17 of the best places to spend Christmas 2022 

5. Courchevel, France

Courchevel’s Russian moment — when it became a byword for oligarch excess — is over. But that hasn’t dented its status as a gathering ground for the world’s superrich. Broad, easy-skiing pistes combine with Michelin-starred restaurants and five-star hotels to create the most luxurious of all ski resorts. Boxing Day to New Year’s Eve has the biggest social buzz: think champagne bars and perfect teeth, set against a razor-sharp mountain ridge.

New Year in Courchevel isn’t cheap, so save where you can by booking a central self-catering apartment in the Forum. Brush up your skiing with New Generation Ski School (around £200 for five lessons), so you don’t take a tumble outside the key slopeside bars. And don’t wait until December 31 to start the celebrations.