Best little ski resorts in Europe: readers’ travel tips.

Secret skiing, Switzerland

Villars is only two hours on the train from Geneva airport and it is possible to get a tram up into the village of Gryon, making the journey from airport to piste very easy for weekend skiers. Gryon and Villars have a wide range of blue and red pistes, which are excellent for families or skiers wanting to perfect their technique. However, the area’s best-kept secret is the glacier at Diablerets: incredible off-piste terrain with 2,000-metre verticals from top to bottom. The best thing is that it doesn’t attract the large numbers nearby Verbier does.

Budget resort, Arlberg 

Mention the Arlberg and the names Lech and St Anton inevitably crop up. Far less well-known and much quieter (but still on the same ski pass) is Sonnenkopf – a deep powder bowl with easy on-piste and challenging off-piste runs.Skibase in Wald organises friendly ski-touring days.

Great for beginners, Bulgaria

We decided on Borovets as our first skiing adventure after a recommendation from a Bulgarian colleague. We stayed in Hotel Rila, which is right next to the ski runs. The slopes here are beautiful and well-maintained, with great tree runs for those after forest adventure, plus a good park for learning and progressing jumps, rails and tabletops.

Weekend jaunt, Norway

For a superb long weekend skiing, try Trysil in Norway. Quiet slopes and excellent skiing, including at night, plus a great 45-degree black slope for the more adventurous.

Peak powder, Austria

Even though the mountain’s peak is less than 2,000 metres, the local microclimate meansFieberbrunn gets the most yearly snowfall in the Alps. The resort has ample tree skiing, as well as big mountain runs, but for beginners, the Skiwies’n Lords area at the base of the chair lift provides excellent training, as well as several cafes to rest in. The après scene is small but as lively as any big resort and it’s only an hour from Munich airport.