Where to dream of a white Christmas

If the thought of any more family festivities leaves you cold, why not break with tradition and head for the slopes? Metro asked Kate Whittaker of Mad Dog Ski to share her five favourite Christmas resorts. Courmayeur: the ideal place for a romantic Christmas getaway

Best for families
The sheer pleasure of a Christmas dinner cooked by someone else, and being able to ski instead of sitting through charades or The Sound Of Music once the presents have been opened combine to make a chalet holiday perfect for families. Tignes (www.tignes.co.uk) offers a snow-sure Christmas, guaranteed sightings of Santa and wonderful festive lights. Many tour operators offer childrens' clubs and there are dedicated ski areas for beginners.
Christmas bonus: Tignes tends to be less pricey than nearby Val d'Isère so your family budget should go further.


Best for romantics
The Italian resort of Courmayeur is perfect for a get-away-from-it-all Christmas break. It may not be the biggest resort in the Alps but the gourmet cuisine, great skiing and luxury spas more than compensate. It's just 90 minutes from Geneva, while Chamonix is close by if you fancy your chance on the legendary Vallée Blanche. For a perfect Christmas Eve, take a Ski-Doo to the Maison Vieille (www.maisonvieille.com) for dinner before skiing back by torchlight (or snowmobile if the red wine has taken its toll).
Christmas bonus: With boutiques from Cartier to Hermès, you're sure to find that perfect something to finish your Christmas shopping.

Best for thrill-seekers
Adrenaline junkies should head to Whistler, Canada. The investment in the resort ahead of the 2010 Winter Olympics takes effect this season with the opening of the Peak-to-Peak gondola linking Whistler and Blackcomb. When you've exhausted the off-piste, try cat skiing (www.powder mountaincatskiing.com). Snowcats (with heated cabins) take you off-piste; you ski down (hopefully in deep powder) and then do it all again. This is a similar experience to heli-skiing but you get more runs at a better price. For a non-skiing buzz, ziplining at up to 80 km/h through the tree tops (www.ziptrek.com) is unforgettable.
Christmas bonus: Treat yourself to the penthouse mountain suite at the Westin (www.westin whistler.com) for the ultimate in luxury including more than 140 square metres of space, breathtaking views and your personal hot tub to soak any aches away.

Best for eco-friendly
Zermatt (www.zermatt.ch) in Switzerland has long been a Christmas favourite. What may be less well known is Zermatt's commitment to the environment. The town is already car-free and horse-drawn carriages and electric taxis are a common sight. All new projects including lift replacements are considered in light of their programme for sustainable skiing. This winter, you can eat Christmas lunch in the new Mattherhorn Glacier Paradise restaurant, which has been built to comply with the highest energy standards. Take comfort in the special sewage treatment (the highest in the world!) which ensures waste water is purified in an environmentally friendly way. The building's solar panels generate almost twice as much energy at this altitude, meaning no external energy supply is needed.
Christmas bonus: Enjoy the charm of Zermatt's traditional village and still do your bit for the environment.

Best for Christmas every day
Courchevel in the Three Valleys (www.courchevel.com) is not just part of the biggest ski domain in the world, it seems they're also setting out to have the biggest Christmas ever. Their 'magical Christmas week' starts on December 21 at the lowest village of le Praz with Father Christmas arriving lakeside. Children can enjoy a show and a present from the Courchevel tourist office. For the next three days, you can follow Father Christmas's progress up the hill as he visits each village, accompanied by ski instructors from the French ski school, before finally arriving at 1850m on Christmas Eve. There's an ice skating Gala on December 23 and a Cirque Troque spectacle on Christmas Day itself. If you haven't sated your Christmas spirit by then, there's another concert on Boxing Day. Oh, and you can ski while you're there as well.
Christmas bonus: Fireworks and free hot drinks for your après-ski four nights running.

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