I feel a certain warmth every time I see images of skiing resorts, especially at night-time. I mean, I feel warm literally.

You can ski, you can shop, you can eat and drink and you can do 1,001 other activities whether you are a child, a teenager or an adult

I felt the same way on the two opportunities I have had so far to spend a few days on the slopes in scenic Livigno, in the northernmost part of Italy.

The first time I was there it was a week before Christmas and it was really cold and, yet, I was warm, so warm. Emotionally more than physically, I must admit.

I was back in Livigno – which has just been named Best European Resort by Ski and Snowboard magazine – last March and the temperature was far milder, to the extent that quite a few were skiing in their T-shirt.

The men sipped ice-cold beer as women in sleeveless tops applied protection creams and sat for hours under the hot sun, watching their young children enjoy themselves in the snow.

Yes, the snow was still there – in fact, Livigno, enjoys quite a long skiing season.

On my latest visit, during the coach trip from the airport in Milan to the skiing resort, I spoke to a charming couple who decided to have a well-deserved break from daily life and opted for Livigno. “Not to ski, mind you,” the sweet lady wearing a smile told me, “we are over that by now. But I would like to see the snow fall and go around and enjoy ourselves.”

“You will,” I presumptuously assured her. Thank God, as we approached Livigno, the clouds got thicker and greyer and, from a distance, it looked like it was raining.

Soon, we realised it was snowing. I looked at the lady who was smiling broadly. “Thank you,” she told me, as if I could make it snow! But I was so happy that things were working out just the way she wanted it.

Over the next few days I would bump into the lady and her husband on a few occasions and could see that they were truly enjoying it. They deserved it.

Livigno is an enjoyable place. You can ski, you can shop, you can eat and drink and you can do 1,001 other activities whether you are a child, a teenager or an adult. There, time seems to stand still, even age-wise.

I decided to take it easy, so I could spend as much time as I liked on the slopes but was also free to then just sit and relax.

It being a small place and also thanks to an efficient colour-coded, public transport service that is free, to boot, one has every opportunity to go around and explore.

One day I caught the bus and headed to the Latteria, or the milk factory. There, I spent some time looking at old photographs on the walls and could not help notice how slow and tranquil life in Livigno must have been. In a way, it still is even if skiers converge there from every part of the continent and beyond.

It seems it is not only me that feels so ‘warm’ there. So ‘warm’, in fact, that I cannot resist the lure of Livigno. I can never have enough.

The author visited Livigno courtesy of YTC.

2012/2013 skiing season

YTC, which has been organising skiing holidays for more than 40 years, has just published its Ski & Snowboard brochure for the 2012/2013 skiing season.

The main skiing destination is Livigno, which has proved to be extremely popular with Maltese skiers who have repeatedly visited this top European skiing resort.

YTC offers the Ski and Snowboard Club for winter sports enthusiasts. Club members enjoy the exclusive services of YTC ski director, Mariano Galas.

Weekly group departures to Livigno start from December 6 and continue until Easter. Flights this year are with Air Malta to Linate Airport, Milan, ensuring a quicker arrival at Livigno.

Besides Livigno, YTC also provides skiing in Wagrain, Austria, and Bormio in Italy.

This year, YTC is introducing Bansko in Bulgaria as a new destination. This is a resort in the mountains from where daily excursions to nearby places of interest can be taken.

The brochure includes a number of new destinations even for summer, namely the Italian Dolomites, the beautiful Le Marche region, the Bavarian Alps, Crete, cruises and more.

For further information call 2142 1464/2742 1464/9942 0377/7942 0378; e-mail stellina@ytctravel.org; visit www.ytctravel.org; or go to the Facebook group, YTC – Ski and Snowboard Club.