Saas-Fee is one of our favorite places. It oozes Swiss charm and the setting is stunning – spectacular glaciers and 4000m peaks surround the place. And good snow is guaranteed, even late in the season: the altitude you spend most of our time at – between 8200ft and 11500ft has no rivals in the Alps.

But we tend to drop in for a couple of days at a time, so the limited extent of the slopes never becomes a problem; for a week’s holiday, it would. Top to bottom there is an impressive 5900ft vertical, but there aren’t many alternative ways down. Keen, mileage-hungry intermediates should look elsewhere, as should experts (except those prepared to go touring). For the rest, it’s a question of priorities and expectations.

What’s Great

• Spectacular setting amid high peaks and glaciers
• Traditional, ‘traffic-free’ village
• Good percentage of high-altitude, snow-sure slopes
• Powerful lift access to highest slopes for year-round skiing