Sarıkamış

Snow and emptiness are what visitors rave about. The dry crystalline snow gets compared to the Alps, riding powder between the pines is described as the highlight, and the pistes are called wide, long and deserted. The lifts are modern, the detachable chairs handle the traffic easily, and queues are effectively unheard of. The price comes up again and again: a day pass costs only a few euros, making the trip vastly cheaper than an Alpine one.

Criticism starts once the skiing stops - there is essentially no apres-ski or evening life, and the night ends at the hotel. Plenty of people find the terrain too flat, and snowboarders complain about run-outs where you must unstrap and push. Piste safety also draws comment, with a shortage of markers and protective netting. The resort is small and remote, so services are limited, and a few reviewers add that fresh snow can turn sticky.