Après-ski is part and parcel of the ski holiday experience, and if you've never seen a good mountain bar 'going off' at 6.30pm - well, you haven't lived. The sense of euphoria that being in the mountains can bring, plus the extra buzz the adrenaline provides, means the party atmosphere goes from 0-60 faster than you can mumble 'ein bier bitte' at the bar. At the best bars, it's like New Year's Eve every night.

Not all ski resort nightlife is so supercharged, however, and if you want to sample the best of it, you want to shop around. But if you can't bear the idea of being marooned in the middle of 1,000 sweaty, beery twenty somethings, that's fine too: the mountains are full of resorts where a quiet and relaxing drink is the more acceptable means of unwinding after a day on the slopes.

5 top tips to remember for après-ski

• Party like an Austrian, not like a Brit. That means stopping off on the way back into the resort and dancing in your ski boots, rather than going out after dinner. Why? Because you'll get into the mood much more quickly, and finish earlier, leaving you relatively fresh for the next day's skiing or snowboarding.
• A glass of shandy is a great way to kick off. Actually, make that two. It sounds a bit wimpy, but chances are you'll neck them in a nano-second, because you'll be so thirsty from the slopes. Saves you from getting too drunk too quickly.
• Check what they put in the hot wine: take it gently if it includes schnapps!
• Don't be put off by the music. Cheesy Austrian music makes a lot of sense when you're dancing in your ski boots.
• A good rule of thumb for those looking for a quiet drink is to find a four-star hotel and go for a drink there. Five stars can be a bit starchy. Four stars usually have nice lounges and a more laid-back atmosphere.

Finding the right kind of après-ski

Not all après-ski is the same. In fact, a lot of it can be disappointing if you find yourself in the wrong resort. So here are few rules of thumb by which to steer yourself.

• Austrian après-ski is the best. But even so, it's not universally brilliant. If you want the real deal, go for a resort with a reputation for it, such as St Anton, Saalbach, Solden or Mayrhofen.
• Italian resorts tend to be lively only at the weekends - unless, like Sauze d'Oulx, they attract a big contingent of Brits.
• Lots of the purpose-built French ski resorts suffer from being broken up into 'villages'. This means there are never enough people in any one of them to generate a real buzz. So avoid resorts such as Courchevel, Les Arcs, La Plagne and Tignes which were built according to these concepts. (They do, however, have plenty of places for a quiet drink - though the bars are often small and quite rudimentary). Resorts which have grown into big towns, such as Val d'Isère and Chamonix, are much better.
• If you want sophisticated cocktails, then aim for a resort with an upmarket reputation - St Moritz, Lech, Verbier, and Zermatt all do a great line in cool bars for grown-ups.
• Beware of the bar with the widescreen TV. Useful for catching up on the scores back home, but an atmosphere-killer.
• If the idea of après-ski appalls you, go for a small resort with a family-friendly reputation.

A word of warning about your travel insurance

One important point to note is that most ski and snowboard insurance policies have specific exclusions for accidents caused by excessive alcohol or drug consumption. If you were to hurt yourself after a night out on the tiles, your cover may be void.

This almost certainly applies during the evening itself - unless you can either show the drinking was totally unrelated, or there are other circumstances that apply (for example, someone spiking your drink). It may also apply if it can be shown that any accident suffered on the slopes the next day was directly caused by your drinking the night before.

Follow our great advice on getting the right gear and lift pass.

Gearing up for a ski holiday isn't as hard as it seems. You only need to buy a bare minimum of ski equipment - and the rest can be rented, if you can't borrow it from friends or family. Check out the full list of what to bring, below.

How do I know if my ski boots fit?

The first time you put on a pair of ski boots you won't believe how clumsy they are. But despite what people will tell you, they don't actually need to be uncomfortable. The feel you should be looking for is that of a firm handshake, but not a bone-crunching one.  Ski boots need to fit snugly, or else they won't communicate the movements of your legs and feet to the skis, but if they're too tight it quickly becomes counter-productive. You'll be in too much agony to be able to concentrate on what you're doing.

What ski equipment to take with you

• Skis, boots and poles. For your first ski holiday, you should rent these when you get to the resort. Expect to pay £40 to £100 all in, depending on the resort. Snowboarders should rent their gear in the UK if they're heading to Italy or Eastern Europe, where snowboarding culture isn't as well established and the rental equipment scarce.
• Ski jacket and pants. If you don't know anyone who can lend these to you, you can rent them from companies. Search online for assistance and also check if your chosen ski holiday company can assist you.
• Ski goggles. These are essential, but not expensive. A basic pair will cost £20-£30.
• Woolly hat. You probably have one of these already!
• Gloves. Woolly aren't sufficient because they won't keep out the wind. Expect to spend £20-£30.
• Base layer. Otherwise known as 'thermals'. These will keep you dry, and therefore warm.
• Fleeces and jumpers. You'll have these at home. The secret to staying comfortable on the slopes is to layer up, between your base layer and jacket. Carrying a rucksack means you can strip off when you get too hot.
• Sunscreen. Anything less than SPF 20 won't do.
• Protective equipment. Adult skiers don't need protection on their first ski holiday, because they're not travelling fast enough (most resorts require children to wear helmets, which can be rented in the resort). Snowboarders should invest in some body-armour right from the start, because they can fall over spectacularly on their first day. Invest in wrist guards, a helmet, and a pair of padded shorts (hard plastic pads are better than soft foam ones) - and do it before you go to the mountains so you're not chasing round the resort trying to find a stockist on the first night of your holiday and paying higher prices.

Your lift pass

Some ski resorts will allow you to use the lifts on the nursery slopes for free, so you may not need a lift pass for the first few days of your skiing holiday. Check before you buy one! If you do need to open your wallet, make sure you're buying only the basic pass. Many resorts have, over the years, clubbed together to offer joint passes, which allow better skiers and snowboarders to access a wider area. But these passes are more expensive, and you won't do them justice in your first week.

Insuring your equipment and lift pass

One of the benefits of ski insurance is that you're covered if you lose your rental equipment, or if it's nicked - which is not an unknown, especially if you stack it outside a busy après-ski bar on a village street. However, do ensure that you have read the terms and conditions of your policy to ensure you are aware of looking after your equipment, what to do if items are lost or stolen, the levels of cover for any individual item, and any relevant excess that would need to be paid.

It's also worth checking out whether your policy will cover you if you have your lift pass stolen or you lose it. With some passes costing in excess of £100 for a week, it's well worth having this precious item protected. After all, it's your access to the slopes you've been so looking forward to.