Gstaad, Switzerland

With its wide array of luxury accommodation (both hotels and chalets) it's no surprise that Gstaad attracts wealthy visitors from around the world. It has a superb alpine setting and a wealth of leisure activities.

Gstaad is a car-free resort and its main street is lined with smart shops, cafes, galleries. For non-skiers numerous facilities, including fitness centre, sport centre, walking paths, curling, skating and tobogganing.

The ski area is surprisingly large although split into separate areas and it suits intermediates who are happy to cruise the miles – moving gracefully from one lovely mountain cafe to another. The skiing here is not fast and furious and suits those looking for a more leisurely swish down the mountain. The views are great and the resort is easy to get to from Geneva international airport. This makes it popular with the world’s jet set clientele.