If you are heading to the Austrian Alps for a spot of Skiing over the Christmas period, you will be pleased to know that the snow has arrived, and I am not talking about a sprinkling either!

In the Vorarlberg region, where you will find the luxury ski resorts of Lech am Arlberg and Zürs, it has been snowing consistently for the past three days, and with over a metre balancing on our roof alone, one could quite easily practice their snow-plough without hitting the slopes!

Christmas in Austria is very festive indeed, and if your idea of the perfect winter holiday includes skiing and snowboarding, pampering yourself in a luxurious Spa, eating gourmet cuisine, and drinking rather potent but delicious hot Glühwein and Jägertee, pack your Lederhosen and jump on a plane!

Austrian hospitality is simply the best, and while the younger generation all speak a good level of English, if you head off into the Alps for lunch at a remote Hütte (a small family run wooden hut), your mature hosts will most probably communicate with smiles, an accordion, a plate full of delicious homemade fare and bottle of schnapps!

Skiing holidays in Austria are not the cheapest, but when you consider the pristine slopes, fantastic infrastructure and endless après ski options, it is easy to understand why most hotels are booked up several months in advance.

Finding a hotel room anywhere in the Vorarlberg region between now and the end of February is going to be a challenge, but there are endless Ferienwohnungs (holiday apartments) available to rent, and if you are travelling with a group of friends or family this may be the best option.

If, snow is not “your thing”, there are still plenty of alternatives available for your Christmas holiday, so why not pack your bikinis and head down below the equator for some winter sunshine – you have precisely two weeks left to book!