Skiing holidays in fashionable resorts can be expensive, but there are lots of bargains out there. Jeremy Gates finds out what's coming off the piste

The first ski holiday bargains - all for the first weeks of the new season running up to Christmas - have gone on sale as operators confirmed that France and Canada are emerging strongly as the popular destinations for 2003/4.

More than 160 operators have published ski brochures, but outside the peak periods of New Year, February half-term and Easter, which produced stunning snow conditions this year, there will be thousands of last-minute deals - some below £300 per week - for those who are little bothered about where they go.

Crystal, the largest ski operator, lopped over £100 off chalet stays in France and Switzerland in mid-December which now start at £349. Crystal, part of Thomson, is also slashing £150-200 off seven-night catered chalet stays in France over Christmas which now start at around £500.

With child discounts (up to 17-year-olds) as high as 70 per cent, Ski Esprit offers seven nights self-catering for a family of four in Austria for a total £1,833 from December 20.

However, operators claim price cuts so far are a fraction of the huge choice available this time last year. They claim much more success this year in ''holding the line'' on brochure prices.

Although New Year is selling fast, Christmas bookings are much slower - and further price cuts likely among rival operators. Away from the peak weeks, there is clear market resistance to hefty five to ten per cent price increases justified when brochures first appeared by the rise of the euro against the pound.

At the end of September, several brochures offering discounts for early bookers expired. But prices are invariably soft in the run-up to Christmas.

Gareth Crump, product director at Thomson and Crystal says: ''Prices are holding up pretty well considering this ski programme has been selling since last December. There will be always deals for certain dates and destinations - but anybody wanting a specific place and time should book now.''

Says Andy Perrin, managing director of Ski Esprit: ''France is the runaway number one in the market place, its facilities accepted as second to none.

''North America is still feeling the effect of September 11, but Canada is stealing a big march on the US - with Whistler the one Transatlantic ski area in the same league as the Alps for its facilities and convenience.''

Perrin also predicts that Les Arcs and La Plagne, linked by a 2km gondola into one massive ski area in the French Alps, the third largest in the world - Paradiski - will be a huge draw this season.

In Italy, wise heads are heading for the Milky Way ski area, with major resorts, mainly for intermediates, including Sestriere, Sauze d'Oulx, Claviere and the French border resort of Montgenevre, which will host the 2006 Olympics. Some 92 lifts already serve the area, and investment will be heavily stepped up ahead of the Games.

At Inghams, one of the Big Four operators along with Thomson/Crystal, First Choice and Neilsons, marketing manager Lynsey Devon confirms: ''Canada offers superb value because of currency movements. In Europe, Bulgaria looks like the new Andorra to those who want cheaper deals - it had great snow last season and has invested heavily in equipment and facilities.''

A clear trend in bookings so far for 2003/4 is that better quality, pricier packages - often at £600-plus - are selling particularly well, perhaps because skiing relies heavily on repeat business from customers who know exactly what they want.

Small, independent operators are cockahoop, because they will capture about a fifth of the package market which totals about 700,000 holidays.

Independent packages, based on the low-cost airlines and self-drive, are expected to total around 150,000, but operators believe these are second and third ski holidays, usually short breaks, which do little harm to the mainstream market.

Says Andy Perrin at Ski Esprit: ''Skiers are very aware of quality when they book, so price is not the all-important factor in their choice. For example, they prefer to talk to booking staff who know their product.

''The other factor is that skiers who want good quality chalet stays cannot get them with low-cost carriers, because chalets are mostly run by operators. Low-cost flights into Geneva and Salzburg tend to be batched with cheap apartments.''

Ski Esprit specialises in family ski holidays and is still recruiting people to work as nannies, reps, managers and chefs at 14 top resorts in France, Italy and Austria for the 2003/4 season.

At Le Ski, a Huddersfield-based 'tiddler' with 20 catered chalets in the French Alps, managing director Nick Morgan confirms: ''Skiers readily pay more for quality.

''For instance, we initiated British Airways flights on Sundays into Chambery last winter, and they went so well, with faster transfer times to Courchevel and Val d'Isere, that we have once again chartered two whole planes from Gatwick and Manchester.

''People happily pay £50 extra for a civilised flight time of 9am, and shorter transfer times.''

* Ski Esprit (01252 618 300); Le Ski (0870 754 4444); Crystal (0870 160 6040); Thomson (0870 606 1470); The Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO) list of ski operators is available on 0870 751 8080; Inghams (020 8780 4444).