I know we haven’t quite finished with Christmas and here I am mentioning the E word. But Easter is late next year (20-21 April) which could have repercussions if you’re planning a ski holiday in Europe.One solution could be to skip the Alps and head for the beautiful Sierra Nevada in southern Spain. With one of the Europe’s longest seasons, running until late April, the Sierra Nevada has a ski area of 106 km, set between 2,100m and 3,300m, with 124 pistes to suit skiers of all levels.Where to stay? That’s easy: it has to be El Lodge, the only ski-in/ski-out hotel in the heart of the Sierra Nevada ski area and just 50m from the nearest chairlift. Originally built in the Seventies, El Lodge was bought by the Marbella Club in 2012. Following a catastrophic fire in 2013 it was rebuilt and reopened in 2015.The original El Lodge was made entirely from timber. The new version is sensibly constructed from concrete, its attractive mountain aesthetic achieved by cladding the building in wood and granite. The interiors, meanwhile, have been designed by Martin Waller, of London-based design house Andrew Martin, in informal alpine style: think cowhide rugs, bright Moroccan textiles, Chesterfield armchairs, vintage posters and antler chandeliers.All of the hotel’s nine rooms and 12 suites boast private terraces and sweeping picture windows that frame exquisite views of the snow-capped mountains beyond.El Lodge offers three dining options: The Sun Deck – the only ski-in/ski-out restaurant in the Sierra Nevada – for traditional tapas and light lunches with mountain views; The Grill, for hearty fondue, raclette, grilled meats, fresh fish and locally sourced Riofrio caviar – the first organically certified caviar in the world; and The Lounge for bar snacks and a hot toddy by the fire.Other facilities include an extremely spoiling spa, featuring indoor and outdoor pools, and a stylish ski room, offering a ‘Prêt-à-Porter’ equipment hire service and, naturally, a boot warming and slipper service. And if you fancy a day away from the pistes, you can always slip down to the Marbella Club and hit the beach…

From €350 per room, per night, breakfast and VAT included.