Best for celeb spotting There's so much choice in Europe in particular but Verbier in Switzerland is the resort of choice for many of the rich and famous. Sarah Ferguson and Diana Ross have chalets there and in the past three months French heartthrob Johnny Hallyday has moved in, as has British warbler James Blunt. If you want to stargaze - though at a less exotic price than they pay - try Les Collons 1800, nearby, which also gives you access to the Four Valleys. Two-bed apartments with southfacing balconies can be yours for Euro420,000 to Euro490,000.

Savills, 0044-20 7016 3740; www. savills. co. uk

Best for high-rollers If you have serious money to spend, the Alps becomes your playground and the chalets on offer are sensational. Among the most tempting fantasy on the market is this Euro5.95m property, Shangri-La - an eight-bed chalet built in 1986 some five minutes' drive from the ski lifts at Villars in the Swiss Alps.

Spread over three levels with traditional chalet architecture, Shangri-La features a library, two kitchens, large indoor swimming pool, Turkish hammam, jacuzzi, gym, snooker room, cinema, a garage for up to 10 vehicles and amazing views. Nearby are golf courses and watersports on Lake Geneva are 25 minutes' away. And when you are back in the city, ShangriLa could earn you Euro12,000 a week in rent. Arcane restrictions on foreign purchasing mean there must be three named cobuyers on the deeds to conform with local laws, so you may need to get some friends from the office to come in on the deal.

Pure International, 0044-20 7331 4500; www. pureintl. com

Best for bargain hunters "Switzerland shouldn't have to mean superexpensive ski properties - everyone should have a chance, " says music impresario-turneddeveloper Larry Levene, who is building apartments costing from Euro160,000 - making them probably the lowest-priced holiday homes in the region.

Résidence Pracondu is at Nendaz in the famous Four Valleys region, a scenic area about two hours' drive from Geneva, with 412km of ski slopes as well as mountain hiking. Nendaz is especially suited to families with children, with a dedicated children's village at the top of the cable car. The apartments are small but have under-floor heating and large storage spaces, and buyers have access to communal facilities including a jacuzzi and sauna. There are some leaseback schemes giving a guaranteed annual rental income, equivalent to 4% of the purchase price.

Alpine Homes International, 0041-27 323 7777; www. alpinehomesintl. com

Best for classic Alps The world's classic ski address remains Courchevel in the heart of the French Alps' Three Valleys region. Much of its reputation derives from its history - it was judged the top European ski resort as long ago as the 1960s by the Alpine Ski Club. Now it is the anecdotal favourite for many because of its 63 skilifts, 117 downhill ski runs and an accumulated ski length of 150 kilometres.

For property, it is amongst the most expensive area too - a chalet with four bedrooms and bathrooms fetches from Euro2.5m.

Knight Frank, 0044-20 7629 8171; www. knightfrank. com

Best for the eco-conscious Get on a train in London's Waterloo station at 9.43am and by late afternoon you're with the French Alpine skiset for drinks. Eurostar does a Saturday ski train from London until late March, with most return fares starting at Euro227 (www. eurostar. co. uk). A popular dropping off point is Tigne - the transfer taxi from station to slope takes little more than five minutes, much closer than most rival resorts with train services. After the journey enjoy the luxury of Residence Le Belvedere, chalets and apartments just 55 metres from the piste.

There is a 24-hour reception, underground car parking plus a swimming pool and sauna. Services like this in the heart of Europe's main ski location are not cheap - so apartments begin at Euro519,000 and chalets top Euro786,000 Savills, 0044-20 7016 3740; www. savills. co. uk.

Best for foodies For some, après-ski is not about cheap beer, industrystandard pizza and a gloopy fondue. This skier wants the finest in continental cuisine accompanied by fine wine. And if they can get that in the summer months too, then so much the better. If that's you, then your ideal resort may not be one of Europe's more obvious resorts, but Abetone in the Italian Apennines mountain range on the border between Tuscany and Emilia Romagna. With 80km of runs, an expanding ski area and artificial snow-making, the skiing is enough to keep you entertained, though it won't compete with more famous Alpine resorts.

However, foodies may well set the restaurants in a league of their own, heaving with local delicacies like white truffles, wild asparagus and olive oil used in hearty vegetable soups like pappa al pancotto and ribollita. Cured meats, frutti di bosco (wild berries) and pecorino cheese are everywhere. If you want to buy nearby, head for a new ski development, Abetone resort. It's 1,400 metres above sea level and has ski runs that are ideal for beginners and intermediates across four valleys. Walking is excellent in the summer, and if you get bored of the outdoors, the shops and museums of Florence are only 90 minutes away. Apartments are priced at Euro170,000 to Euro300,931 through Savills.

Savills, 0044-20 7016 3740; www. savills. co. uk.

Best for the adrenaline junkie

For the extreme-sports generation, try Mont Tremblant. There are 100km of cross-country ski trails, a frozen cliff-face for ice-climbing, an 18-acre snow park with ramps, modules, jumps and a 130metre-long and six-metrehigh half-pipe for snowboarders. You can hire snowmobiles and dog sleds or go snow-riding from two different equestrian ranches. Then there's aquabranching - sliding through tree-filled snowy valleys on wires - including at night-time with lamps on your crash helmet. Threebedroom properties at the Borealis Mont Tremblant scheme by Intrawest, North America's largest ski-home developer, are on sale from Euro217,710 Pure International, 0044-20 7331 4500; www. pureintl. com.

Best for the investor Bansko is hardly St Moritz, but Bulgaria's leading ski resort is cheap and set to soar in value according to experts. Tourist numbers will exceed one million for the first time by the end of the current ski season, the gondola is ultra-modern and lift passes and equipment hire cost only half the price of those in the Alps. "Bulgaria's a classic combination of catch-up, speculation, second-home interest and slow but sustained economic growth underpinning prices, " says Liam Bailey, research head at estate agent Knight Frank. The firm's global price index says local prices have risen 20.5% in the past year. "St George's Lodge is a five-star ski and summer leisure complex with 149 apartments using natural materials, such as stone, granite and marble. The resort is expected to be finished in 2008. Prices start at Euro75,000 from Savills Savills, 0044-20 7016 3740; www. savills. co. uk