The best place to ski if...

Anyone who\'s ever been on a skiing holiday knows that accommodation by the slopes doesn\'t come cheap. And when you\'re opening your wallet this wide, you need to know you\'re getting exactly what you want. Is it an intimate break you\'re after, or will you be packing half your Facebook page onto a plane and hoping there\'s a chalet big enough to take them all? Are you on a budget or do you want break-the-bank luxury? Rufus Purdy, editor of boutique-hotel guide Mr & Mrs Smith, picks 10 of his favourites from the sexy and stylish Smith Ski collection.

To book any of the chalets featured, go to www.mrandmrssmith.com/ski-chalets or call the Smith travel team on 0845 034 0700 to arrange your flights, transfers and car hire, as well as accommodation.  

Best for when you\'re on a budget

La Grange a Charlotte, Méribel, France

Round up 14 of your friends for a week\'s holiday and this charming chalet in the peaceful village of Les Allues will set you back just £495-£825 per person. However, the low cost doesn\'t mean you have to compromise. The chalet is full of character and is less than 10 minutes from the resort of Méribel in the heart of the enormous Trois Vallées ski area. And did we mention the live-in chef and Jacuzzi?

Sleeps: 14 in six en-suite bedrooms

Price: £3,465-£5,775 per week

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Best for a large group

Chalet Kernow, Verbier, Switzerland

Situated just below the main Médran ski station in the centre of Verbier, Chalet Kernow is the height of Alpine sophistication. Designed to comfortably house up to 14 people, Kernow includes a roomy sofa-filled sitting area, huge balcony and a PlayStation for those less ski-inclined. Breakfast, afternoon tea, and a multi-course dinner with canapés, house wine and champagne are included in the price. And if that\'s not enough to appease everyone, Verbier\'s renowned nightlife is just a short stroll away.

Sleeps: 14 in two doubles, three twins and one four-bunk room

Price: £12,000-£35,000 per week

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Best for peace and quiet

Chalet Chamois, Courchevel, France

Courchevel has gained a reputation in recent years for high-altitude razzmatazz, where your style off the slopes is as important as your finesse on them, but Chalet Chamois, set in the secluded hamlet of Belvédère, has no time for such fripperies. This is a wonderful place in which to relax. The high ceilings and majestic picture window look onto the piste and the Tarentaise mountains, creating a sense of light and space. A central fireplace adds to the cosy atmosphere and the comfortable sofas are the perfect place to unwind. The rustic pine table seats eight or 10 and there\'s further seating on the balcony. Blissful.

Sleeps: 14 in seven doubles.

Price: £13,240-£18,245 per week

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Best for partying with friends

Petite Forêt, Verbier, Switzerland

With plenty of bars and clubs, Verbier is perhaps the best place to go in the Swiss Alps if you want more from your holiday than snowboarding and slaloming. If a blast of ice-cold air and a faceful of sleet doesn\'t perk you up after a night on the town, then up to eight of you can nurse your hangovers in Petite Forêt. This traditional wooden chalet offers majestic views, luxurious comfort, effortlessly attentive service, and is a few minutes\' walk from the main Médran lift station. The superb location means you can be transported to Verbier\'s acclaimed off-piste powder in minutes.

Sleeps: Eight in four en-suite bedrooms

Price: £5,400-£8,800 per week

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Best for family

Le Ti Chalet, Verbier, Switzerland

Close to the centre of Verbier and the main Médran ski station, Le Ti Chalet is a cosy Alpine retreat perfect for a ski break with kids. It comes with its own garden - not that the kids will be remotely interested in that once they discover the "den" with its pool table and entertainment system worthy of NASA. Your chalet manager will look after all those time-consuming details and kiddie equipment such as cots, car seats and pushchairs, etc are provided. Along with meals for you, the in-house chef will happily prepare a children\'s menu. 

Sleeps: Six in two doubles and a mezzanine twin, plus three children in a bunk room

Price: £6,000-£16,000 per week

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Best for romance

Ferme de Moudon, Les Gets, France

Dating from the 17th century, Ferme de Moudon has a wonderfully secluded setting above an alpine stream with breathtaking views across the valley; take them in whilst slipping your heavily padded arm around your partner\'s shoulders. A hot tub, sauna and massage room provide plenty of scope for intimate moments a deux and five members of staff, including a chef, ensure that couples can look dreamily into each other\'s eyes while someone else prepares the fondue. The vast Portes du Soleil ski area is right on your doorstep if you can drag yourself from the cosy, alpine-style bedrooms.

Sleeps: 10 in five en-suite bedrooms

Price: £11,575-£29,180 per week

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Best for a gourmet break

Chalet Boréale, Méribel, France

Perched on the mountainside above the resort of Méribel, Chalet Boréale is the ideal for enjoying the huge variety of Alpine sports in the Trois Vallées. A daily Perrier Jouët champagne reception with canapés helps fuel all that calorie-burning and you can sit at the 10-seater dining table or out on the terrace to enjoy whatever gourmet dishes take your fancy - rumour has it that the chef here is so accommodating he once prepared a meal of fresh snakes for a group of Russian businessmen. You are free, of course, to stick to cheese. A delicious breakfast and afternoon tea are also served daily.

Sleeps: 12 in five doubles and twins, and one bunk room

Price: £12,280-£30,585 per week

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Best for luxury

Chalet Les Sorbiers, Courchevel 1850, France

Courchevel has a well-deserved reputation as a magnet for high-living pleasure seekers and Chalet Les Sorbiers is no different. Run by the Hotel Kilimandjaro, the chalet enjoys all the hotel\'s services while retaining the seclusion and personal service of a private holiday home. A professional chef and butler will serve gourmet meals and wine is brought direct from the hotel\'s fantastic cellar. Laze about in the hotel\'s pool and spa or arrange for its beauticians and masseuses to come to you. If you\'re feeling really decadent, however, we suggest getting your butler to bring you a Schnapps while you soak your aching limbs in the hot tub...

Sleeps: 10 in five en-suite doubles

Price: £25,340-£56,650 per week

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Best for hardcore skiing

Concept One, Chamonix, France

Chamonix has long been a favourite of skiers, snowboarders, paragliders and others who enjoy flinging themselves off precipices and down crevasses in the name of winter sports. They come here for the challenging terrain, six separate ski areas and miles of pistes. After a day in this extreme-sports playground, where better to return to than Concept One, perched on south-facing slopes above the resort? Peel off snow-soaked salopettes, dive into the hot tub and then tuck into the exquisite French cuisine that\'s served in the striking dining room six days a week. This is one of the smartest chalets in the area, and it offers spectacular views of the Mont Blanc massif.

Sleeps: 10 in five en-suite doubles, plus two children in bunk beds

Price: £6,500-£19,000 per week

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Best for views

Chalet Aurore, Méribel, France

Chalet Aurore offers the whole of the Trois Vallées and its range of winter sports to explore along with the usual champagne receptions, chefs and chauffeurs. On your downtime check out the snow-capped peaks of Aiguille de Péclet from the huge picture windows or the vistas from the terrace and outdoor pool. Each room comes with its own private balcony to take in scenery so beautiful that the sub-zero temperatures won\'t be the only thing to cause a sharp intake of breath.

Sleeps: 10 in five en-suite doubles and twins

Price: £12,280-£30,585 per week

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