Les Carroz, France
Avoid purpose-built Flaine and stay in this much prettier alternative. The Grand Massif area - which comprises Flaine and its lower satellites of Les Carroz, Morillon, Samoens, and Sixt - has 260km of piste and 129 lifts. The resorts are close to Mont Blanc and consequently have their own favourable micro-climate.
The large but attractive village of Les Carroz is best suited to the energetic, due to a steep walk from much of the accommodation to the lifts. The village has some simple old hotels and self-catering apartments and is spread across a broad, sunny slope. The MGM apartments have a swimming pool and fitness centre.
Where to book: (April 19-26) £81pp based on six sharing a three-roomed apartment in the MGM Les Fermes de Soleil, including ferry crossings. Erna Low 020-7584 7820 (ernalow.co.uk); lescarroz.com.
Lifts close: April 22.
Champex Lac, Switzerland
Sleepy Champex Lac used to be a junior partner in the giant Four Valleys lift pass that is dominated by Verbier.
Sensibly, after a decade of playing Cinderella because of its isolated position up a hairpin mountain road, it opted out to pursue its own winter path as a marginal resort with limited but demanding skiing.
Le Relais de Belvédère, the village inn, has established a cult following in recent years, offering home cooking and faded but cosy furnishings, included hand-painted furniture.
Where to book: (April 12/13-19/20) from SF190 (£90) per room per night half board. Le Relais de Belvédère 00 41 27 783 11 14 (le-belvedere.ch); champex.ch.
Lifts close: April 23.
Fernie, British Columbia
Until the mid-1990s, Fernie was an unfashionable little destination in the south-east corner of the British Columbian Rockies, with limited ski terrain but an exceptional snow record.
The resort has now doubled in size to 10 lifts and 106 trails, but is only just being discovered by British skiers and riders. Fernie shares a lift pass with Banff-Lake Louise, and lesser known Panorama and Kimberley, all a 90-minute drive away.
The Lizard Creek Lodge is set on the slopes next to the principal access lifts. It has an attractive living area with a huge wood-burning fireplace, and has comfortable apartments.
Where to book: (April 12-19) £604pp in a three-roomed apartment at the Lizard Creek Lodge, including flights and transfers. Inghams 020-8780 4433 (inghams.co.uk); skifernie.com.
Lifts close: April 23.
Gressoney, Italy
Gressoney is one a group of unsung resorts in the Aosta valley, easily accessed from Turin or Geneva. The Monterosa ski area, situated beneath Italy's second highest peak, comprises the linked resorts of Gressoney-La-Trinité, Champoluc, and Alagna. Together they offer some 150km of piste and rarely any queues.
Gressoney-La-Trinité, with its cobbled streets and wooden chalets, provides the most convenient base from which to explore the area, although Gressoney-St-Jean, 5km down the valley is larger and has a greater choice of accommodation.
Where to book: (12-19 April) £548pp B&B at Hotel Gran Baita in Gressoney-St-Jean, including flights and car hire. Momentum Ski 020-7371 9111 (momentum.uk.com); gressoneyonline.it
Lifts close: April 28.
Puy Saint Vincent, France
PSV is an undiscovered gem 20km from Briancon in the southern French Alps. The resort's micro-climate usually ensures secure late-season snow along with a good sunshine record. Although the village is by no means pretty, it does have a certain charm that attracts a loyal following. Prices are very reasonable here, and the village is well placed for making day trips to nearby resorts such as Serre Chevalier and the Milky Way - both are included on the local lift pass.
The skiing is right on your doorstep and the 67km of piste is surprisingly varied, including some steep off-piste skiing as well as gentle nursery slopes.
Where to book: (April 13-21) £579 for an apartment for four people, including ferry crossings. Snowbizz 01778 348809, snowbizz.co.uk; puysaintvincent.com.
Lifts close: April 27.
Solitude, Utah
This little resort is situated up Big Cottonwood Canyon, a 45-minute drive from Salt Lake City. The definition of a queue here, on even the busiest weekend of the year, is a dozen people politely waiting to ride seven lifts in 1,200 acres of glorious wooded mountainside that suits everyone from beginner to expert.
The better known Alta, Snowbird, and Park City are all linked by a well-travelled off-piste route called the Interconnect. All can also be reached by car within 45 minutes.
The village was built by Canadian resort developer Intrawest, but the resort is one of the few in North America that is still family-owned. Solitude's new condos are ski-in ski-out, and the comfortable apartments range from studios up to three bedrooms.
Where to book: (April 13-20) £1,119pp in a one-bedroom apartment at the slopeside Powderhorn Lodge, including flights and transfers. Ski Independence 0870 6001462, ski-independence.co.uk; skisolitude.com.
Lifts close: April 20.
St Martin de Belleville, France
This old cheese-making village in the Trois Vallées is full of character, which is more than can be said for its loftier neighbour, Les Menuires. Two chair-lifts take you directly on to the ridge overlooking the Les Allues Valley. From here, you can ski down towards Méribel or back towards Val Thorens and Les Menuires. The Trois Vallées claims a mighty 200 lifts and 600km of piste.
The quiet village has half a dozen good restaurants, including La Montagnarde, which specialises in cheese-based dishes that are served in a former hayloft.
Where to book: (April 13-20) £399pp half board at Chalet St Martin, including flights and transfers. Ski Total 08701 633633, skitotal.com; st-martin-belleville.com.
Lifts close: April 21.
Vaujany, France
Until the 1980s, Vaujany was just another tumbledown community clinging to the mountainside in one of the poorest areas of France. But then the French government embarked on the country's largest hydro-electric scheme in the valley down below. The region suddenly found itself the beneficiary of a fortune in compensation for the land that was flooded.
The village fathers invested £20m of their windfall in what was then the largest cable-car in the world. The 160-person cabins are eight-minutes away from the slick ski arena of Alpe d'Huez with its 220km of piste and 85 lifts.
The British-run Hotel du Rissiou is a simple two-star that serves exquisite cuisine, and is situated in a village that has so far managed to retain its pastoral atmosphere despite the demands of ski tourism. In spring, humans are almost outnumbered by the goats and chickens that emerge from their shuttered winter quarters.
Where to book: (April 12-19) £645pp half board at Hotel du Rissiou, including flights and transfers. Ski Peak 01428 741144, skipeak.com; vaujany.com.
Lifts close: April 20.
Zug, Austria
Regular ski buses connect the peaceful village of Zug with Lech and St Anton, where the joint Arlberg ski pass covers a total of 85 lifts and 260km of piste. You can also ski from Zug to Lech, or take a romantic night-time sleigh ride between the two villages. The four-star Rote Wand is a traditional hotel with a modern annexe containing compact but well designed apartments that are close to the piste and ideal for families.
Where to book: (April 12-21 or 19-26) £1,055pp half board at the Rote Wand, including flights and car hire. Ski Solutions 020-7471 7777, skisolutions.com; lech-zuers.at.
Lifts close: April 27.
