Leysin

One of the smaller resorts within the Gstaad area, Leysin is found above the town of Aigle. It offers around 60km of marked pistes, with most of the skiing suited to beginners and intermediates. There is still some pretty challenging off-piste to amuse advanced skiers. Boarders flock to Leysin in January for regular snowboard championships, while the resort has a reputation for attracting budget holidaymakers and students. This can make an ostensibly small resort pretty lively in the evenings, even though it isn't the cheapest of destinations. The ski schools for skiers and boarders alike are adequate.

A reasonably attractive resort, one of Leysin's problems is that it is quite spread out. This often necessitates a bus journey from accommodation to lift, but the views of the Rhone Valley are superb. There are several decent non-skiing activities to keep people amused off the slopes. Overall, Leysin is a good place to learn, but more experienced skiers would be better off taking advantage of the other resorts nearby for greater challenges. If you get a 6-day pass, you can even access Crans-Montana and the Portes du Soleil.