passo Tonale in Lombardy, Italy, is not choccy box pretty, but rather a Colorado resort with one straight road lined with shops, cafes, restaurants and hotels. But The Paradiso, a large American motel-style building with a spa, buffet dinner and on-site ski shop, is a great place to stay.

For après-ski, try one of the lurid yellow Il Bombardino lava-temperature drinks with 30 percent spirits topped with cream. Affordable lunches – excellent pizzas – are available on the mountain.

How to do it: Seven nights at Hotel Grand Paradiso from £779 pp half board from Manchester, or from £582 pp half board at Hotel La Mirandola from Stansted (crystalski.nl).

The French seaside resort of Flaine is connected to the extensive Grand Massif ski area, which is suitable for all levels

WELL PRICED FRANCE

Don’t let the 1960s brutalist architecture put you off the French resort of Flaine, which is linked to the vast Grand Massif ski area suitable for all levels. Much of the accommodation on offer consists of self-catering apartments, keeping costs low.

How to do it: Seven nights at the Montsoleil Terrasses d’Eos Apartments from £569pp from Leeds Bradford, based on six shared (inghams.co.uk).

A snowboarder hits the slopes in Nassfeld, Austria

AMAZING AUSTRIA

Nassfeld in the province of Carinthia is popular with Slovenes, Italians, Czechs and Austrians – but virtually unknown to the British. Budget flights to Klagenfurt (just over an hour’s drive) or, also nearby, Salzburg, Venice, Trieste or Ljubljana mean there’s usually a cheap way to get there. And decent four-star hotels are a fraction of what you’ll find elsewhere in Austria.

There are sturdy red slopes, comfortable blue slopes and easy green slopes. Stop at a mountain hut for a piece of Kaiserschmarrn – chopped pancake with apple sauce. Delicious.

How to do it: Seven nights at Alm Hotel Karnten from £750 pp half board (almhotel-kaernten.at); return Luton-Salzburg flights from £34 (wizzair.com).

Sunset view of Bardonecchia in the Susa Valley in the Piedmont region of Italy

PIEMONTE BARGAIN

The often overlooked resort of Bardonecchia in the Susa Valley in Italy’s Piedmont region is another good choice for advanced skiers. It was recently rated as the best value of all European resorts in the annual Post Office Ski Report, with ski passes from £190 for six days. The slopes rise to 2,694 meters, the highest point of the ski area. There’s even a chance to try a former Olympic halfpipe.

How to do it: Seven nights at Residence Tabor from £498pp with lift passes and Luton flights (sunweb.nl).

Four points from Sheraton Bansko in Bulgaria

BULGARIA FOR FAMILIES

There were fears about taking a family of four skiing during half term, but Bansko in Bulgaria turned out to be a success. No one is claiming the resort can compete with those in France, but for beginners it was great – and our week was very reasonable in a four-star hotel, including flights, transfers, food, ski passes, equipment hire and tuition.

The mountains have 75 km of marked pistes that reach up to 2,560 meters with slopes for all levels. Our children loved the ski school. Bansko has a charming medieval old town.

How to do it: Seven nights at Four Points by Sheraton Bansko from £595 pp half board including flights and transfers (balkanholidays.co.uk).

Hotel Seiblishof in Ischgl, Austria – a resort known for its après ski and rock concerts

SEDUCTIVE IN ISCHGL

This Austrian resort allows you to straddle Austria and Switzerland at the same time. It is best known for its apres-ski and rock concerts, where Elton John, Lenny Kravitz and Rhianna have performed.

After 5pm the bars are buzzing with music and the chatter of mulled wine drinkers. The extensive slopes are fantastic. There is also tobogganing. Austrian prices are noticeably cheaper than in Switzerland.

How to do it: Seven nights at the luxurious Hotel Seiblishof from £1,165 pp half board (seiblishof.com); returns to Innsbruck from £45 (easyjet.com). More information: austria.info.

VRetreats Cervino in Cervinia, Italy, offers seven nights for around £1,600 pp all-inclusive

SKI AND SPA FOR LESS

Some spa hotels in Zermatt, Switzerland cost £2,250 pp for the week – without flights, transfers or meals. Enjoy seven nights across the border in Italy at the VRetreats Cervino spa hotel in the neighboring Cervinia resort for around £1,600pp, all included.

Cervinia may be less fashionable, but it has a charming center with small restaurants, delicatessen shops and cozy bars on winding cobbled streets. The view at the top of the Matterhorn is also spectacular.

How to do it: Seven nights at VRetreats Cervino from £1,569 pp half board with Gatwick flights and transfers included – all for £224 per night (inghams.com). Just don’t forget the extra costs for the ski lift.