Because of its policy of ensuring an easy way down from each major lift novices too can roam the mountain almost at

Because of its policy of ensuring an easy way down from each major lift, novices, too, can roam the mountain almost at will. Lake Louise offers a special package for beginners, which includes equipment rental, a beginner-area lift ticket and a half-price pass valid for all areas for the following day, as well as a ski lesson Instruction is said to be "friendly and positive".Lifts: 11 Pistes: 100km. Tourist info: 001 403 762 4561.CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, ITALYIf we had to single out one ski resort in the world for the sheer beauty of its setting, it would be Cortina d'Ampezzo, in the craggy Dolomites. The large, attractive town has an air of faded grandeur and sensational views of the pink rock-faces of Monte Cristallo. The majority of Cortina's skiing is of intermediate standard, with long runs in both the main ski areas: the Sella Ronda (great for anyone of intermediate standard and upwards) and Cortina. Both are covered by the Dolomiti Superski lift pass, and offer an extensive choice of good-value restaurants. "In one week you can only scratch the surface of Cortina's apres-ski," comments one reporter.Lifts: 7 in Cortina; 52 in area Pistes: 140km in area.

Tourist info: 00 39 0436 3231.JACKSON HOLE, USAJackson Hole, in Wyoming, is one of the last wild frontiers of macho mountainside, with an unprecedented five colour codings for the degree of difficulty of its ski trails. Rendezvous Mountain, with mostly black runs, steep chutes and unlimited off-piste, features one of the longest continual vertical drops in the USA. Snow-users either stay in Teton Village at Jackson Hole, or commute from the town of Jackson, 20 minutes away by ski bus. The latter is a genuine Wild West town, complete with boardwalks, wooden shop fronts and tough bars.Lifts: 9 Pistes: 2,500 acres. Tourist info: 001 307 733 2292.SMUGGLER'S NOTCH, USA"Smuggs", as the locals call it, regularly wins awards for its child- friendly facilities - in fact, you would feel out of place here without children.

The skiing is mainly benign, interspersed with mogul slopes to keep parents happy. Teaching features tailored courses where parent and child are taught together, with the emphasis on picking up useful tips to teach your child yourself. Off-piste, too, restaurants, accommodation and entertainment are geared towards families, with tobogganing and karaoke evenings, torchlight parades, fireworks and dance parties for children of all ages. Little ones can spend their days at Alice's Wonderland Child Care Centre, while more proficient children can give the timed Nastar giant slalom course a try.Lifts: 7. Pistes: 70.Tourist info: 0800 897159 (freephone).AVORIAZ, FRANCEOf the 13 resorts in the Portes du Soleil, only Avoriaz is a snow-sure base, and it is at this end of the circuit that the slopes are the most challenging.

Avoriaz was the first resort in Europe to build a half-pipe, and is now recognised as the world's snowboard capital. Designated areas around Arare are set aside for a half-pipe and a slalom run, with a reduced-price restricted-area pass giving access to these facilities. The funpark is situated on the Bleu du Lac run, while for alpine riders, the Arare piste is hard to beat for high-speed carving. Avoriaz also boasts the International Ski School (ESI) and the French Ski School (ESF), both of which teach snowboarding.Lifts: 39 in Avoriaz; 212 in Portes du Soleil.Pistes: 150km in Avoriaz; 650km in Portes du Soleil. Tourist info: 00 33 4 50 74 02 11.MEGeVE, FRANCEA combination of extensive gentle skiing, excellent child facilities and good hotels and restaurants, all in an atmospheric Alpine village setting, is attracting a new generation of skiers The resort abounds in green slopes and gentle blues. From Mont Joux, long easy runs descend to Les Communailles near Le Bettex, while the runs into Megeve itself are mostly wide and easy and include a long green piste.

There is a drag-lift in the trees at the top-station of Le Jaillet that gives access to mild, pleasant runs suited mainly to novices and early intermediates. Megeve's ski schools have fine reputations, particularly for beginners.Lifts: 80 Pistes: 300km. Tourist info: 00 33 4 50 21 27 28.KITZBuHEL, AUSTRIAKitzbuhel is a walled, medieval settlement in which fur-clad Germans mix with younger, often more financially challenged skiers from Britain, Holland and Italy to form an alpine social melting pot. Apart from Innsbruck (see No 25), this is the one resort in the Tyrol that is really suitable for skiers and non-skiers alike.