There's a blizzard of resorts to choose from and it can all get a bit confusing. What you need to do is lay out your needs and then find resorts that cater for them. Try answering some of the questions below and you should end up with a list of requirements which you can then use to make a resort search.

How good are you?
First and foremost, you need to decide how good a skier you are. If you've never tried before, you'll need a resort with easy slopes and good instructors (such as La Plagne). If you've done a bit of skiing before, on indoor slopes or the occasional ski holidays you will be looking for more intermediate slopes (such as Mayrhofen), where as the seasoned skier will need a resort that offers advanced, challenging slopes (such as Zermatt).

When do you want to go?
The ski season generally matches the winter months, from January to March. Though some resorts offer good snow before and after these months. The best snow is obviously right in the middle of this period, but you have to remember that this is when resorts are at their most popular and most busy.

Are all types of accommodation available?
Each resort can be different, so you need to plan ahead. You need to decide whether you'd like a ski apartment, hotel, chalet and whether you need a self-catering place, or a nursery to drop kids off. There are also resorts that offer a much better range of luxury accommodation (such as Whistler). Make sure you keep in mind the amount of people going and the style of holiday you need whilst looking. If you're going to spend all of your time on the slopes or out in bars and clubs, you obviously don't need to spend ridiculous amount on a place to stay, so decide what you need and stick with it!

What are you looking for in a resort?
The young tend to favour those resorts with a lively nightlife and general good après ski offerings (such as Verbier). Families might be looking for resorts with good options for toddlers (such as Obergurgl) and instructor courses. Other things to consider are whether you would like a snowboarding pipe, how close the accommodation is to the slopes, how good the lift facilities are, whether you're looking for gym, pool, ice-skating and other amenities.

More information on choosing ski holidays.

If you've never been on ski holidays before but quite fancy trying, you'll need to learn a bit more about instruction services. It's not just a case of jumping right in and it's well worth seeking out professional help. There a few ways to learn, including on a local, indoor slope before even heading out to the mountains. Young children, will especially appreciate the help getting going and remember it's important for them to learn to ski safely.

Practice on dry slopes
One option available to you is to try skiing on a dry run before heading out on holiday. There are lots of indoor slopes around; you just need to look them up. It's not quite like the real thing, but it's still fun and it helps to know the basics before doing it for real.

Professional instructors
They'll be courses and training for all abilities at almost every resort, but it's definitely something that you need to book ahead and plan, just in case there isn't room for more placements. You'll also have much more fun as a result of knowing how to ski properly.