Among Austrian resorts Kitzbuhel is the most commercial, glamorous and expensive. The beautiful alpine town, which dates back to the 9th century, has remained fairly unspoilt. In the winter you will hear the jingle of bells as a horse-drawn sleigh is pulled through its cobbled, traffic-free town centre. There is an extensive and varied skiing area offering excellent skiing and snowboarding both on and off-piste, but be prepared for a lack of snow in places. Due to the low altitude the lower slopes are rarely open. If the skiing in Kitzbuhel doesn't tire you out, the nightlife certainly will. The atmosphere is bright, boisterous and fun and doesn't stop till the not-quite-so-early hours. This is also Austria's winter entertainment capital and attracts performers from all over the continent throughout the season.

 Skiing: Kitzbuhel hosts The Hahnenkahm, the most treacherous and famous of all of the downhill ski races, and the publicity has made it one of the world's most famous ski resorts. The Kitzbuhel ski pass includes the neighbouring but lesser known resorts of Kirchberg, Aurach, Jochberg, Ashau and Pass Thurn and offers one of the largest and most diverse ski areas in the Alps with almost 100 miles (161km) of groomed slopes, a large cross-country ski area and plenty of off-piste. Kitzbuhel's problem is the snow reliability - the resort is under 800m and the highest skiing is at 2,000m, so skiing to your chalet or hotel door is rarely possible and the season is short. The resort attracts a large number of euros from nearby countries, as well as throngs of holiday skiers and ski bums from the UK and Australia.
Shopping: Kitzbuhel is a shopper's paradise, with dozens of upmarket shops displaying their wares very appealingly in the quaint Tyrolean village stores. Window-shopping is almost as satisfying as buying. Ski shops dominate, of course, but there are plenty of designer boutiques, jewellery stores and souvenir shops. Prices are steep, but discounts are sometimes offered to those carrying guest cards from local hotels. Visitors can also enquire at their hotels about shopping excursions into Italy.
Restaurants: Kitzbuhel has a wide choice of restaurants both on the ski slopes and in the resort and the quality is generally excellent. Of all the mountain restaurants, the Panorama Alm is most worth a visit due to its spectacular views. The Hotel Ramushof can also be skied to and its restaurant is first class and worth the expense.
Nightlife: Kitzbuhel is a very lively resort with plenty of bars and nightclubs to suit all pockets and nationalities. For many Brits, the evening begins early at the The London Pub - the famous après-ski bar renowned for its lethal cocktails. Three nightclubs are located in the town square - Take 5, Olympia and The Royal and all stay open until dawn. Visitors wishing to try their luck on the tables will find the Casino Kitzbuhel at the Hotel Goldener Grief. New Year is a great time for a skiing trip to Kitzbuhel with one of the best fireworks displays in the Alps.
Activities: Even non-skiers can find plenty to do in Kitzbuhel, like ballooning, curling, hang-gliding, skating, hikes, snowmobiling or even just playing billiards. There is gambling at the casino, art galleries to browse, concerts to attend, movies and an alpine zoo. Highlights of the winter season are the Christmas Market and New Year's Eve party. The town is also well known as a spa centre and is full of health farms, while the public baths in town offer a multitude of amenities including sauna, steam bath, swimming, and massage. The picturesque, historic town itself offers plenty to see with its medieval houses, stylish shops and beautiful old churches. Visitors can also take short excursions to the museums in the area, which include the Cable Car Museum at the Hahnenkamm Mountain Station, the Farmhouse Museum, Mining Museum and Ski Museum.

Lech Together with neighbouring Zürs, the two resorts in the Arlberg mountain range are Austria's most exclusive. Lech boasts a reliable annual snowfall that attracts those (who can afford it) to this charming little hamlet, who look forward to skiing as much as the energetic nightlife, often spent mingling with celebrities and royalty.
Skiing: Although easily as popular for just hanging around the base, this part of the Arlberg Range, together with Zürs, boast some of the best intermediate skiing to be had in Europe. Snow reliability is one of main contributing factors to the success of this resort which, at 4,840 ft (1,450m) offers skiers and riders the chance to ascend to almost 9380 ft (2811m). The ski school is particularly good however often fills up early in the season with a number of private tutors being booked all winter. Lech is also home to the famous White Ring, which takes skiers on something of a tour through the area boasting some spectacular scenery, and is also the longest ski race in the world.
Shopping: Most of the shops are to be found on the Haupstrasse that include major winter sports stores such as Sportalp, Sporthaus Strolz and Pfefferkorn, which sell all the latest branded equipment as well as souvenirs and trinkets and traditional Austrian clothing.
Restaurants: There is an appetizing amount of dining to be enjoyed in Lech. Numerous restaurants with a variety of cuisine include Achtele, Gasthof Alpenblick and s'Revier for regional delicacies; Italiener, Don Enzo Due and Charly's for Italian food and for something different try Fux for delectable Asian cooking, and even some jazz in the evenings.
Nightlife: The après ski in Lech is world famous and many staying in Zürs venture out to sample some of the atmosphere. The Tannbergerhof is a great place to spend the night dancing away to oompah music, alternatively there are the two hotels Burg and Sonnenburg, which attract mixed crowds for teatime. The fancy Hotel Krone sees the well-dressed clientele as well as the Hotel Arlberg, both with some great discos.
Activities: In the general area, including Lech, it is possible to go snowshoeing, sledding, hiking, ice skating and even play tennis or squash.
Negatives: Lech is a very exclusive resort, and therefore quite pretentious and expensive.

Saalbach and its close neighbour, Hinterglemm, have united in the picturesque Glemmtal Valley to form one of Europe's liveliest ski resorts, which is particularly popular with Dutch, German and Scandinavian visitors. The valley sides offer numerous ski slopes, but its low altitude means that snow conditions can deteriorate quickly. Nevertheless the resort has excellent snowmaking equipment, which ensures good coverage in the sunshine. There are more than 125 miles (200km) of ski trails linked by lifts, mainly suited to intermediate level skiers. There is, however, a two-mile long (3km) expert mogul descent on the north facing Zwolferkogel, and more than 60 miles (97km) of off-piste terrain. The pretty Tyrolean style villages are fairly new, but the ambience is traditional with chalets and sleigh bells adding to the charm.
Skiing: Saalbach has a circuit of 200 kms of prepared pistes, easily accessed with an excellent network of modern lifts. The north side of the valley offers a variety of beginner terrains, dotted with T-bars. There are eight ski and snowboarding schools in the area, so tuition is readily available. Intermediate skiers are also well catered for with an extensive area beyond the Reiterkogel. Schattberg Ost, Schattberg West and Zwolferkogel offer some challenging north-facing slopes, with the north face of the Zwolfer providing a harsh black run. Nearby Leogang offers a remote, demanding ski area, reached from Vorderglemm by the Schonleitenbahn gondola. There are some spectacular off-piste powder runs on the north side of the valley. The resort is also extremely popular with snowboarders, with a massive terrain park reserved for boarding at Hinterglemm, and some half-pipes at Saalbach itself and neighbouring Leogang.

Saalbach - Austria

Shopping: Hinterglemm is the best place to shop in the valley because its stores are frequented more by locals, who are averse to paying tourist prices. Saalbach's pedestrianised High Street has several attractive boutiques and shops, but prices are higher. Good buys to browse for are Austrian sweaters, hardware, cookware and kitchen gadgets. Woodcarvings make good souvenirs and art pieces with Alpine motifs are also popular. Of course there is a great selection of ski gear on offer. If you happen to be around at the end of the season, you are likely to pick up a few bargains, as skis and other equipment go on sale.
Restaurants: Rustic Alpine inns serving up hearty local fare rest on the slopes, while the valley towns bristle with restaurants, cafes, ice bars and delicatessens (for those who enjoy a 'do-it-yourself' meal). Most of the inns open from breakfast time, tempting skiers with delicious Austrian pastries and coffee. Hearty lunches and dinners focus on a variety (close to 300!) of local pork and sausage dishes, including schnitzel. The local establishment that is reputedly the best of the lot is the historic chalet, The Pfefferalm, located on the Reiterkogel blue run.
Nightlife: So hectic is the après-ski in the Glemmtal Valley that it is surprising anyone can muster the strength to hit the ski slopes in the morning! Copious amounts of excellent beer and schnapps flow in the mountainside inns and village ice bars, along with some rollicking music and good-natured 'gemuchtlikheid'. Dancing on the tables is expected and drinking anthems with cries of 'prost!' echo everywhere. Most parties get going even before the ski lifts close at 4pm, in the chalets above the villages. One of the most popular mountain bars is the Goasstall (The Goat House) on the Hinterglemm side, which features indoor and outdoor bars, and live as well as artificial goats that hit the dance floor among the glitter and fake snow. Another favourite is the Spielberghaus, which is reached by snowmobile along a four-mile (6km) track through the forest. Revellers are then transported home on high-speed sleds. In the villages there are a dozen options for late-night fun at hotel bars, piano bars, beer halls, clubs and winestubes. Discos get going at around midnight and keep the pace until the wee hours.
Activities: Apart from skiing and snowboarding at all levels, the twin resort villages offer all the expected winter sports activities. Choose from snowmobiling, snow-shoeing, ice-skating, tobogganing, ice-climbing and snow-hiking to name just a few. Children are exceptionally well catered for. The historic Austrian city of Salzburg, birthplace of Mozart, is just an easy hour's journey away and makes for a great excursion. The valley also boasts a host of activities that are on offer all year round, like archery, fishing, horse riding, paragliding and golf on a nine-hole course. Folk evenings, brass band concerts and street painting are scheduled in the summer months when more than 249 miles (400km) of walking trails open up in and around the valley.

St Anton is a top destination for British skiers and snowboarders, attracted by both the first-class skiing and the beer-fuelled après ski sessions. Along with its neighbours, Lech and Zürs (only a short bus ride away), St Anton offers extensive skiing for intermediate and advanced skiers but is possibly not the best choice for beginners or non-skiers as lower slopes can get crowded and there are not many off-slope facilities. The resort, which sprawls along the bottom of a narrow valley, is a Mecca for ski-bums attracted by the excellent off-piste runs - the best Austria has to offer. St Anton's south-facing slopes can get slushy by the end of the day, particularly in spring, and partly for this reason the collection of bars on the slopes above town get packed by around 3pm. The most famous is the Krazy Kangaroo, which has live bands and is filled by Austrian and English revellers dancing in ski boots till the bar closes, when the short run home in the dark becomes a challenge to some.
Skiing: The St Anton is the largest resort in the Arlberg ski area, which also includes Lech, Zurs and the village of St Christoph and St Jakob. The combined Arlberg ski area offers hundreds of miles of groomed runs and ski trails for skiers and snowboarders. The most prominent point in St Anton is the Valluga summit from which runs one of the best and longest intermediate ski slopes in Europe, taking skiers all the way down to the valley floor. There are many more choices for intermediate and advance skiers in Lech and Zurs, which also offer some of the best off-piste skiing in Europe. It's not easy to ski from St Anton to Lech or Zurs and most people take the bus, which leaves regularly from the town centre. Due to their north-facing slopes and position at the end of the valley, Lech and Zurs offer uncrowded slopes and reliable snow. The best skiing for beginners is in St Christoph or Rendl. There are two ski schools in operation, run under the same umbrella, both employing hundreds of instructors and guides with a solid reputation for excellent tuition and service. St Anton is also known for having some of the best snowboarding terrain in Austria, with a vast array of natural obstacles, steep powder fields and drop-offs providing for thrilling free-riding. Gampen, Kapall and Rendl are recommended for boarders; Rendl has a terrain park.
Shopping: Shopping along St Anton's pedestrianised main street is a little touristy, although quite laid-back, with plenty of cosy bars and cafes where shoppers can rest their feet. Shops tend to be expensive, but the quality of merchandise is good. There are numerous skiwear and ski-equipment outlets stocking the name-brand goods, but also good jewellers, music stores, antique stores and clothing boutiques. It is well worth checking out the local arts and crafts work, particularly traditional woodcarvings.
Restaurants: Dining out in St Anton is a diverse and satisfying experience, with everything from burgers to vegetarian meals on offer at establishments that keep cooking until well after midnight. For five-star dining try the luxury hotels like the St Antoner Hof or Alte Post. Traditional Austrian fare is sought after by active skiers wanting a hearty meal. Some of the best is served up at the Sporthotel, where a variety of sausages can be savoured with an accompaniment of potatoes and sauerkraut, at reasonable prices. Game and dumplings also appear on most local menus. Fondue can be enjoyed at The Montjola, one of the oldest restaurants in the area.
Nightlife: The club and bar scene in St Anton is very lively, and less expensive than some of the other European ski resorts. The 'in' places are the Krazy Kangaroo Bar on the mountainside, and the Moosewirt Bar, both usually packed with skiers and snowboarders after a day on the slopes. Alcohol flows freely to the tune of rock and hip-hop. The night is long at the numerous other discos and clubs, but for those seeking something more sedate there are quieter, sophisticated bars in the hotels.

Activities: Skiing, snowboarding and partying are the main activities on the agenda at St Anton, but the town does offer some alternatives. The Championship Hall convention centre offers spas and swimming facilities, and there are indoor sports facilities for racquetball, bowling and tennis. A unique open-air heated pool on the wooded mountainside with its playground and waterslide is extremely popular in the summer.