Your 20 favourite ski resorts

Here at Telegraph Ski and Snowboard, we’re always telling you which ski resorts are best for this or that, from the most convenient ski-in/ski-out places to the snowiest spots for early or late season.

We decided to turn the tables and let you decide on the top resorts for a change. Analysing our data from the 2017/18 season, we’ve come up with a list of the top 20 most-read resort guides on the site. We looked at the stats from the beginning of November to today (April 10) and compared page views for each of our 100 guides – we’ve also revealed where the resort’s fared compared to last year’s results.

Here is the top 20 according to you, Telegraph readers, in reverse order...

20. Val Thorens, France

Entering the top 20 for the first time this year is Europe’s highest ski resort, Val Thorens. The village, which sits at 2,300m, opened over 40 years ago as an ambitious experiment in concrete, purpose-built resorts. But down the years it has developed into a much more aesthetically pleasing place, with a justified reputation for quality slopes, fine dining and lively après. With slopes up to 3,230m, the top point of the whole 600km Trois Vallées ski area, the resort's lofty altitude ensures that decent snow conditions prevail from late November until early May. It’s a great base for exploring the Trois Vallées, but locally, Val Thorens alone claims 140km of varied pistes – most suited for beginners and intermediates.

19. Ischgl, Austria

Another new entrant into this years list is Ischgl – the Austrian home of full-throttle nightlife and high-quality intermediate pistes. Anyone who’s likes après as much as the pistes, and thinks they might be past it for the younger crowd of St Anton should put Ischgl on their hit-list. The 238km of pistes – the area is linked to Samnaun in Switzerland – offer something to suit all standards and the lift system is constantly being updated. From 3.30pm, the atmosphere in the village and at the foot of the pistes is electric and every season the resort hosts its opening and closing parties, which welcome some of the world’s most celebrated artists, including Robbie William, Elton John and Kylie Minogue.

18. Megève, France

Moving down seven places, from number 11, is swish Megève, which was built as France’s answer to the luxe resorts of Switzerland, and it still retains that glitzy charm. It's in a lovely sunny setting and has a beautifully preserved, partly medieval centre. Visitors are mainly well-heeled French people, who come here for an all-round holiday. The slopes are prettily wooded, but what makes Megève a cut above is the view of Mont Blanc from many of the runs.

17. Lech, Austria

Moving up three places, from 20th last year, is Lech. Few resorts have a more exclusive image than this Austrian resort – Princess Diana was its most famous patron and other past visitors include the Jordanian royal family, the Dutch royal family and Monaco’s Princess Caroline. However, it's much more than Austria's answer to St Moritz – each year it receives up to double the amount of snow of some of its French rivals, despite the resort's modest altitude of 1,450m. Linked to even snowier Warth-Schröcken since 2013 and to St Anton via four new lifts from last season.

16. Méribel, France

Despite dropping eight places in this year’s results, there are still plenty of reasons to love Méribel, not least for its pretty, chalet-style architecture, wooded surroundings and friendly, village atmosphere. But the prime reason is its central position within France’s huge Trois Vallées ski area. To the east are the resorts of Courchevel and La Tania, and to the west, Val Thorens. Together with Méribel these combine to make one of the largest linked ski areas in the world, with more than 600km of pistes. Méribel also has its own on-slope Folie Douce bar for raucous, still-in-your-ski-boots après.  

15. Alpe d’Huez, France

Making its first appearance in our chart is Alpe d’Huez. Few resorts in the Alps match this resort, which is a 90-minute drive from Grenoble, for its suitability for skiers and snowboarders at both ends of the skills graph, as well as in the middle. Its ski area is now the fifth largest in France, with slopes that go down to 1,100m and up to a heady 3,330m, while its glacier ensures snow cover is sufficient for a long season that stretches from early December to late April. The village itself is sits in a sunny bowl above the valley town of Bourg-d'Oisans and is split into eight small districts, of which some offering ski-in/ski-out access.

14. Obergurgl, Austria

Another new entry is the family favourite of Obergurgl. The resort, which sits beyond Sölden in Ötz valley, has almost guaranteed snow cover at village level throughout a long season. Its quiet slopes and calm ambience attracts a loyal band of regulars, who love its low-key atmosphere and well-run, traditional hotels and scattering of chalets. The ski area is linked by lift to higher Hochgurgl and together they offer 110km and 24 lifts. The off-piste in Obergurgl is good and the spring touring opportunities are renowned.

13. Cervinia, Italy

Down three places, from 10, is one of Italy’s most snow-sure destinations, Cervinia, which gives access to 360km of slopes that it shares with neighbouring Zermatt, across the border in Switzerland. Staying here means you can explore one of the world’s best ski areas at a fraction of the cost of opting for the pricey Swiss side. Even if you don't venture over to Zermatt, Cervinia and the linked village of Valtournenche provide a wonderful snow-sports playground, dictated by the easy gradient of the seemingly never-ending slopes.

12. Mayrhofen, Austria

A none mover at number 12 and the highest ranking Austrian resort in our chart is Mayrhofen. For decades the resort has been one of the most popular resorts in the Alps for Brits, on one plank or two, and its in-your-face après scene and thriving nightlife delights or horrifies, according to taste. Holidaymakers have been coming here for more than 100 years and for the locals providing hospitality is a way of life. The ski area has 134km of runs and 53 lifts – and a reputation for reliable snow throughout a long season, with the runs mostly between 1,650m and 2,500m.

11. Zermatt, Switzerland

Climbing six places is Switzerland's most famous resort, which brings together every Alpine cliché – from its views of the world's most photogenic mountain, the Matterhorn, to its narrow streets lined with wonky, weathered chalets. As a ski destination, especially for families, intermediates, experts and ski tourers, Zermatt sits up with the best. It has snowsure slopes from late November to the end of April, making it a wise early and late season choice.

10. Morzine, France

Dropping five places, but still remaining in the top 10 is Morzine. As well as being a ski resort, this popular British resorts is a proper little Alpine town that has a year-round life stretching far beyond having fun on the mountains that surround it. Morzine remains the capital of the 650km Portes du Soleil ski area, and is a great base to explore – plus it's ideally suited to families. It offers a host of alternative activities to skiing and snowboarding, including ice-diving beneath a lake, nature discovery tours, snowmobiling, tobogganing, snowshoeing and shopping. There's also a world-class ice rink and a large swimming pool.

9. Les Arcs, France

Also moving back five places is Les Arcs. Linked to La Plagne across the valley via a two-decker cable car, this French resort offers 425km of slopes to explore if you buy the whole area lift pass. This massive ski area offers a variety of terrain, but specialises in long, wide, well-groomed reds for smooth cruising. Les Arcs itself offers plenty of choice in terms of accommodation, from the purpose built Arcs 1800 and 2000 to the tiny Arc 1600 to the charming, traffic-free Arc 1950, made up of chic self-catering apartments.

8. Tignes, France

Moving up one in our rankings is Tignes, which offers a combination of enviable snow cover, a variety of impressive terrain and a season that lasts most of the year, making it one of the most dependable winter destinations in France. This snow-sure gem offers great conditions right from October to May and opens for six weeks during the summer too thanks to its stellar altitude and glacier slopes. It shares 300km of pistes with neighbouring Val d’Isère to which it is linked extremely smoothly (no tortuous schusses needed).

7. La Plagne, France

The highest new entry in this year’s results is the mega French resort of La Plagne. The resort has 225km of marked runs of its own and a further 425 km as part of the giant Paradiski linked ski area, which is shares with Les Arcs and Peisey-Vallandry. La Plagne is made up of no less than 11 separate “villages” scattered across a giant and largely gentle plateau, meaing if you’re considering a holiday in La Plagne, its essential you work out exactly where you’d like to stay – Belle Plagne and Plagne Centre are the main hubs of the resort. Most of the accommodation is purpose built, but the three low-lying traditional farming villages, Champagny en Vanoise, Montalbert and Montchavin on the edge of the ski area, offering a more charming experience.

6. Courmayeur, Italy

Climbing eight places on its position at 14th last season is this lovely old village at the foot of Mont Blanc, just beneath the entrance to the tunnel on the Italian side of the world-famous mountain. There’s limited piste skiing but plenty of challenging off piste, superb restaurants, and a lively nightlife. Eating and partying are the alternative occupations to hitting the slopes here. Courmayeur prides itself on its gastronomic qualities.

5. Val d’Isère, France

Dropping two, but still remaining in the top five, is Val d’Isère. According to our resort experts more Britons get their winter-sports fix here every year than anywhere else in the world – and with good reason. Both terrain and town add up to what is essentially the ideal ski resort. Linked to neighbouring Tignes to form a ski area of 300km of pistes and 94 lifts, the French resort offers high quality, snow-sure slopes for everyone from complete beginner to veteran powderhound. Its long season stretches from the end of November into the first week of May. Add in its raucous on-the-mountain après courtesy of the Folie Douce, and you have a true all-rounder of a resort.

4. Courchevel, France

Moving up three places and making it into the top five is everyone’s favourite upmarket resort, Courchevel, which gives access the largest linked ski area in the world – and more Michelin stars than you can shake stick at. Because of the north-facing aspect of many of Courchevel's local slopes, the snow here is usually some of the best in the whole of the Trois Vallées ski area, and there's terrain to suit everyone from beginner to expert. Indeed, many visitors never feel the need to leave the Courchevel valley, despite having the rest of the ski area to explore.

3. Les Deux Alpes, France

Moving up a whopping 10 places from its position in 13th last year, Les Deux Alpes is a snow-sure stalwart, with skiing and snowboarding on piste possible for much of the year. The resort opens from mid June to the end of August and again for French half term week at the end of October, before firing up the lift system for winter from the end of November until late April. Couple that with some of the most vibrant après in France and the delightful lower village of Venosc (linked by gondola, but not by piste), and it's clear why Les Deux Alpes is a firm British favourite.

2. Chamonix, France

It’s an non-mover in second place, Chamonix hosted the first Winter Olympics in 1924 and has re-emerged on the freeride wave as the capital of all-mountain skiing. This steep-sided valley, draped with tumbling glaciers beneath a crown of rocky spires, is where snowsports and mountaineering meet. Ski instructors and mountain guides come here to qualify, and every dedicated skier and snowboarder puts it on the bucket list to see how they’ll measure up to the challenge of what Chamonix calls simply “le grand ski”. Yes, it has beginner slopes and intermediate cruising too – but the real draw is for advanced skiers looking for a real challenge.

1. St Anton, Austria

Maintaining its crown for the second year as the number one most viewed resort for The Telegraph Ski & Snowboard readers is St Anton. It’s not too much of a surprise that this party resort, renowned around the world for its wild après and even wilder expert terrain, comes out on top. Frequently rated among the top five resorts in the Alps, St Anton is located in Austria’s Arlberg region, one of Europe’s snowiest areas, boasts 340km of pistes, 200km of off-piste itineraries and over 55km² of challenging off-piste terrain. In addition, it has a highly efficient lift system and an attractive town bursting with stylish hotels, chalets and restaurants. And, come après time, it doesn't get any better than St Anton's infamous MooserWirt and Krazy Kanguruh bars.