Easter ski holidays

Easter can be the best time to go skiing as long as you plan it properly. Suntans, spring snow, blue skies and long days replace frostbite and white-outs. With good preparation and timing, you can get great snow and sunshine. For kids and anyone who suffers from the cold, Easter is a great time to go. Our top tips for skiing at Easter are:

Go to a high resort - with Easter falling late this year, the best skiing will be found above 2000m and on slopes that do not face directly South. Courchevel 1850, Zermatt and Val d’Isère all fit the bill perfectly and frequently get fresh powder conditions in April. In the US, they call it "corn snow". This is the layer of freeze thaw snow that you want to find just as the sun hits it. When you time it right, the soft top and firm, smooth base make it a lot like powder skiing.
Have a lie in and a long late lunch. There is no rush in the morning as the snow will be frozen hard and at the end of the day, it can get slushy. But between 10 and 2, the conditions are at their best.
Follow the sun. Think about which way the slopes face and aim to ski as the sun gets there. So, head for the South / East facing slopes in the morning and the West / North facing slopes in the afternoon
Think about how high you ski and check where the freezing level is on the forecast. If it got warm in the day and is going below zero that night, the snow will be icy until the temperature gets back to zero. Likewise if it didn't refreeze overnight, it will be slushy by 10am
If this all sounds too complicated when your brain is on holiday - get a guide. They are the experts and a good one will always find the best snow.
Take the lift down. After a long lunch, your muscles get cold and injuries often happen in the heavy snow on the final run back to resort when conditions have deteriorated. There is no shame in taking the bubble home but if you do want to ski home, do a proper warm up (not a vin chaud!) before tackling the slush and bumps