Châteaux d'Oex

Closely linked to Gstaad, but with its own separate ski domain, Château d'Oex features in many of the brochures. Consequently, it gets more overseas visitors than its illustrious neighbour. It is well known for its charm and unspoilt Alpine character. There are many restaurants and bars, plus a few clubs, but on the whole the après-ski remains pretty mellow.

Snow cover is excellent for a fairly low-lying resort. The skiing is not extensive and is best for intermediates, but you do have access to Gstaad and 4 other domains under the Gstaad 'Superski' pass. Should be enough to keep you from writing postcards for a while at least. Although the system is well organised, with trains and buses running regularly, your ski itinerary is dependent on a fair amount of travelling. Whilst queuing is no problem, you might get fed up having to lug your skis onto a variety of public transport networks.