SAALBACH, AUSTRIA

Like many Austrian resorts Saalbach-Hinterglemm has a pretty, traditional-style village and very lively nightlife, but unlike many it combines this with a very extensive circuit of slopes on both sides of a valley, and runs are linked by an efficient modern lift system. Its slopes resemble a French resort more than a traditional Austrian one - with the added advantage of excellent traditional mountain restaurants dotted around.

The main downside is the snow. Although it has impressive snowmaking, one side of the valley faces south and these slopes, especially the lower ones, deteriorate quickly in good weather.

Saalbach's après-ski is very lively - and can get rowdy - and is dominated by Scandinavian and German visitors. It rocks from 3pm until the early hours non-stop. There are also large parties of British schoolchildren around at times.

What's Great	What's Not-So-Great
+ Large, well-linked, intermediate circuit with open and tree-lined runs + Saalbach is a big but pleasant, affluent village, lively at night + Both village main streets traffic-free + Atmospheric mountain restaurants all over the mountain + Sunny slopes + Large snowmaking installation and excellent piste maintenance	? Large number of low, south-facing slopes that suffer from the sun ? Not much for experts ? Nursery slopes in Saalbach are not ideal ? Sunny, and busy in parts ? Saalbach spreads along the valley and some rooms are far from central ? Hinterglemm is just a long road with no real centre ? Can get rowdy at night