Most people want to go to England's capital city for the New Year, according to the searches registered with Skyscanner. This is followed by the wintery welcomes for 2009 within driving distance of Geneva. It is polar opposite to the Mediterranean party promise of Malaga which makes it to number three.

Number one: London

London might top the rankings as the most expensive city in Europe, but party-goers are planning to throw caution to the wind in the year of the crunch with most Skyscanner searches for New Year bringing up the English capital. There are plenty of places to visit in London throughout December, including interactive Christmas lights and snow storms in Leicester Square to a cyber trip through to find Santa with a festive fairy in Westfield.

As far as ringing in 2009 goes, Ibiza Underground Party promises to be one of the city’s biggest. However, revellers can also go from their London hotels to the MV London Belle party boat. Whatever the cost, a poll conducted among Telegraph readers showed the credit crunch certainly is not affecting more than 90 per cent of Britons' plans to holiday this year.

Number two: Geneva

Another pricey place makes it into second place on Skyscanner's record of New Year searches. The lakeside city has more than 100 resorts less than two hour's drive away, making it look increasingly likely Europeans are planning to welcome in 2009 on the slopes this year. There’s opera, theatre and a world music reggae festival celebrating New Year in Geneva itself, so book into a Geneva hotel quick..

Number three: Malaga

Winter sun seekers will be browsing this Mediterranean hot spot on the Costa del Sol for December 31st. It is the birthplace of Picasso and certain to have party-goers leaving with colour in their cheeks. The average temperature is about 16 degrees C, perfect for enjoying the great outdoors and water activities. So grab a cerveza, reserve a room in Malaga and fly on over.

Number four: Paris

The Champs Elysees is where everyone heads to Paris on New Year’s Eve, but to get a better view of the fireworks over the whole of the city there is a park near Belleville, one of the up and coming trendy regions. Why not take your flute of Champagne and papillottes – small chocolates which pop like firecrackers when opened – up there with a loved one?

Number five: Alicante

This warm and welcoming city usually kicks of fiestas with huge family banquets after which people hit the town at night. The city square Plaza del Ayuntamiento in El Barrio is the place to be.

Number six: Tenerife

Corks pop in the church square Los Cristianos where visitors can enjoy a fun-packed fireworks display.

Number seven: Amsterdam

The locals celebrate Oudjaarsavond (Old Year's Eve) in Dam Square and Rembrandtplein, which just happen to be the party streets.

Number eight: Barcelona

Parties do not start until after midnight, but for New Year's Eve these Spaniards make an exception. A great place for gay revellers.

Number nine: Edinburgh

A New Year's party list would not be complete without people searching for the three-day Hogmanay event, which hosts big name DJs.

Number ten: Dublin

Enjoy the craic as the entire city toasts the New Year to Christchurch bells. There's also a Lord Mayor's New Year's Day Parade, if you are out of bed.

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Snow fans can pack their skis, boards and sledges early because resorts across Europe have opened early this year on the back of heavy snowfall. While Geilo in Norway has welcomed skiers three weeks early, the Telegraph reported, the more meteorologically-sensitive piste on the Scottish Cairngorm Mountain has seen people skiing a month in advance of 2007’s opening date.

Meanwhile, Hintertux in Austria, which had 120cm of snow in early November expected 55cm more over the middle of the month while forecasts for Obergurgl in the country also stood at 50cm, which has also scheduled an early opening. Zermatt and neighbouring Sass-Fee resorts in Switzerland were expecting half a metre of snow by mid-November. This news comes in addition to two metres of snow that fell at the beginning of the month.

One pass for the Tux Valley

Snow is up on the imposing Hintertux glacier that overshadows the single-pass ski pass slopes of the Tux Valley. This resort was created from family run houses and smaller resorts on the valley, which have turned into the best hotels in Hintertux. Luxury is on the menu at several of the hotels in the Hintertux while keeping with the traditional aspects of life on these mountains.

The range has been commended for its raw beauty, which yields slopes for advanced skiers and beginners. A single pass sees skiers enjoy slopes to the Ziller Valley, Mayrhofen and more. Other activities include tennis, mountain sports and a growing apres ski scene.

Pick your peak in Zermatt and Sass-fee

Sass-fee may not have the train access that hotels in Zermatt do, but it has the peaks – 13 of them towering at 4000 metres plus, including the Matternhorn. The more snow, the higher they become, with melting snow from the Fairy Glacier sending water into the Sass-Fee village. There is plenty of affordable accommodation in Zermatt while Sass-Fee hotels are cheaper at the start of the season as well.

Buses run to the village of Sass-Fee, which boasts brightly lit boutiques full of character and charm. Alpin Express runs one of the highest underground funicular systems in the world to the top of 3,500 metres high Mittellalin. Runs accessible from here include reds and blues from Feegletscher, which go back down to the village. There is a giant ice pavilion and hiking for skiers who want a day doing something different off-piste. Visit Pirmin Zurbriggen who became a downhill world ski champ in the 1980s and runs hotels today in Sass Almagell and Zermatt.

Cairngorm Mountain sees unusually heavy snowfall

This unlikely ski stop is popular among UK tourists who want a budget ski break close to home or Europeans who want a taste of something a little different from the usual razzamatazz of big name ski places. In Scotland there are plenty of other sights to feast on from lochs to mountains and local pubs.

However, more than 250 snow sports enthusiasts and 400 spectators took to the slopes early on Cairngorm Mountain that experienced a heavy November snowfall. Patrollers got to work early at Ptarmigan Station to make the route amenable, however maintenance work is set to go on for most of November putting the brakes on early skiing.

Cairngorm Mountain marketing Manager Tania Alliod said: "It's a bonus for visitors to the area as hopefully it will give them confidence to come back to Scotland for a winter break instead of heading overseas. Today we're taking calls from all over the UK with customers asking about skiing. This is encouraging and bodes well for a good winter to come."

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With the credit crunch kicking in all over Europe, finding a cheap destination is paramount. For fans of skiing this is even more important because the cost of equipment hiring, ski passes and getting there can be huge.

Romania was recently named as the best destination to head to for a cheap break of about £200, which includes equipment, drinks and meals, according to the Post Office UK. The Poiana Brasov resort was named best place to fly to for a ski break. Following this, Slovakia and Bulgaria were good places to head away.

Where do the budget airlines go

One of the most popular destinations for budget airlines is Cointrin Airport Geneva. Cheap flights to the best hotels in Geneva are run by budget airlines Bmibaby, easyJet, flybe and flyglobespan. Cointrin Airport comes in two parts. One side is for French with the other for international destinations. Ski resorts are not too far away using the right transport. Cheap hotels in Val-d'Isere are three hours away, affordable accommodation in Megeve is merely an hour's distance and the best hotels in Chamonix-Mont-Blanc are less than 60 minutes from the airport.

What transport is available to the slopes?

Cheapflights has provided a guide of the low-cost flights to ski resorts. Search which budget airline flies to your destination of choice and look at what onward travel is available. Look out for cheap deals on seats and book early to get to the piste for next to nothing. The availability and price of onward transport is essential. Taking the example of Cointrin Airport, trains from Geneva airport can be booked online and there are skibuses from Cointrin Airport too.

Stay at a secondary resort to save cash

If you cannot find a cheap deal in Courchevel or make hotel savings in Meribel, why not try staying at a secondary resort nearby? Travelling in every day could also save cash. It might be a little further from your lodge every day, but that also means more peace and quiet. Pick up supplies at the resort or stay late for apres-ski entertainment before heading back to your hotel.

Avoid package holidays

All-in-one package holiday where flights, ski hire and meals are included generally cost holidaymakers more. It is more work, but by breaking down your trip into smaller parts and booking the best hotels in Geneva yourself, reserving a seat on a snow train independently then checking into affordable accommodation in Megeve, for example, you could make mountains of savings. Plus you are sure to tailor your trip to something you like.

Choose the right time

The most expensive time to go on a ski break is around Christmas and New Year when everyone has time off work. Also a busy period is February half-term, which can prove expensive. The start of the ski season in December or the end in spring are the best times to book bargain breaks, despite the patchy snow.

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