1 Switzerland

In a country that excels at chocolate-box pretty, Riders Palace in Laax stands out - a box-shaped glass and wood hotel aimed at snowboarders where weekends are one long party.

From €203pp for three nights in a double including lift pass. riderspalace.ch.

2 Aspen

Bauhaus-style Aspen Meadows offers apartment-sized suites with floor-to-ceiling windows framing the mountains.

From $308 per room, incl breakfast, two ski passes and airport transfer. aspen-meadowsresort.dolce.com. Featured in Hip Hotels Ski (Thames & Hudson).

3 Austria

In the heart of St Anton, a few minutes from the Galzigbahn lift, the four-star contemporary Hotel Galzig has spacious rooms for less than £50.

From €72 per double including breakfast, sauna, steam bath.

4 Italy

Designed by famous local Matteo Thun, Terme Merano in the South Tyrol is a 15-minute drive from the slopes, but with 25 pools and treatment rooms at the hotel's spa, it's tempting to stay put and just chill. Opens March.

From €104pp half board, termemerano.com.

5 France

The Clubhouse in Chamonix offers urban sophisticates the Alps in style. An art-deco mansion with seven rooms including the "Myla" suite complete with a mini-bar of sex toys.

From €100pp half-board. clubhouse.fr.