Whether it’s fresh powder, off-piste challenges or a buzzing Après scene, we all have different priorities when it comes to booking a ski holiday.
The season has already begun, but that doesn’t mean you’ve missed the boat for a snowy getaway in 2026.
In 2024, research from the Ski Club of Great Britain found that 52% took more than one winter ski holiday, compared to 38% the year before.
Skiiers are starting to snap up deals earlier, as 71% tend to book at least three months in advance. France remains the most popular skiing destination for British skiers, specifically.
To be sure you don’t get FOMO, the Metro Travel team has rounded up a shortlist of great ski resorts you can still jet off to, from the Scandinavian Alps to dizzying slopes near Dracula’s Castle.
Hemsedal, Norway
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Nicknamed the Scandinavian Alps, Hemsedal is one of the largest ski resorts in Norway, with more than 140km of slopes and peaks that tower up to 1,457 metres.
In ski circles, it’s also known as the ‘eternally young village’, a nod to the fact that it’s popular with younger crowds.
Unlike other places in Norway, Hemsedal is geared towards regular skiing, rather than cross-country, which is popular in the Nordic countries.
There’s also a plethora of other winter sports to try, including husky sledging and, if you’re a daredevil, off-piste skiing. It’s led by a professional, so you’ll be in safe hands.
Hemsedal has a buzzy Après scene. Every Saturday at 2pm, the Skarsnuten Hotel hosts a post-ski event, with house music and free-flowing drinks.
There’s still space at the Skogstad Hotel, where two adults can stay for £916 for seven nights from February 16 to February 23.
Chamonix, France
Back in the world of traditional European skiing, Chamonix in France is set against the magnificent Mont Blanc.
If you ski here, expect plenty of snow. There’s currently 43cm worth of the white stuff on the ground, which is more than enough, but forecasts suggest that fresh flurries could top that up by an extra 21cm.
There’s still space at the Vert Lodge for a seven-night stay, which comes in around £664 per person, or the bougier Hotel Les Aiglons, which costs more like £1,200 for a week full-board.
Book via Inghams from £1,529 per person for a week’s board, with availability between February 14 and 21.
Val Gardena, Italy
France and Austria aren’t the only European destinations for skiing: Italy also has beautiful options, including Val Gardena.
Joined with Alpe di Siusi, this ski resort is part of a network of 12 ski areas partnered under the Dolomiti Superski.
There are 500 kilometres’ worth of slopes to explore, accommodating every skill level, from virgin to pro.
This one is on the higher end of things, but the Hotel Plan de Gralba still has space this season. For a seven-night stay, prices come in around £1493.95 per person.
There’s also Hotel Pozzamanigoni, which costs around £318 per night for two adults.
Val Thorens, France
Val Thorens isn’t exactly a hidden gem, but it’s still popular with Après skiers looking for a cold pint after a day of tearing up the slopes for a reason.
The most famous spot is La Folie Douce, renowned for daytime DJs and dancing on tables. The area opens as early as 2pm, and runs until 4.30pm, when slopes start to close.
Because of its popularity, Val Thorens can be pricey, but there’s still space at the Hotel Pashmina Le Refuge, which comes in around £468 per night for two adults.
There’s also the four-star Fahrenheit Seven Val Thorens, which sits at an altitude of 2,300 metres and costs £367.77 per night.
Book via Inghams from £1,498 per person for a week’s board, with availability between February 21 and 28.
Méribel, France
Méribel is right in the middle of Les 3 Vallées, the largest ski area in the world, so naturally, we had to include it.
The resort was founded by Peter Lindsay, a British Colonel, in 1938, and it’s still one of the most popular destinations for British skiers today.
There’s an astonishing number of ski runs here (150 kilometres’ worth), some of which are 1,700 metres above sea level.
And, if you want to go off piste and explore elsewhere, you’re right next to Courchevel and Val Thorens, which, altogether, offer up around 600 kilometres worth of pistes.
The nightlife scene is strong, too. Places like Lodge du Village are currently offering two for one on cocktails every evening between 10pm and 11pm. If you’re still awake after a full day out in the snow.
In February, there’s still space at Madame Vacances Hotel & Spa Le Mottaret, which has ski-in, ski-out access and costs £3,836 for a week’s stay. There’s also Hotel Mon Vallon, which is slightly cheaper at £3,548.
Book via Inghams from £1,909 per person for a week’s board, with availability between February 7 and 14.
Zakopane, Poland
Known as the winter capital of Poland, Zakopane has risen in the ranks of affordable ski destinations.
This small mountain town is in the middle of the Tatra Mountains, which are home to several other ski resorts.
To immerse yourself in local culture, take a walk along Krupowki Street, where you’ll find traditional goods, or warm up in thermal pools.
Accommodation here is much cheaper. The Hotel Paryski – which has saunas, jacuzzis and an outdoor swimming pool – costs around £90 per night for two adults.
There’s also the Gold Hotel, which has a hot tub and sauna and is even cheaper, at £59 per night.
Poiana Brașov, Romania
Another resort that offers great value for money is Poiana Brașov, the largest mountain resort in Romania.
It was recently voted the most affordable European resort, but with a total slope of just 24.5 kilometres, it doesn’t have the variety of its counterparts.
Nestled deep within the Carpathian Mountains, it’s close to Dracula’s Castle, if Gothic history is your thing.
The Carpathians stretch across Central and Eastern Europe, spanning Czechia, Poland, Slovakia, Ukraine, Austria, Romania, Serbia, and Hungary, so there’s scope to make this a multi-country break.
At the end of January, there are rooms available at the Teleferic Grand Hotel, Alpin Resort Hotel, and Hotel Simona Halep, with prices coming in between £120 and £146 per night for two adults.
Saalbach, Austria
Saalbach is one for the party animals. There are clubs across the resort for those who want to take their antics beyond the pistes, including Taverne and Almbar.
Nooks like the Hinterhag Alm host live music, while Bauer’s Schi-Alm is one of the most notable options for skiers heading back towards the village.
The slopes here are handsome, with 270 kilometres’ worth of runs and 70 lifts. Saalbach is well known for its winter dining huts, dishing out things like Kaiserschmarrn, a type of sweet, fluffy pancake, as well as Nockerl, a type of soufflé.
And it’s not too late to book. The Hotel Gappmaier, AlpenOase Sonnhof, and Hotel Thurnerhof all have space, with double rooms from £160 to £246 per night.
Book via Inghams from £1,486 per person for a week’s board, with availability between February 21 and 28.
Valloire, France
Valloire is a small, quiet and family-friendly option in the dreamy climes of the French Alps.
Valloire offers up around 150 kilometres’ worth of ski runs, which are divided into 90 slopes.
Nearby Chambéry, which has the closest train station, is known as France’s ‘Italian town,’ as the city was under Italian rule between the 13th and 16th centuries.
Relics of the past can be seen in the colourful buildings, large squares and decadent cuisine, which is full of vermouth, pasta and polenta.
Chambéry’s ‘traboules’, alley-like passageways that run through and under the Old Town, are great to get lost in.
Hotel-Chalet les Melezes still has space for seven-night stays from February 3 to February 10, for £1,975 based on two adults sharing. The hotel is 40 yards from the ski lift.
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