Malbun

The praise is for a calm, family-sized resort without crowds: no lift lines, free parking and a space still available on a Sunday. The infrastructure is called first-rate, with the heated, hooded Täli six-seater singled out. The spread of blue to black pistes is enough to fill a day for intermediates and stronger skiers alike. Logistics help, since Zurich is about an hour and a half away, and there are warm words for the cleanliness and the welcome from locals.

Size draws criticism: reviewers state plainly that two days is the limit before it becomes repetitive. The second recurring gripe is food, since there is effectively one mountain restaurant, on the Sareis side, and everyone converges on it at lunchtime. Prices are considered high for non-residents, with Malbun noticeably dearer than Austrian areas of comparable scale. Strong wind also shuts the lifts.