Aviemore, Scotland
1. Getting there
Check before setting out that driving conditions are appropriate. "Drive to Perth (M6, M74, M80 and M9), then take the A9 to Aviemore," says Inverness local and pro snowboarder Ewan Wallace. Or you can fly to Inverness with easyjet.com and flybe.com, from Gatwick, Luton, Belfast, Birmingham or Manchester. Trains from London Kings Cross to Aviemore changing at Edinburgh, take less than eight hours, or there may be availability on Scotrail (scotrail.co.uk) sleeper services from Euston, which takes about 10∫ hours. It's possible to be back at Euston at 6.46am on a Monday.
2. Where to stay
See visitscotland.com/whiteinvite for accommodation offers and up-to-date news. With four hotels, the Macdonald Aviemore Resort is good for last-minute availability (macdonaldhotels.co.uk/aviemore), from £59 for a twin, room only.
3. Resort transfer
Inverness airport is 30 minutes by hire car (from £20 a day, invernessairportcarhire.co.uk) from Aviemore. Alternatively, trains from Inverness to Aviemore take 40 minutes; book at scotrail.co.uk.
4. Lift pass/powder guide
A two-day lift pass costs £58.50 (ski.visitscotland.com/centres/cairngorm)Check cairngormmountain.co.uk for up-to-date information on current conditions and to sign up for weather reports. There are also updates at twitter.com/cairngormmtn. Regular bus services link Aviemore village with the slopes at Cairngorm (stagecoachbus.com).
Chamonix, French Alps
1. Getting there
Chamonix is about 80 minutes' drive from Geneva, which is served by easyjet.com, swiss.com, flybe.com, bmibaby.com, jet2.com and flybaboo.com from 12 UK airports, from £48 return.
2. Where to stay
Try chamonixinsider.com for snow tips and a local's eye view, and chamonet.com for last-minute accommodation. j2ski.com offers short stays, and you can book a wide range of Chamonix hostels at hostelbookers.com.
3. Resort transfer
Book private or shared transfers online at mountaindropoffs.com, from €50pp return. Chamexpress.com (book online for an instant ticket) runs buses every 45 minutes for €50 return that take you right to your accommodation. Or get a free lift, petrol only, with mountainrideshare.com.
4. Lift pass/powder guide
A two-day pass costs €77. Book online at chamonix.net and pick up your pass from the main Chamonix ticketing desk.
A guide is valuable for safety and to help you find your way around the sprawling resort. Nobody knows the place better than the Compagnie des Guides de Chamonix, founded in 1821 (chamonix-guides.com).
Engelberg, Swiss Alps
1. Getting there
Engelberg is only two hours from Zurich airport by train, or an hour-and-a-half by car, meaning you can be skiing by early afternoon. EasyJet flies to Zurich from Gatwick, Luton and Manchester; returns from £53.98.
2. Where to stay
Try engelberg.ch: the tourist board posts packages and last-minute offers, and is also worth following on Twitter. The Ski Lodge is central and accepts weekend bookings (skilodgeengelberg.com), and the large Familienherberge Berghaus (familienherberge.ch) hostel is 10 minutes' walk from town.
3. Resort transfer
The cheap, swift and green Swiss rail system (sbb.ch/en) takes a couple of hours from Zurich to Engelberg and costs £50 return, changing at Lucerne. By contrast, a return private transfer will cost around £500.
4. Lift pass/powder guide
A weekend pass costs £73 and can be booked through engelberg.ch. Make the most of the resort's fantastic high-altitude terrain with a guide. Book through the Activity Centre (activity-center.ch), or try locally renowned Engelberg Mountain Guide (engelbergmountainguide.ch).
