Skiing in Europe – ParkCloud Recommends

Thinking about booking a skiing holiday? Whether you're a serious skier or an intrigued beginner, here's ParkCloud's top recommendations for slopes in Europe.

Situated between France and Spain in the Pyrenees mountains, Andorra is a stunning independent principality famous for its ski resorts.

With a sizeable terrain to explore both in Vallnord and Grandvalira, there's also Arcalis for off-piste and boarders. The main ski areas in the country are particularly good for beginners – with wide-open pistes, gentle gradients and fantastic ski school options. Once you're done on the slopes, there's lots of shops and restaurants to explore in Andorra La Vella, plus beautiful architecture such as the Romanesque Santa Coloma Church with a circular bell tower.

Flights to Andorra from Heathrow take less than two hours, so it's the perfect easy getaway. On the other side, it's a short 45 minute transfer to the slopes and resorts. If you're driving to Heathrow don't forget to book a parking space in advance – why not at the NCP Heathrow Flightpath Flex Plus! A convenient car park offering a free shuttle bus which takes you to terminals 2 and 3 in under 12 minutes. As well as the shuttle bus, the car park has CCTV and is adapted for disabled people.

This lovely village at the foot of Mont Blanc is one of the greatest snow sports and climbing communities of the alps. The heart of the village is lined with boutiques, bars and restaurants perfect for relaxing after a day on the slopes. The main ski area in Courmayeur is reached by cable car from the centre of town, which now runs until midnight – allowing you to soak up the sunset and enjoy apres drinks before heading back down. Courmayeur has limited piste skiing, so if you're confident and looking for a challenge it could be the place for you.

Flights from Gatwick to Turin Caselle, the closest airport, are very cheap and take less than two hours. Once you reach the airport, it's just an hour and a half transfer time to Courmayeur. Get your trip off to a smooth start by parking your car with Gatwick I Love Meet & Greet. Friendly professional drivers will collect your car, saving you both time and money, and park it safely and securely while you're away. Perfect.

Villars-sur-Ollon, commonly referred to as Villars, is a village in Switzerland in the canton of Vaud. If you're looking for somewhere to go on a family ski holiday, Villars could be perfect for you. With the combination of extensive skiing and plenty of choice when it comes to teaching facilities, there's something for everyone.

With excellent hotels and delicious food both on the slopes and in the village, plus it's great location within easy reach of Geneva airport – so it would be great for a weekend break.

From Luton Airport, you can fly to Geneva in just a couple of hours and there are great deals available. If you decide to visit just for the weekend, why not take advantage of the London On-Airport Short Stay Parking! It's located just outside the terminal – 2 minutes walk from check-in – so you won't have to get a shuttle bus. This great, hassle free option is regularly patrolled and is super secure and safe – so you won't have to worry while you're on your weekend break.

Cortina is the dream destination of many skiers – the location of numerous World Cup Skiing Championships, competitions and even the Winter Olympic Games back in 1956. The slopes offer natural scenery with stunning beauty – rocky peaks, green valleys and bright sunshine make for a picturesque experience. There's also excellent snow, meaning the season is guaranteed from the end of November all the way to late April – plus there are plenty of free ski buses to help you get around.

From Stanstead, it's a two hour flight to Venice Treviso and then a couple of hours drive to Cortina. A range of airlines offer services there with low cost options available. Why not get your trip off to the right start by parking at the Stansted Airport Meet & Greet! A hassle free experience which ensures professional car park staff park your car in the secure, insured car park with CCTV. Drop your car off at the terminal, and it's two minutes walk to check-in!

Tignes, in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France, is best known for being a fantastic ski resort – and was even the freestyle skiing venue for the 1992 Winter Olympics and co-host city for the 1992 Paralympics. The main villages of Tignes are set in the beautiful mountains, with some of the finest lift accessed slopes in Europe. Glaciers are easily accessed with a fantastic selection of hotels, restaurants and shops to be enjoyed.

If you fancy visiting Tignes for a quick weekend break, fly from London City Airport to Chambéry (the closest airport to Tignes) and it's a 3 hour journey, including travel to Tignes. Drop your car off at London City Airport Long Stay Car Park, which is perfect for holidays, and it's just a short 5 minute walk to the terminal. A great start to your journey!