Those opting for ski hire for their French break can once again visit the resort of Abondance.
It closed at the end of the 2006-07 season because of low snow levels, but this Christmas the snow has returned, giving skiers the chance to sample its many pistes.
The resort was rescued by American management firm Alpine Associates, the Ski Club of Great Britain reports.
It now offers skiing, snow-shoeing, cross-country skiing and a variety of accommodation options after its two-season break.
Abondance is linked to the Portes du Soleil ski fields by a regular shuttle bus service and has marked snowshoe paths, guided tours and 10 km of cross-country ski tracks.
And if you need a break from the slopes, head to the Abondance abbey and religious art museum or the valley’s heritage centre la Maison du Val.
If it’s sustenance you need for getting up and down the pistes, sample some local cuisine, such as Berthoud, a valley speciality made from melted Abondance cheese.
People getting ski hire in Val d’Isere this year will not be disappointed with the food on offer, as some of the world’s greats gather in the resort for a culinary show.
The area will come alight with the Pistes Gourmandes, La Cuisine Pure event, which includes cookery classes, competitions, lectures and shows, featuring some of the top chefs in the country.
Hello! magazine has recommended the event, saying: "You just need to slip off your skis and start to enjoy the best cuisine, discover new recipes and learn more about ethical products for a better diet and culinary experience."
If that is not enough, ski hire users in Val d’Isere can also sample the only Michelin-starred restaurant in the area – the Table D’Ours.
The Daily Telegraph has also recently recommended the resort as a foodie hotspot, saying that there are 70-odd restaurants with a wide range of cuisines.
Travellers using ski hire this year should make sure they have all the right gadgets for the slopes.
Cosmopolitan magazine has recommended the Swatch Snowpass watch as the ideal accessory, saying it looks great but also has some great applications.
"It allows you to load your ski pass on your watch, so you simply swipe it over the turnstile scanner, then hit the slopes", the magazine stated.
The device works in more than 70 resorts and only costs £40, making it the perfect late Christmas present for those using ski hire this year.
Another recommendation from the magazine is the Time Out Adventure! book, which has lots of advice on many resorts, including what to do, where to eat and where to go.
Ski hire users who also have an iPhone can get an app for their holiday, as Satsports has developed a GPS device to guide you round the slopes.
People using ski hire in Meribel are likely to find that it saves money and a lot of hassle, one source has observed.
According to the Sunshine blog, people who do not buy their equipment before heading to Meribel and instead opt to use ski hire will not have to find a way of transporting their gear to the mountains.
In addition, the source pointed out that it is often less expensive to hire equipment, particularly if people only use it once or twice.
"Travelling with all your bulky winter clothes, accessories and the heavy, large bags of your ski equipment is not an easy thing. At the same time, buying ski equipment is not an option if you are only going for a season," it said.
Merinet.com also recently pointed out that ski hire in Meribel users are in a resort which is currently experiencing excellent weather conditions and has great facilities.
People using ski hire in Courchevel will be entertained by some of the finest skaters on the planet tonight.
Taking place at the Patinoire Olympique at the Forum, the Gala Ice Skating Evening will see a host of professionals take to the rink to showcase their skills and get in some practice in front of an appreciative audience ahead of next year’s Vancouver Olympics.
Beginning at 18:00 local time, ski hire users will be able to see France’s finest exponents demonstrate why they are in with a good chance of picking up medals at the 2010 Games.
"The ice rink will be decorated as an enchanted winter wonderland, with the ice skating club of Courchevel putting on their own show ‘Moi j’aime le ski’, featuring young ice skating stars of the future," Courchnet.com said.
Ski hire in Courchevel users are also in a great place to test out their own skills on the slopes, according to the website, which said that the area is excellent for learners.
People using ski hire in Les Arcs this winter are in an amazing resort, according to one writer, who recently enjoyed a stay in the area.
Michael Standen, writing for TravelBite.co.uk, said that his trip to Les Arcs was one of the most incredible of his life and is one he is unlikely to forget.
According to the source, one particularly memorable aspect of the trip was learning to become a snowboarding instructor and combining work with passion and pleasure.
"This was by far my BEST DAY AT WORK EVER. I snowboarded all day, then passed the assessment with flying colours, which means part of my job this winter will entail me taking clients out on the mountain, all day," he said.
Meanwhiel, Thomas and Laura, writing on TravelPod.com, recently said that a trip to Les Arcs was an incredible experience and the resort has everything which ski hire users would want in a winter sports destination.
People using ski hire in Val d’Isere this year can sample some of the amazing views on the continent, which they are unlikely to ever forget, a source has said.
Global Travel News said that Val d’Isere is a wonderful destination for ski hire users, particularly over the festive period, as the atmosphere is unrivalled and the snow-capped sights truly memorable.
"A very attractive destination for Christmas ski holidays is certainly Val-d’Isere, a commune in the Savoie department which earlier this year has hosted the World Ski Championships 2009," it said.
The source added that the nightlife in the resort is excellent and stated that the atmosphere is particularly good at Christmas time, when the bars and restaurants decorate the premises.
Meanwhile, BootsnAll recently named its top seven resorts in Europe, saying that Val d’Isere is certainly one of them and can provide ski hire users with real luxury.
Fans of more extreme sports may wish to use ski hire in Val d’Isere, according to one enthusiast who recently enjoyed a thrill-seeking trip to the resort.
Simon Usborne, writing in the Independent, recently flew to the resort to join his brother for a ski-riding session, which involves hurtling down the slopes with a canopy attached to your back.
According to the writer, he was nervous at first but soon found the activity to be a huge thrill.
"In a remarkably swift leap towards the mainstream, speed-riding is being offered as a course in a handful of resorts. UCPA, the French non-profit hostelling organisation that champions the outdoors, offers a week’s instruction at its Val d’Isere centre," the expert stated.
Meanwhile, the Times recently published a list of its top bargains across Europe and said that Val d’Isere is one resort where ski users can currently pick up a number of deals for January and beyond.
Those using ski hire in Meribel in March can now pick up tickets for one of the most eagerly-anticipated snow festivals on the continent.
Little World takes place between March 13th and 19th and will see over 40 live acts descend on the resort to entertain ski hire users.
Tickets are now on sale and are being snapped up quickly by ski hire users, with the line-up set to include The Feeling, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Glen Tilbrook from Squeeze and Fictonplane.
Ski hire users can also sample the melodies of Sinead and the Dawnbreakers, Graham Gouldman from 10cc, The Langley Sisters and Duke, with comedian Ed Harcourt helping to break things up with some award-winning humour which will have ski hire users in stitches.
Meribel has been pulling in the celebrities recently, with Aussie pop star and former Neighbours actress Natalia Imbruglia among those enjoying the excellent runs in the resort.
A new survey has found that the majority of people would prefer to be using ski hire in Les Arcs this winter rather than going through the traditional Christmas ritual.
The poll, carried out by MoneySupermarket.com, found that 51 per cent of adults would much rather be schussing and slaloming down the slopes in Europe’s top resorts, as opposed to spending the festive period in the UK.
Bob Atkinson, a travel expert at the organisation, said that people using ski hire in Les Arcs have far less to worry about than those at home.
"With the economy still in turmoil, it is perhaps unsurprising that Brits want to escape the doom and gloom here – as well as the miserable weather," he explained.
Meanwhile, the Scotsman recently said that Les Arcs is a region where ski hire users can enjoy an excellent holiday and find everything they would expect from a trip to the slopes without having to break the bank.
