Iceland

For a country with such a chilly name, Iceland's not actually that cold. Temperatures in winter tend to hover around the freezing mark which, while not toasty, is a good deal warmer than many ski resorts in Europe and North America.

Where Iceland is truer to its name is in the quality of its snow. Soft and fluffy is something of a rarity here, giving way instead to the hard-packed, "Oh God this is going to hurt" variety. This is unlikely to leave powder junkies whooping for joy, but if you like to ride hard and fast, the only thing you should be left wanting for is a few extra hundred metres of altitude.

Most of the mountains in Iceland struggle to top 1,500 metres (about 5,000 feet), with the notable exception of Öræfajökull, the country's highest peak and most canterkerous volcano.

Still, with few obstacles in your way (trees are a reasonably rare sight in Iceland), you should be able to compensate for the lack of vertical by hunching up tight and putting in as few turns as possible.

A real plus point about skiing or snowboarding in Iceland is the proximity of several of its ski resorts to major centres, including the capital Reykjavík. Blafjoll is just half an hour away by car, which means you not only get there quickly, but you can base yourself in Reykjavik - which has fantastic, if not the most economical, nightlife.

The main ski resorts in Iceland all have night skiing and a reasonable variety of terrain. As well as what's available in Blafjoll, Hlidarfjall has decent off-piste and a board park.

Iceland may never put a huge dent in the profits of the major Alpine resorts, but with its stunning scenery and unique character, it's definitely worth a visit.

Cost

Iceland is traditionally expensive. And at US$10 a pint, a couple of nights out on the town could hurt as much as a misplaced T-bar. Basic accommodation is likely to set you back in the region of US$100 a night, and a one day adult lift pass about ISK1400 (roughly US$20).

Getting here

Iceland is an easy three hour flight from London and only an hour and a half longer from Boston. There are regular flights from either side of the Atlantic.