If you want a winter holiday with a difference then why not head to the tiny region in Spain where travel expert Simon Calder said he had the best skiing of his life. 

Speaking to the Independent, the travel guru revealed his favourite winter destinations and among them is the autonomous administrative entity of Val d’Aran, nestled in the Pyrynees mountains.

“It’s a part of Spain which should be in France, geographically, but it does have some of the best skiing I have ever experienced.”

The  Baqueira Beret ski resort lies at the head of the beautiful Val d’Aran, near Vielha, in the Spanish Lleida Pyrenees and also covers terrain in the adjoining Valls d’Àneu (Pallars Sobirà). 

It’s a three-hour drive from Barcelona Airport, but just one hour from Toulouse Airport on the French side.

The ski slopes are stunning and varied and the resort is so beautiful it’s even the choice for the Spanish Royal Family who have a holiday home there.

The resort has 170km of slopes, and 36 lifts all spread over four very different major zones: Baqueira, Beret, Bonaigua and Baciver. 

Baqueira is the oldest and busiest, with Beret being the most laid back and family friendly. 

Once you’ve worked up an appetite on the slopes you can sample from any of the five restaurants dotted around the resort selling everything from crepes to pizza.

People who have visited the resort have been blown away by it, and with a 4 and a half star on TripAdvisor, it’s well worth the trip.

“I had a fantastic time in BB,” one person wrote.

“Just 3.5 drive from the beaches of Barcelona and you put your skis on. Unspoiled and undiscovered, great skiing, plenty of off-piste to venture, top notch gastronomy, what’s not to like. Will definitely come back.”

Skiing in Spain wasn’t an obvious choice but I was persuaded to try it and I am so pleased that I did,” said another. “It’s fabulous.”

But if skiing isn’t your thing and you’d rather enjoy a peaceful winter with loads of natural beauty, Calder recommends Iceland.

According to him the best time to visit is late February to early March.

“There are long enough days to appreciate all the natural beauty but long dark nights to see the Northern Lights.”

Almost 80 percent of the country is uninhabited, with much of Iceland’s terrain covered in stunning mountain peaks, volcanoes and fertile lowlands. 

One downside of the country is there are no trains. So if you’re planning a visit to experience the winter scenery your best option is to hire a car.