Interested in skiing in Europe? Reviews of tour packagers and where and how to find the best deals in Austria, France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland.

If this is your year to introduce the family to the magic of European culture, while combining an annual ski vacation (that you didn't think you could afford), read on to learn more about how to save your Euros with a packaged ski tour.

Snowsports packagers and mountain resort tour operators who specialize in Europe know that the grim, damp weather keeping away cultural tourists will lure winter sports enthusiasts. That's why you can sip grappa while gliding downhill on one of the Torino Olympics slopes for less than what you'd spend in the American West -- and with airfare included.

Europe Winter Vacations are Great Value

Elegant and cultured winter playgrounds in France (the most pricey resorts), Germany, Austria, Switzerland (more expensive this year than last) and Italy (more of a bargain) welcome Americans looking for great snow, great food and a delightful snowsports experience. And you'll find excellent, multi-lingual, on-mountain instructors happy to work with adults or children, at lesson rates a fraction of what you'd pay out West.

Then, bundle great US-to-Europe airfares with the many purpose-built condos at lesser-known winter playgrounds, and you'll see how ski tour packagers can put together such great deals. These are real savings that will enable you to allocate any extra vacation budget for a hearthside dinner at a local chalet, or an apres-ski visit with the kids to the local wine bar, where all ages are welcome.

For the winter of 2010-2011 we've seen deals as low as US$1,098 pp for six nights in Innsbruck, Austria (without lift tickets), plus other great deals on sightseeing and touring throughout Europe. Keep in mind that Innsbruck, with a base altitude of 2,000 feet, is ideal for families who may have trouble with altitude sickness. Its highest peak is 7,687 ft. and there are 35 lifts to serve 28 marked trails (37% geared to beginners and 51% to intermediates). Best yet, the trails extend for 50 miles and connect to several other mountains. Most of the air-land packages to Austria fly into Munich, Germany, a great city to explore with the family.

This year, in this strained economy, you'll also start to see budget ski packages to the lesser known mountain resorts in Eastern Europe as well.

Keep in mind that European teaching styles are usually not the "fun and games" that American children are used to getting, so your kids are unlikely to encounter a costumed bear or racoon mascot on the slopes. However, we guarantee that they'll have great instructors and be surrounded by equally enthusiastic skiers their own age.

European Snowsports Packagers

The following well-regarded tour operators and travel agents sell air/land snowsports packages -- typically seven nights/eight days long. These value-packed, independent tours include round trip airfare from America's East Coast (add-on fares from other major gateways are available), airport transfers, seven night's hotel based on double occupancy, daily breakfast, lift tickets (these are optional, making it more economical for a non-athletic spouse, friend or kids), tax and service charges.

Contact your travel agent or visit one of the sites below to inquire about these tour operators' special winter rates.

SkiEurope (800/333-5533) - Very comprehensive site does reviews and grades resorts in Andorra, Austria, France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland, then offers top value air and land deals.

World on Skis (866/678-5858) - Snowsports specialists create custom tours for every ability level at the resort of your dreams anywhere. For 2010, their top 5 resort picks are Aspen, Colorado; Zermatt, Swtizerland; Whistler, BC, Canada; Courcheval, France; and Vail, Colorado.

Value Holidays (800/558-6850)- Large selection of French, Austrian and Swiss resort packages are available in the Ski-Europe section of this global tour packager. Friends and family groups and large extended families can take advantage of their "group" savings: 15 friends, relatives or acquaintances who travel together earns one free passage, plus a personal spending allowance for each passenger traveling with you.

Ski.com (800/908-5000) - Snowsports deals from US tour operators for US and Europe resorts; land only deals, too.

Club Valtur (02-300.99.811 in Milan, Itay) - Italian-owned operator of very family-friendly, all-inclusive resorts all over Europe, as well as at the top Italian Alps resorts: Piemonte, Trentino, Valle d'Aosta.

Resource for European Winter Destinations

Additionally, if none of these operators meet your needs, there's another good resource.

For general information about Europe's ski mountains and a general introduction to what you can expect from a European snowsports holiday, visit the Alpine Tourist Commission.

Their specialists will gladly help you choose a tour serving the destination that's best suited to your needs, whether that means conquering moguls, practising your French lessons or fitting in some world-class museums before or after your slopeside fun.