Those looking for a great ski vacation but lacking the funds to make the trip to Switzerland this year may want to consider Špindlerluv Mlýn. Referred to by locals as Spindl, the Czech Republic’s premier ski resort is just a two hour drive from the nation’s capital, Prague.

For the budget conscious, the “Pearl of the Giant Mountain” is just the thing. Rooms in a local pension can be found for as low as £10 a night and a week-long ski pass goes for as little as £100. Nor is food in the Czech Republic likely to empty the wallet. Czech cuisine is mouth watering and meaty, the perfect thing to fill the belly after a long day on the slope. Washed down with a local Pilsner beer, the whole meal is likely to put you out only a few pounds.

While the price may be right, the resort is by no means frequented by just ski bums. Among the local skiers and the German tourists are some of the cream of the Czech crop. Czech president Václav Klaus takes his family to the resort, and resident supermodels and footballers also take to the hill on a regular basis.

Lucie Jandurova, who works for the local tourism agency said: “Our president visits Spindl often in the winter – he likes skiing very much.  He also visits Spindl in the summer, but not as often, for walking and hiking.”

At Spindl, the snow is good, the nightlife is exciting and the best part is, there are cheap budget flights operated by Easyjet to Prague for as little as £12.99 one way.