WENGEN, SWITZERLAND

Wengen is a great area to ski for intermediates. The town is traffic-free and has a few nice bars to stop off in after a day on the slopes. Getting to Wengen by train took 4 hours and entailed a few changes. However, the rail system is very efficient and easy to navigate. Lovely views on the journey.

Apres Ski: 3/5

Alexandra Heaton

It's great to finish a holiday feeling young, particularly when you are 64. Before this holiday I was beginning to feel my skiing days were over - not in Wengen. I was skiing with a chap who was coming up to 80 and still getting down the slopes. Wengen seems to attract the older skier and is thus very laid back and relaxed. The slopes are uncrowded and lift queues when I went (late January) non-existent. It isn't cheap but represents good value for the discerning skier (preferably red run competent). The mountain scenery is second to none. I thought the hotel a bit noisy, however that was mostly because of the total silence of the village at night magnifying every noise in the hotel. The food was OK on the first night, when they were very busy, but steadily improved as the week went on until the sumptuous buffet on the last night. The Falken is up a steep hill and carrying skis up to the hotel is character-building, but is on the side of piste 36 so you can virtually ski to and from the hotel.

Apres Ski: 4/5

Nigel Harrison