At 11am on a beautiful morning in March, six British skiers are sitting in silence as the Tommeuses chair lift rises to the Toviиre ridge, nearly 9,000ft above Val d'Isиre.

If they were to dispense with Anglo-Saxon sang-froid and speak to each other, they would discover they have much in common - three married couples, all passionate about snow, enjoying the last action-packed day of a one-week holiday.

They use the same lifts, ski the same pistes, enjoy the same buzz from watching their children master a parallel turn or win the ski-school race. They curse when the fog comes down, grin when the sun comes out.

The only difference is how much they have paid for their holidays. The wealthiest family has forked out more than Ј13,000, the poorest just over Ј2,000.

In summer, money can buy you a deserted beach, whisk you off on a private yacht, or give you access to an exclusive resort. You can use your wealth to buy privacy and access to a completely different holiday.

Winter sports holidays are not like that. Money will buy you only the peripherals: a more luxurious chalet; meals in posher restaurants; a smarter ski-suit; a faster transfer to the resort. You can differentiate yourself from the masses, but you still end up skiing the same pistes.

So, while skiing is never cheap, you can choose to do it either in style or on a shoestring. This guide tells you how.

Prices for our virtual families are based on a one-week holiday in Val d'Isиre from the weekend of March 19-20 next year. Prices are calculated at an exchange rate of 1.38 euros to Ј1.

Family A

Total holiday cost: Ј13,054

James, 47, is an international financier with lavish homes in Gloucestershire and Kensington. His wife, Lucinda, 43, owns an antiques shop in the Fulham Road. Sam, seven, and Megan, five, need morning lessons and afternoon care.

Which company?
Some 49 British travel firms feature Val d'Isиre in their brochures, but only three provide the combination of five-star accommodation and immaculate service that suits this family's needs: Descent International (020 7384 3854, www.descent.co.uk), Elegant Resorts (01244 897333, www.elegantresorts.co.uk) and Scott Dunn Ski (020 8682 5050, www.scottdunn.com).

James and Lucinda are sharing their holiday with friends and opt for one of Scott Dunn's top chalets - Eagle's Nest, in Les Carats district above the resort. You can ski almost to and from the door.

It took Ј5 million and the reclaimed timber from five Bosnian barns to build this magnificent seven-bedroom property. The brochure price is Ј2,395 for an adult, Ј2,245 for each child aged six to 15, and Ј2,070 for children aged two to five. Total package cost: Ј9,105.

What they get for their money
The family flies British Airways Club Class from London to Geneva, where they are met by a Scott Dunn representative and escorted to a private minibus for the three-hour transfer. A picnic basket in the vehicle includes a bottle of vintage Champagne and they stop halfway, on the shores of Lake Annecy, to eat a quick lunch and stretch their legs. On arrival, they are met by the chalet's four core staff before being driven to Precision Ski, the best equipment shop in the resort. Scott Dunn staff take care of lift passes and ski-school enrolment. Nothing is too much trouble.

Chalet comforts include morning tea in bed, daily newspapers, flowers. Vintage Champagne and canapйs are served before dinner and guests can also help themselves to drinks at other times. Afternoon tea awaits them on return from skiing.

Dinner is a gourmet five-course affair, including a pair of fine wines for which you would pay upwards of Ј40 a bottle at a London restaurant.

A qualified British nanny takes charge of Sam and Megan. Cost: Ј450. Scott Dunn runs its own ski classes in conjunction with the Oxygиne ski school (0033 479 41 99 58, www.oxygene-ski.com) during school holidays. The nanny takes them to ski school, picks them up at lunchtime, and cares for them in the afternoon. Sam is in the Wolves class at a cost of Ј245 for the week. Megan is in Snow Bears (Ј185).

James and Lucinda like to ski off-piste and have hired a guide, Pat Zimmer, owner of cult ski school Top Ski, for five full days from 9am-4.30pm at a total cost of Ј1,141.

Essential extras
Lift passes: Ј131 per adult and Ј102 per child aged five to 12 years. Total: Ј466.

Equipment rental: both adults have their own. Skis, boots and helmets for the children: Ј143.

Insurance: the family have an existing worldwide family policy that covers winter sports, so no extra cover is necessary.

Other costs
Therapies: each afternoon, Lucinda has a full massage in Eagle's Nest; total cost Ј239.

Eating out: lunch is taken on the mountain each day, mainly at La Fruitiиre above La Daille and at L'Arbina in Tignes Le Lac. When he looks at his credit card bill, James will discover he spent Ј600 on lunches.

Night life: on the staff night off, the adults dine at La Grande Ourse (Ј150). Babysitting costs Ј30. Other drinks and snacks during the week total Ј100.

Tips: on departure, James leaves Ј200 for the staff.

Family B

Total holiday cost: Ј4,393

Mark is a 35-year-old accountant who lives in York with his 32-year-old wife, Susie, a physiotherapist. They have two daughters: Olivia, 20 months, and Emily, seven. This is their second ski holiday.

Which company?
Mark and Susie are looking for a medium-priced chalet holiday with specialist childcare. They are travelling with friends. Their choice is limited to Club Med (0845 367 6767, www.clubmed.co.uk), Mark Warner (0870 770 4226, www.markwarner.co.uk), Snowline (08701 123118, www.snowline.co.uk) or VIP (020 8875 1957, www.vip-chalets.com).

The couple choose Snowline, a well-established company with its recently introduced Marmot's Den crиche. This is run by qualified nannies who cater for children aged six months to four years.

Chalet Grand Chevril, situated a few minutes' walk from the piste, is a blend of ancient and modern described by the owner as "rusticity with an edge". The adult brochure price is Ј839. Olivia's holiday costs a nominal Ј100, and Emily qualifies for a Ј50 discount. Total package cost: Ј2,567.

What they get for their money
The family flies from Gatwick to Geneva on Sunday morning, aboard a BA charter flight operated by GB Airways. A dedicated BA check-in helps Mark and Susie avoid the notorious Gatwick sheep pen. At the resort, their chalet girl or boy will greet them. Staff will then arrange ski passes and lessons before escorting them by car to the ski shop.

Dinner, with unlimited wine, runs to four courses, followed by Snowline's own blend of coffee and Belgian chocolates. The wine is a particular feature: the couple can choose from two house reds and two house whites, or upgrade at cost price to a more sophisticated vintage. They can expect tea in bed each morning, and a cooked breakfast. On return from skiing, they can help themselves to afternoon tea.

A nanny collects Olivia (the youngest) each morning at 8.15am and takes her to the Marmot's Den, returning her to the chalet at 5pm. Cost: Ј275 per week. Meanwhile, Emily is in the Club Marmotton class at the Snow Fun ski school (0033 479 06 16 79, www.valfun.com). Cost: Ј116 for six mornings, 9.30am-12.30pm. Helmet rental is included.

Mark and Susie take five lessons (also 9.30am-12.30pm) with Oxygиne at a cost of Ј112 each.

Essential extras
Lift passes: Ј131 each for Mark and Susie, Ј102 for Emily.

Equipment rental: they hire everything from Precision Ski, at a cost of Ј320.

Insurance: a family policy, arranged through Snowline, costs Ј75.

Other costs
Therapies: both Mark and Susie enjoy a massage from a visiting Snowline masseuse; cost Ј33 each.

Eating out: after picking up Emily, the choice of lunchtime venues is limited to those in central Val d'Isиre, including Bananas, the Sun Bar and the Bar des Sports. Pasta and pizza cost about Ј14 each. Total for the week: Ј260.

Night life: on the staff night off, Mark, Susie and Emily dine at La Perdrix Blanche, which costs Ј54. Babysitting for Olivia costs 10 euros (Ј7) an hour. Total cost: Ј22.

Tips: Mark leaves the Snowline team Ј50.

Family C

Total holiday cost: Ј2,243

Ian, 28, is an office manager from Maidstone, Kent. His wife, Sarah, 27, is a midwife, and they have five-year-old twins, Ben and Imogen. Ian and Sarah are experienced skiers, but this is their first family ski holiday.

Which company?
Low cost is the major consideration for this family. Driving to a self-catering apartment is clearly the cheapest option, so Ian and Sarah study the brochures of several operators, including Erna Low (0870 750 6820, www.ernalow.co.uk), French Freedom (01724 290660, www.skifrance4less.co.uk), French Life (0870 4292180, www.frenchlifeski.co.uk), Interhome (020 8891 1294, www.interhome.co.uk) and Lagrange (020 7371 6111, www.lagrange-holidays.co.uk). They settle for Erna Low and choose Les Jardins de la Balme apartments, within an easy walk of the village centre. Their one-room studio is tiny. It measures 260 square feet (about five adult ski poles long and three wide). Four beds, a kitchenette, a bathroom and a separate lavatory are crammed in. Bed linen is included in the price.

Erna Low charges Ј527 for the apartment, plus local taxes amounting to Ј20. Ian and Sarah pay Ј29 for covered parking, and a refundable deposit of 200 euros (Ј140) on the studio.

What they get for their money
The Erna Low price includes ferry crossings, with a Ј24 Eurotunnel supplement. The company will arrange overnight stopovers at hotels for Ј75 per family room, but Ian and Sarah decide to pay the tunnel supplement and complete the 11-hour, 620-mile journey from Maidstone in a single day. Petrol costs: Ј180. Autoroute tolls: Ј80.

A welcome pack awaits the family, with details of how to contact the Erna Low rep for any assistance. The twins join Le Petit Poucet nursery. They are picked up from the apartment after 8.30am and dropped back again in the late afternoon. Staff care for them throughout the day, taking them to and from morning ski lessons, and providing lunch and afternoon entertainment. Cost: Ј348 for the two of them. Six mornings of ski lessons with the ESF (0033 479 06 02 34, www.esfvaldisere.com) cost Ј119 for each child.

Essential extras
Lift passes: Ian and Sarah have kept theirs from last year, entitling them to a five per cent loyalty discount. Adults: Ј129 each. Children: Ј102 each.

Equipment rental: Ian and Sarah have their own. The children's boots and skis, organised through Erna Low, cost Ј54 per child.

Insurance: a family policy with Erna Low costs Ј75.

Other costs Eating in: the family returns to the apartment for lunch, saving a small fortune in restaurant bills.

Prices at the four supermarkets are high, but the choice of fresh food is far superior to Britain, with a wide range of prepared dishes. Ian and Sarah take advantage of a British-run shopping service called Chaletfood (www.chaletfood.com). It allows them to order their shopping on-line (Ј100) before leaving home, and it is delivered to their door within an hour of arrival.

Night life: Ian and Sarah organise a babysitter through the tourist office for one evening (Ј22) and check out the action at Dick's Tea Bar and Bananas (Ј30).

travel.telegraph.co.uk