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Many people who are new to winter sports have difficulty deciding where to take their winter skiing holidays or snowboard holidays. Consider the following before making your decision.
Suitability and extent of runs
Resort snow records
Resort facilities and charm
Your holiday budget
Travel time to resort
Suitability and extent of runs
Perhaps the most important factor to consider when choosing a destination for your ski or snowboarding trip is the suitability and extent of the runs in the resort.
To get the most enjoyment from your skiing or snowboarding holiday try to choose a resort with a variety of runs that match your ability.
Generally in Europe and North America runs are classified as follows*:
Green - Beginners/Easy (Slight gradient. Includes 'nursery slopes')
Blue - Easy/Intermediate (Steeper gradients with more uneven terrain)
Red - Intermediate/Advanced (Steep slopes with challenging sections)
Black - Advanced (Very challenging steep slopes often with bumps/moguls)
*This classification of runs is a guide only. 
There is no standardised classification system in Europe at present which means there is a degree of variation. Runs can be under-graded or over-graded in comparison to those in other resorts.
The variation means you should always ski and ride within your ability. If you get to the top of a slope and feel it is too difficult for you to attempt, turn around and find another route or take the lift back down.
Good Beginner Resorts
Some ski and snowboard resorts are dominated by more challenging steep runs which make them less than ideal for your first winter sports holiday.
A good resort for beginners would have a good range of blue runs - or green and blue if you are skiing in France.
Look at the number of runs in the resort and also try to find out the length of runs. Some nursery slopes can be little more than the back yard of the ski and snowboard school!
Also look for green and blue runs higher up the mountain. These resorts will allow you to experience the better snow conditions that are often found at altitude and you also get great views.
Be careful of narrow green runs that criss-cross the mountain to the bottom. This type of run can sometimes be little more than a track which can be tricky if you are a beginner used to having lots of space to make your turns.
When considering smaller ski and snowboard resorts check to see if there is a chair-lift or gondola back down to the resort centre.
Most of the bigger resorts will have a chair-lift or gondola running to the base of the mountain. This allows people to easily get back to the resort centre if there is a lack of easy runs or if the snow conditions are bad.
If you are a complete beginner don’t overestimate your ability.
You are extremely unlikely to have all the necessary skills to progress on to Red and Black runs by the second day!
Many established skiers and boarders spend the majority of their time on the blue and red runs as they usually offer perfect conditions for ‘cruising’.
You will progress quicker on the easier slopes so choose a ski and snowboard resort with as many greens and blues as possible.
Resort snow records
Good snow conditions can make a real difference to your skiing or snowboarding holiday, especially if you are a beginner. You can never be certain where the best snow conditions will be but here a few tips.
North America's Advantage
The high altitude of many North American ski and snowboarding resorts means they often experience great snow conditions.
The ski and snowboard resorts around the Rockies are particularly lucky because their high altitude, combined with the dry atmosphere leads to heavy falls of light powdery snow that is a pleasure to ride in.
The North American resorts are also a good bet for early or late season skiing and boarding. In fact some ski and snowboard resorts in the USA can stay open until June or July!
However, many ski and snowboard resorts in Europe also experience great snow conditions late in the season. It's often a question of luck.
Hedging your bets
To increase your chances of good snow conditions, look for higher resorts with good snow records.
Also consider ski and snowboard resorts with glaciers.
Glacier resorts often able to provide skiing and snowboarding during the height of the summer so there is a good chance of excellent snow conditions during the winter when temperatures are obviously more favourable.
You could also look for resorts with a good number of North facing runs.
North facing runs tend to hold the snow better because they receive less sunlight. This can be particularly important towards the end of the season when temperatures rise and the South facing slopes can become slushy by mid-afternoon.
Look for resorts with good artificial snow coverage.
Artificial snow is not quite as good as the real thing but it helps to keep more of the runs open in poor conditions.
Finally you are more likely to get better snow conditions during the colder months of the season so to increase your chances of good snow in Europe and North America book your holiday for January or February.
Resort facilities and charm
The facilities in ski and snowboard resorts vary enormously. Some resorts are little more than high alpine villages with a local shop and village pub whereas others are more like small commercial cities with ski and snowboard runs on the doorstep. You need to decide what you want from your skiing and snowboarding holiday and choose accordingly.
To book a holiday in the resort that is right for you ask yourself the following:
Am I travelling with children?
Obviously a big factor affecting your choice of skiing or snowboarding resort will be whether you are travelling with children.
If you are travelling with kids, you need to choose somewhere that has a good English-speaking ski and snowboard school (snowboarding is not recommended for very young children) with plenty of nursery slopes and cruising runs for them to explore.
You know what your children will enjoy so if they are into swimming pools, ice rinks and bowling allies you’ll probably want to go to a larger resort so that they will have plenty to do if they want a break from skiing or if there is bad weather.
If your worried about having enough to keep the children occupied, an alternative to a large resort is a resort with good transport links to a large town or other attractions.
What sort of nightlife am I looking for?
Eating out and nightlife options need to be considered.
Some ski and snowboard resorts can be very lively in the evenings where as others appear to close down as soon as the last skier is off the mountain.
Are you looking for packed bars, cheap drinks and loud music or would you prefer to sample the local culture in more a refined environment?
You know what you like so choose a ski and snowboard resort to suit.
Just remember alcohol, altitude and freezing temperatures can be a dangerous cocktail so it's probably best not to overdo it.
Do I mind what the resort looks like?
Some ski and snowboarding resorts are purpose built and unfortunately in some cases this has resulted in the creation of some rather uninspiring 'concrete jungles' in the mountains.
Obviously dodgy architecture and lack of resort charm does not affect the skiing and snowboarding on offer though.
However, if you have an image in your mind of small wooden chalets and horse drawn sleighs you need to make sure you carefully research the resort before you book your skiing and snowboarding holiday.
Do I believe everything I hear?
It is impossible to say which country has the best facilities or the resorts with most charm because everyone’s needs and tastes are different.
However, there will never be a shortage of people offering advice on "the best resort" or "the best country".
People often talk about the better snow conditions, customer service and lift systems in North America, the charm of Swiss resorts or the great nightlife in Austria and Andorra.
Many of these observations are not unfounded but at the end of the day every ski and snowboard resort is individual.
Most of the main winter sports countries will have a variety of skiing and snowboarding resorts to suit all tastes so don't be too quick to rule places out.
Your holiday budget 
It's difficult to distinguish on price between individual countries because most countries will have a range of ski and snowboarding resorts to suit different budgets. However, there are some generalisations that can be made.
Unless you're taking the independent option, your main choices for winter sports holidays will be:
- USA
- Canada
- France
- Italy
- Andorra
- Switzerland
- Austria
- Bulgaria
- Chile
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- Romania
- Slovenia
- Norway
- Sweden
- Finland
- Spain
- Germany
- Japan
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Most of these countries will have some very expensive resorts and also some resorts that offer great value for money.
However, there are a few generalisations that can be made.
More Expensive
It is generally accepted that lift passes in North America are more expensive than in most European ski and snowboard resorts.
Tuition also tends to be more expensive in North America.
When you combine these factors with the fact that most visitors to North America stay for 10 or 14 days as opposed to 7 days in Europe, it is not unreasonable to generalise that North America can be a more expensive destination.
As with any type of holiday most long-haul destinations will always work out more expensive. So trips to Japan, New Zealand and Australia, or to South America are likely to cost more.
Less Expensive
Perhaps the cheapest countries in Europe serviced by the main tour operators are Bulgaria, Romania, Slovenia, Poland and Andorra.
Bulgaria, Romania, Slovenia, and Poland all have resorts aimed primarily at beginners on a budget but the downside is the number of runs can be limited.
Remember, you usually get what you pay for so don’t expect the same facilities and number of pistes as you would get in the bigger European and North American resorts.
However, don't rule these countries out too quickly – they can be a great choice for beginners or those with limited experience who are looking for a good value skiing and snowboarding holiday.
Traditionally, Andorra with its duty-free bars has also been very popular with skiers and boarders looking for a cheap winter sports holiday.
Andorra can get very lively but its resorts have a reputation for very good ski and snowboard schools and a good variety of beginners' runs.
Finally don't forget about the skiing and snowboarding available on our own shores!
Scotland's main resorts may not be on the same scale as those on the Continent but when the snow conditions are good you can still enjoy some great skiing and snowboarding.
Travel time to resort
Travel time is an important consideration when deciding which skiing and snowboarding resort to go to.
If you've only got a few days to take your skiing or snowboarding holiday you'll probably be best off staying in Europe. A short skiing holiday perhaps over a long weekend is relatively easy to arrange. You could also consider staying in the UK and visit one of the Scottish resorts.
Travelling to North America will mean a longer journey and a time change so it's not ideal for 7 day holidays. However, it can still be a done as resorts on the east coast such as Stowe or Tremblant are just a 6 hour flight from the UK plus transfer time.
If you are travelling to the West coast to places like Mammoth or Whistler you can expect a 10 hour flight before transfers so you may feel these resorts warrant a longer stay of 10 or 14 nights.
At the other end of the scale, Geneva is little over an hour's flight-time from the UK making it an ideal airport to use if you are considering a skiing weekend in Europe.
With transfers from Geneva of less than 90 minutes, some of the Northern Alpine resorts such as Morzine, La Clusaz and Flaine, make it is possible to be on the slopes within a few hours of leaving the UK.
However if you are after a short skiing holiday or short snowboarding holiday you could consider most resorts in Europe - France, Switzerland, Italy and Austria.
As is often the case, a major factor affecting your decision about how far to travel will be whether you are travelling with children.
Younger children will obviously be better suited to the shorter journey times needed for the European resorts.
