As the chill starts to settle in and fairy lights adorn our favourite stores and shops, you may start to get the itch for a magical and snowy vacation.

The below destinations represent some of the best places for a winter ski holiday.

Cypress Mountain in Vancouver, Canada

Cypress is an easy 30 minute drive from downtown Vancouver and offers a stunning variety of runs, moguls and backcountry skiing options. It’s a great place for learners and also for those who are more experienced. One of the best things about Cypress is its proximity to downtown Vancouver, so if you can’t afford to stay in the resort you can still drive up and spend the day skiing, tubing, and / or sledging and then spend the evening in a lovely lodge bar before you make your way back to Vancouver.

Aviemore in Scotland, United Kingdom

Aviemore is a good place for beginners as the conditions in Scotland can be flexible. The beginners section is at the top of the mountain instead of the bottom – giving you stunning views and real-life experience. If you can cope with the Scottish icy wind, you will find skiing elsewhere relatively comfortable, noting that there is a café adjacent to the beginners area, in case you need a well-earned hot chocolate break.

Bialka Tatranska in Poland

Another great place to learn skiing or snowboarding is at Bialka Tatranska, a small mountain resort around 2 hours’ drive from Krakow. The resort has a nursery slope, beginners slope and multiple runs. If you’re an experienced skier, you may find the resort a bit small but if you are a beginner there is plenty to keep you occupied as you learn and progress.

Aprica in the Camonica valley, Italy

Aprica is a beautiful place with charming hotels and apartments and fabulous scenery. There are 50 km runs available, with the runs being a variety of easy, intermediate and difficult. The slopes are perfect for skiers, snowboarders, snowshoers and cross country skiers. So what are you waiting for?