Winning tip
Fireside Inn, Breckenridge, US
This cute, Americana-style B&B and hostel is run by an English couple. I was in a cosy four-bed dorm room which costs from $39pp per night. There's a hot tub, a fire and huge leather sofas, and ski storage is good for a hostel, so you never feel cramped. The kitchen is basic, but there are options for cheap eating in town – Rasta Pasta and Empire Burger kept me going, and there is a cafe nearby which does huge breakfasts for not much.
• +1 970 453 6456, firesideinn.com
Matelder
France
Club Alpin Français, Les Allues, Méribel
Méribel is renowned for its luxury chalets and extensive ski area, but there is a wonderful way to stay in the valley for next to nothing. Club Alpin Français is a refuge in the village of Les Allues. It isn't out of the way, and offers excellent budget accommodation for skiers and snowboarders. Beds in the two dormitories cost €16pp per night.
• +33 385 931021, ffcam.fr
Merichic
Snow Retreat Chalets, La Tania
I stayed in one of Snow Retreat's chalets last year, its first year of operation. It's one of the most affordable I have found, with great accommodation, good food and hospitality from £199pp per week. It is just by the centre of the village and the main ski lift up to the Three Valleys, which offers excellent and varied skiing over a huge area, is only about 200m away.
• +33 642 832598, snowretreat.co.uk
Cwalkington
The Vagabond Hostel, Chamonix
An affordable hostel near the centre of town. Bunkhouse beds cost from €14.40pp per night, or €19.40 including a simple, but excellent, breakfast. There are also B&B rooms from €26. The bar is a seasonaires' favourite, especially in spring when the big patio with views of Mont Blanc comes into its own. The New Year's Eve party, the Boss des Bosses race weekend and the end-of-season party in May are the best times to enjoy the atmosphere.
• +33 450 531543, gitevagabond.com
Caldervale
HI Hostel, Les Deux Alpes
This friendly Hostelling International youth hostel in one of the most snow-sure ski resorts in the Alps has a large south-facing sundeck. You can get a bed in peak season for less than €20 a night, and Les Deux Alpes is on the edge of the Ecrins national park, with some of the largest glaciers in Europe.
• +33 476 792280, hihostels.com
Alexmckerrell
Chez Moule, Courchevel
Amazing value for money, self catering and it backs on to the pistes of Courchevel 1650, which still retains all the charms of Courchevel.
• +44 (0)1822 614253, courchevelski.co.uk/
Tavibhey
Bulgaria
Chalet Diana, Bansko
We stayed in Chalet Diana (from £200pp per week half-board) for our second holiday in Bansko. You can see big improvements after just a year and the slopes were very well looked after. The lessons with Ski Mania were excellent – the instructors were great with the kids. The food was great and the sauna just what we needed at the end of the day. We are going to join Piste & Peaks in Italy next year, but we'll be back to Bansko for another low-cost ski holiday soon.
• +359 896 993428, pisteandpeaks.com
boopie
Poland
Zakopane
We had a fun, cheap ski holiday here over New Year. I would recommend it more if you want a fun experience and less if you are an expert skier, but for something different it's great – very atmospheric, with cute wooden houses and sleighs driving about. And best of all, on New Year's Eve they have a great street party, with fireworks and mulled wine. We booked with Altius travel agency, who were very helpful and have budget hotels from £15pp per night including dinner and breakfast.
• +48 182 015399, discoverzakopane.com
BeccaPugh
Sweden
Hovfjallet and Gammelbyn village
Hovfjallet is a small, family-friendly ski resort about four hours' drive north of Gothenburg. Great for budget skiing. I recommend staying at the Gammelbyn village in a wooden cabin that sleeps up to six from around £265 for a week. There's an ice-skating lake, Finnish smoke-fired sauna and a pub that has saddle bar stools and a roaring fire.
• + 46 570 14020, gammelbyn.eu
Bozjones
Austria
Alpenrider youth hostel, Kirchberg, Austria
Alpenrider is the best youth hostel in the Alps bar none - nothing like the stale YHA hostels in Switzerland. This has all the things a good hostel should have - ridiculously friendly staff, lively bar, mixed punters from all over the world, great breakfast - but in the Alps.
It's cheap as chips and everyday a guided group leaves the chalet for a trip to the nearby slopes of Kitzbuhel. When the snow closed the railway link to the airport the legendary owner Shevvy was out of bed on New Year's Day with a lift to the airport. Why are there not more places like this?
• +43 664 2842551, alpenrider.com (Seven nights from £279)
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