Melchsee - Frutt

The praise goes to the learning terrain: a broad, straight piste carries beginners from the snowplough through stem turns to parallel skiing, with enough change of gradient to keep improvers occupied. Reviewers rank it among the most family-friendly areas in Switzerland. The high plateau holds snow well, and the off-piste stays untracked longer than elsewhere because almost nobody comes here for it. Prices also undercut neighbouring Engelberg.

Logistics take the criticism: reaching the slopes involves a long walk in ski boots, and queues can leave you hiking more than skiing. The chairlift stops constantly, the lifts are slow in general, and the drag lift across the valley is called tedious. Artificial snow is often either frozen hard or piled in chunky traps. Between the walking and the waiting, the plateau is not recommended for families with very small children.