From the luxury of the Beever Creek resort in America to Italy's low-budget resort Livigno, Irish holidaymakers are more tuned in than ever to the delights of skiing and snowboarding.

From 14,000 just five years ago, the number of Irish skiers travelling last season surpassed 40,000. Following a sluggish October, the push for places is on, with New Year and February's mid-term break practically sold out. Tour operators say that the number of Irish skiers could surpass 50,000 this winter.

If you plan to be one of that 50,000, you should already be trawling through brochures and internet sites now to get what you want whether it be the cheapest deal, the most expensive suite, a family-friendly resort, wild night-life or a guarantee of good snow. According to operators, an anticipated decimation of the American ski industry following September's terrorist attacks hasn't affected the market here to any great extent. Only a very small number of US and Canadian resorts are sold from Ireland, including Killington and Stowe through Inghams and Breckenridge, Whistler, Blackcomb, Lake Louise and Banff through Crystal Holidays.

Instead, having made their way down every hill in Andorra, maturing Irish skiers are still content to explore Europe. While Andorra, Livigno and Westendorf in Austria are still popular with beginners and intermediates, this season's brightest star will be France. A number of top French resorts have been marketed successfully by Crystal in recent years, including Val d'Isere and Les Trois Vallees. This year, Irish-owned Topflight has joined the fray, adding Val d'Isere, La Plagne, Les Arcs and Alpe d'Huez to its brochure. One week at a four-star hotel, based on half board accommodation, will cost £979 (euro1,243) with Topflight. Making a comeback on the Irish market is Switzerland, with Crystal, which is offering packages to Crans Montana, Saas Fee, Villers and Zermatt, all served by its new weekly Geneva charter. Inghams have added Verbier and Grindelwald to its offerings, as well as the Italian resorts of Bormio, Courmayeur and Ortisei in the Dolomites. Irish skiers have also realised that January can be a cheaper, less busy time to ski in Europe.

In a turnaround from previous years, some agents say they are heavily booked for January, with more places left for February and March. Skiing in early to mid-January can knock at least £100 (euro126.97) off the price of your overall package. Price-wise, you can fork out £2,500 (euro3,174.35) for a four-star hotel suite in Courchevel or hold onto your sanity with a £220 (euro279.34) package to France or Italy. Topflight are currently offering early January departures to France for as little as £219 (278.07) per person per week on a self-catering basis.

This season, it's worth noting that Panorama has begun styling itself as "the Budget Travel of skiing", offering consistently reasonable ski packages to all of its resorts. However, a lot of their lowest prices are based on three, four or six people sharing studio accommodation. prices start at £265 (euro336) for four sharing a studio apartment in Les Deux Alpes, France, for one week starting on January 12.

Three people sharing a studio in Livigno in mid-February will pay £365 (euro463). On March 17, Panorama is offering a very low price of £225 (euro285) per person in Pas de la Casa, Andorra, based on six sharing a large apartment. These basic prices include flights and accommodation but not meals, lift pass, ski hire or insurance. Inghams are offering one week in Livigno on January 12/19 from £299 per person, with resort confirmed on arrival. Booking through travel agent SkiTours, you could get away to Pas de la Casa in Andorra for £450 all in, thanks to a free lift-pass offer and one free place in 12.

But finding the best deals or special offers can prove difficult unless you comb the brochures. Some operators offer free places for groups of 10, while others only offer a discount for groups of 25. Lift-pass prices in one resort can sometimes cost as much, if not more, than a total learn-to-ski package in another resort. A lift pass in Saas Fee costs £166 for six days (euro210) compared with a learn-to-ski pack price of £170 (euro215) in Andorra. Free lift passes and ski hire are often hidden away in individual hotel descriptions. The four-star Kertesshotel in St Anton, Austria, is offering a free lift pass with a week-long package costing £900 (euro1,143).

Directski.com has an impressive 20pc discount to mark the introduction of the Euro. For all trips booked before December 31 and taken in the first two weeks of January, it's offering a one-to-one price. So, a one-week trip to Meribel (trois vallees) which previously cost £291 will cost euro291 during this period.

Families who want to ski together need to check brochures carefully to ensure that the resort of their choice is family-friendly. From what age does the local ski school accept young skiers? Is there a children's club in the resort or a nanny service? Does the package include free ski and boot hire for young children? Les Arcs in France, Beever Creek in the US and Lech and Obergurgl in Austria are all recommended by the Good Ski Guide as family-friendly. Flaine in France is another good family bet, with one week at the Clubhotel Le Totem with Crystal costing £1,800 (euro2,285.53) in January for two adults and two children.

You should definitely watch out for supplements. Directski.com's basic prices may not include transfer to and from resort. With Crystal, flying to Chambery will cost you £25 (euro31.74) more per person than their base route to Lyon. Booking a room with a view in one of their hotels can also cost you extra for every night of your stay.

If you decide to go it alone, there has never been a better time to do so, with Ryanair offering flights to Perpignan and Carcassone (convenient for Andorra), Salzburg (St Anton, Zell Am See), Turin (Courmayeur, the Dolomites).

Operators will also sell flight-onlys, with Crystal charging £259 (euro328) per return seat. Directski.com charge £216 (euro274.26) to Lyon, £215 (euro272.99) to Milan, £199 (euro252.68) to Toulouse, £268 (euro340.29) to Innsbruck and Salzburg. Companies like Interhome and Alpine apartments.com offer self-catering accommodation, while trawling UK internet sites like if youski.com and natives.co.uk will throw up some good accommodation prices. For examples, natives.co.uk has offers for one week in a Pierre Vacances property in Val Thorens for st£162 (euro230.99).

Every ski resort, no matter how posh, has cheap B&B accommodation. In St Anton in Austria or Chamonix in France, you can still find a basic room for £15-20 (euro19.05/25.39) a night while hostels like the Mountain Centre in La Tania or Les Gets in France cost from st£15 (euro21.39) a night.

However, you have to do your sums properly before eschewing the convenience of a package holiday. Ryanair flights, if through the UK, may not work out any cheaper than an operator flight-only but may offer extra travel and hassle along the way. Panorama will sell you accommodation-only but will knock off only £80 (euro101.58) for the flight you're not using.

And even with the cheapest accommodation a resort can offer and hamburgers for dinner every night, yourbudget trip might not work out that much cheaper thanthe four-star hotel your best friends are enjoying.

All ski holidays can be booked in local travel agencies