THE side of a mountain 2,100 metres above sea level doesn’t sound like the most obvious location to find sun.

Chloe Glover

And for a frigo-phobe who moved to Andalucia on the promise of year-round rays, being packed off to Spain’s premier ski resort in the Sierra Nevada was not the travel assignment I had in mind.

Add to the mix a limb-eye co-ordination akin only to Bambi’s or the first efforts of the Cool Runnings team and you can see why I have never swapped my weekends by the beach for one in the snow.

But, s’no joke, just two days of snow-based fun and brilliant weather in Andalucia’s only ski resort of Pradollano was enough to turn this piste-off hack into a ski holiday superfan.

Stepping out of our car into glorious sunshine was the first welcome surprise after a fortnight of torrential rain on the so-called Costa del Sol.

My colleague Laurence and I gleefully brushed the dust off our sunglasses, knowing that our home towns of Marbella and Estepona were facing the prospect of yet another damp weekend.

We hiked to the lookout point perched at the resort’s summit and gazed down at the snow-topped chalet rooftops – a Christmas card scene sparkling in the dazzling light.

But it was the sight of hundreds of zippy skiers zig-zagging down the majestic white peaks towering above us at 3300m that really took our breath away.

It’s hard to believe that 106,8 kms of pistes and 124 runs (75% open in mid December) lie just two hours from Marbella and half an hour from Granada.

It truly lives up to the marketing hype as a place where you can ski in the morning and sunbathe on the coast, pina colada in hand, by the afternoon.

Madrileños drive the four-hour distance in their droves, while Portuguese powder addicts are more than happy to travel cross country.

Expert skiers treasure the snow which, particularly in springtime, is as soft as icing sugar and quite unlike the tightly-packed ice found in many European resorts.

With 60 easy and very easy runs descending alongside the 57 hardest red and black ones, it is clear why the resort has such catch-all appeal.

Some ski fans even brave it in bikinis for the last day of the season in May (la bajada en bikini), an unmissable occasion charged with champagne, hedonism and near-nudity.

“Constant improvements and an ability to produce a lot of snow are just two of the strengths of our resort”, said spokesman Santi Sevilla, who has been working at Cetursa, the resort’s administrator, for seven years.

“Add to that the arrival of the Freestyle Ski World Championship and Snowboarding here next March and the affordability of ski passes and you can see why it is one of the most attractive in Europe.

“One of my favourite new additions is the Pista del Mar in the heart of Borreguiles.

“This has been created to make a fun and safe area where families and beginners can enjoy the snow.”

Santi is far from the only skier smitten by Pradollano’s charms.

Today one million people visit the resort each year.

That is an impressive achievement considering it was only constructed in 1964, making it a newbie in comparison to some of France’s long-established resorts like Chamonix and Courchevel.

But perhaps its success is not altogether surprising, considering its many draws.

No ski-high prices 

Along with accessibility, you’ll get more bang for your buck.

While many other European resorts remain the preserve of the rich, the Sierra Nevada continues to be pocket-friendly.

This has been helped by a recent €3.1 million cash injection from the Andalucian tourist board, which means the price for passes at peak time has risen by only €2 in the last five years to €47.

Passes are a snip of those at France’s big daddy resorts, especially when considering the availability of generous low season, spring and promotional tariffs.

Going midweek during the snow season can cost as little as €35.50 per day, while seven-day passes can be bought as cheaply as €187.

Package promotions for ski, snowboard and clothing hire help keep prices down, while accommodation can also be very reasonably priced, especially at lodgings located a little higher up in the hill resort.

Turning to the skiing itself, the Sierra Nevada thrives on its all-abilities appeal, with the majority of the 124 runs at beginner or intermediate level: 19 green runs, 41 blues, 50 reds and 14 black and orange (the scariest).

Laurence wasted no time testing out the routes, carving paths alongside both pros and groups of all-ages beginners who were being put through their paces by experienced instructors.

Families enjoyed themselves side by side with big groups of skiers, such as the 30-odd, 20- something American marines from Rota naval base on the Cadiz coast we bumped into (almost literally).

“I’m not very experienced but really have enjoyed myself”, said one of them, Jonathan Richards from Louisiana.

“I’ve only ever been skiing before in the States. It’s only early season but I’d give the skiing eight out of 10.

“I love the atmosphere here too.

“It’s a lot more chilled out and friendly than the places I’ve been to before.”

Winter sports for all sorts

But there is much more to the Sierra Nevada than sliding down it on two planks of wood.

You can tackle it by toboggan and snowboard, or on a snowshoe hike (akin to walking with a tennis racket strapped to each foot).

Family-oriented Mirlo Blanco park gives kids their adrenalin fix as they brave the star attraction, Trineo Ruso (Russian sled), which whisks riders around a several hundred metre track peppered with tight turns and a 550 metre descent.

A magic carpet slide and bouncy castles can also be found in the zone, along with mountains of snow for DIY fun.

And if that sounds like too much action, you can always swap icy snow for a hot steam bath and indulge in some me-time at one of several hotel spas.

All year round, the Sierra Nevada is paradise for fresh air fiends.

After ‘the melt’, the resort becomes a paradise for walkers, wildlife lovers and mountain bikers.

Get the best views by taking advantage of the ski lifts, which in summer carry both people and bikes to the summit to enjoy breathtaking routes back down.

Borreguiles, the resort’s impressive ski bowl, boasts a bike park in the hotter months. Youngsters can test their strengths in the mini-olympiads zone or race against each other on the pedal car track.

Guided dawn and dusk walks and a bumper running and cycling race calendar are a magnet keeping the resort busy 12 months of the year.

Awesome apres ski

Back in Pradollano at the end of an action-packed day,  revellers congregate at the various bars, like Bar Ski and Crescendo, around the resort to share their successes and failures with joyful abandon.

Meanwhile, friendly down-to-earth restaurants, like Casablanca and La Mar Sala, do not mock their customers with ski-high prices.

You can still find a cana for under €2, and tapas for €1.50 even on weekends at some places.

La Antorcha is a skier favourite thanks to its plentiful, juicy steaks at lip-smackingly good prices.

Head to the drinking holes in the Edificio Mont Blanc centre or Plaza de Pradollano for oodles of atmosphere at pocket-friendly prices.

Hostels Yeti and Alburgue Interjoven are amongst the budget accommodation options and they don’t skimp on warm, clean rooms.

The same can be said for the wealth of self-catering apartments dotted around the resort.

Living the high life

Those with extra cash to splash can turn up the luxury at a cosy alpine hotel. Places like the Sol Melia and Kenia Nevada have spas for soothing all the aching muscles you never knew you had.

Meanwhile, some of the finest haute mountain cuisine can be had at these giddy altitudes. Try Ci Vediamo, in particular, as well as stylish dishes at Tito Tapas and La Bodeguita.

And of course, nothing goes down better at this time of year than a steaming glass of tinto de Invierno – spiced, mulled wine. Salud!