By Alexander McNamara

In a nutshell...
A five-star luxury hotel nestled in Baquiera, high in the Val D'Aran of Spanish Catalonia, which stands tall as the pinnacle of the Spanish winter sports. Despite not being as snowy as more traditional European destinations (well what would you expect from a country normally associated with sun, sangria and siestas?), it still manages to pack in deep and powdery snow, easy on the beginner and fun for the pros. If you are brave enough to go off-piste they are ‘excellente!' while the rest of the slopes provide plenty of dips and turns to keep the most ardent of skier/snowboarder on their toes (and beginners on their bums).

Who goes there?
The King of Spain and Victoria Beckham, our own Queen of the WAGs, dons her Gucci ski gloves up at this fabulous ski resort.

What to do

After a long day working out whether you snowboard stance is regular or goofy, there is nothing better than chilling out for some much needed R&R. Some resorts offer you bars, clubs, nightlife and hundreds of pissed up Brits with sunburnt faces who have forgotten that altitude means you can't guzzle down a bottle of wine without feeling the worse for wear for it. Baquiera on the other hand is a place for the more discerning Snow Queen, with luxury hotels, high quality spas and restaurants that offer you more tapas and Rioja than even Don Quixote could dream up.

Liking...
La Pleta is located at the very beginning of the ski lift, which came in handy for just rolling out of bed (sore limbs and all) and slinking off to slopes. With a balcony view over the whole of the valley, this intimate hotel was a dream to come back to and indulge in their highly recommended restaurant (the enormous breakfast featured a never ending supply of delightful morning treats) or have a hot stone massage in a spa that looks as if was born of the mountain itself.

Perfect for...
If you are looking for luxury and pampering to make you feel better about falling on your bum in a bright day-glo jacket, then Baquiera could be just the place for you.

Getting there
Prices for winter 2008/9 season start from €127.05 per person per night, based on two sharing and including breakfast and VAT. The hotel can arrange pickup from Toulouse or Barcelona airports. For reservations and further information please call tel: +34 973 645 550 or visit www.lapleta.com.