Plešivec - Abertamy

The hardware and the grooming win people over. Czech skiers call this one of the most modern areas in the country: high-capacity chairlifts keep lines short, the whole hill is covered by snowmaking and floodlights, so evening skiing is on offer. The runs are wide and easy to read, and groomed daily. Reviewers also single out easy access and parking, polite staff, rental with a test centre, the ski school and sensible lunch prices.

Size and sameness are the weak points. Almost everything is aimed at beginners, a confident skier runs dry by lunchtime, and freeriders have nothing at all. Snow reliability raises doubts, since this modest ridge cannot cope without cannons. Apres-ski is essentially absent, there are few places to eat on the hill, and lodging nearby is thin. Some visitors also fault the grooming standard, toilets closing early and brusque lift attendants.