Sluggish ski bookings to France so far this season mean winter sports addicts can still snap up availability over the Christmas period and in February half term, as well as getting a range of discounts in off-peak times.

One company - French Life - is offering 20 per cent discounts for Christmas week in some of its smaller self-catering properties. That means a one-bed apartment sleeping five in the popular resort of Val d'Isère for a week starting 21 December costs a total of £571.20, including Channel crossing by car.

While Austria and Switzerland are selling fast, marketing information company AC Neilson said early ski bookings to France were 27 per cent down on the same time last year, though it stressed that this figure only represented bookings through travel agents.

Although some operators said their bookings were up on last year's, they agreed there was an unusual amount of availability in France for key Christmas and half-term dates, and more bargains. This is largely the result of poor snow conditions last year, although ironically, France is benefiting from good early snow conditions this year.

Self-catering ski operator Erna Low said good offers were coming through from France, which meant it could shave 10 per cent off certain prices. 'And we still have capacity at peak dates, which wasn't the case last year,' said managing director Joanna Yellowlees-Bound.

Deals are also available in chalets and hotels. Rachel Lloyd, commercial director of upmarket chalet companies Meriski and The Ski Company, said: 'With chalet operators sales are not as good as last year as a result of the weather.' Meriski has £120 off its brochure price for Christmas, with one week in a chalet in Meribel at £799.

Flexiski still has availability in a new chalet in Chamonix, with seven nights' chalet board at £765pp, leaving London 19 December.

First Choice Ski managing director Matthew Prior added: 'I have been talking to hoteliers and Christmas isn't going to be a bumper one in France. There are still some good bargains for February half term. Italy is also suffering as a result of last year's snow so it has some good deals.'

Among deals available from operators for the slower booking period of January, First Choice has any three-star chalet in France or Italy for the week starting 11 January for £289 including flights, almost half its usual price. Inghams has deals in January in the Trois Vallées in chalets allocated on arrival for £249 a week including flights. And Neilson has a week in Chamonix from Manchester in January for £399, down from £525.

Erna Low (020 7584 2841)

First Choice Ski (0870 754 3477)

Flexiski (0870 9090 754)

French Life (08704 292 186)

Inghams (020 8780 4433)

Meriski (01451 843 100)

Neilson (0870 3333 347)