"When I joined our Italian Cross-country Ski Break as a complete novice, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous. I’d never been on a pair of skis in my life, downhill or otherwise. As the ultimate guinea pig, it’s only fair to share my findings. You will be pleased to know that I had a terrific time as part of this itinerary and while I won’t be winning any races anytime soon, I most certainly had fun learning."

• DO the research. Cross-country skiing can also be referred to as Nordic skiing so try not to get confused by the terminology. They are the same thing! There are two basic techniques to cross-country skiing – classic or skate. On our Italian Cross-Country Ski Break, we only learn the classic technique which is said to be the easier one to pick up.

• DO enjoy the food! Italians have the edge of the rest of Europe when it comes to cuisine, in my opinion. Pasta, thick broths and chocolate tarts are much needed after a day on the slopes. Plenty of creamy cappuccino breaks too, just for good measure!

• DO fall over...as many times as needed! If you aren’t falling over, you probably aren’t trying hard enough. Classic cross-country skiing is all about balance and transferring your weight evenly from one foot to the other whilst keeping a good rhythm of pushing off and gliding forward on the skis. It inevitably means that a few falls are bound to happen.

• DO something different! Whether you’ve only ever been downhill skiing or whether you’ve never been on skis full stop, I can promise that you will have fun no matter what you have done previously.

• DO take time to explore Cogne. We were based in this charming town for 5 days and it’s the hub of cross-country skiing. It has a stadium so you can pick up skills on the flat, which is brilliant for beginners! It also has cafes aplenty, traditional restaurants, and a few outdoor shops.

• DON’T be scared of the skis. They might seem ridiculously skinny compared to chunky alpine skis (skinnier than the width of your foot!) but they will get you from A to B.

• DON’T panic when you pick up speed. ENJOY the speed, as my guide Pascal often said. You won’t need to slalom the descents like a downhill skier but it is surprising how fast you can actually move on cross-country skis.

• DON’T worry about how fast (or slow) you’re learning compared to the rest of the group. Everyone learns at a different pace. Your guide will appreciate that.

• DO have fun! After 3 full days of tuition as part of this itinerary, you will soon realise if cross-country skiing is for you or not. Whether it is or it isn’t, you will definitely get some laughs along the way.