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🤣 The bias is real! It seems unlikely, but by applying the criteria (Eat, Drink, Fun, X-Factor), I really struggle to find a better value. There may be more beautiful mountains (though it's hard to beat the UNESCO Dolomites). There may be better snow (Verbier, Val Thorens, the Gurgles, all of the Rockies and Japan). But you won't find better Après. Better food (fondu and röstie are great, but schnitzel, gröstl, and kaiserschmarrn?). Grüner Veltliner, Blaufränkisch, Jägertee, Birnenschnapps. Anyway, I admit that I am biased towards the nice things in Austria. For reasons I hope are obvious. What is your top 5?

Is your primary goal powder or cords? Beautiful scenery? Long descents (biggest vertical)? Short or no lift lines? Great value (new/beautiful lodging for good price; cost of lift tickets)? I specialize in in the Alps because it's the best all around ski experience from all perspectives (except for the powder). Pow hounds will never be happier outside of N. American and Japan. It's simply a climate fact

Goldknopf looks amazing! Great choice. Here are three great recs for lunch on the mountain. 1. Gostner Schwaige - www.seiseralm.it/en/experiences-culinary/culinary-delights/restaurants-bars/rid-aeba87c57b5d1471797e84a56025d318-g-gostner-schwaige.html 2. Sanonhütte - www.sanon.it/index_en.html 3. Tirler Alm - hotel-tirler.com/en/seiser-alm-restaurant/ Extra: Saltner Schwaige - instagram.com/saltner.schwaige/ Gotta eat local stuff - start the day with a Calimero. For lunch, get the dumplings, tutres (local raviolis), and sip Lagrein (red) and Gewürztraminer (white). Finish off with a Kaiserschmarrn.

@ thank you for those tips. Yes Goldknopf does look amazing. Had to book it almost 12 months in advance. Cheers 🥂🍷

Cheers 🥂 I think your approach is perfect for anywhere in the Alps. To minimize the hangover, I recommend a glass of water in between drinks. I prefer Badoit and Vöslauer.

Maybe ... there is a good chance. I'm a total sucker for long descents, fast new lifts, Kaiserschmarrn, Jägertee, and insane après ski.

Lol. I don't think you need to worry about Americans raising prices. Competition in the EU keeps prices affordable. Americans tend to be good spenders and tippers while on holiday, so good for the local EU economy.

@ there‘s plenty of local tourists so respectfully please stay home 🤝

Very happy you enjoyed the video. I still encounter some T-bars in Europe, but they are, happily, far less common these days. In general, lift technology in Europe is much newer, faster, and more efficient than in the US. Some t-bars are necessary because they service remote places or sit on moving on glaciers (e.g., the Gandegg T-bar on the Theodul glacier connecting Zermatt to Italy - it's 4km long, which is longest in the world). Even in Laax-Flims-Falera (also CH) - a place known as "snowboarding heaven" - you'll find several t-bars, but today you can bypass many of them (still need it on the Vorab Gletscher though). The Swiss have proven they have a higher tolerance for T-bars and not spending more $ on infrastructure unless they must. If you want the best, most modern infrastructure with the fewest T-bar encounters, I recommend Austrian and Italian (Dolomiti Superski) resorts. The Austrians deserve massive credit for investing in their ski infrastructure. Try Ischgl, Sölden, , the Arlberg, Kitz, and Saalbach. The Trois Vallées and Val d'Isere in France also have excellent ski infrastructure, though I think it falls short of the Austrian bar of excellence. Still, I can't recall ever needing to take a single t-bar in the Trois Vallées. If I need to be corrected, I'm sure the group will chime in.

@@eatdrinkfun Thank you very much for the detailed reply, I will take a much closer look at the mountains you mention in your reply. All the best,

This is the best recommended list I've seen. I could actually get behind this ... Bur first (1) our friends in France should offer a more convenient way to book chalets - the real estate agencies are sometimes less than helpful; in Austria and Italy you tend to deal directly with the family/owner; and (2) our Swiss friends need to spend a little more money on replacing old lifts from the 60s and 70s (especially the "T" bars). Also, parts of Zermatt need a little TLC, and the bus stop needs to be relocated to the base of the Sunnegga funicular - not 200 meters away. For now, Austria leads the way in lift tech - heated seats and high speed bubbles for everyone!

Danke!

Merci beaucoup!

Kitzbuhel ❤

Thanks! As to your question, there are many variables - depends on your goals (atmosphere, budget, snow preference, ability, etc.). The views, verticals, left tech/infrastructure are generally outstanding across the Alps. Happy to offer a quick complimentary consultation - info @ eatdrinkfun . com. - just to point you in the right direction 🎿 - I have a strong personal preference for Austrian après ski vibes (especially with no kids in tow) and the food/wine component in the Dolomites (UNESCO World Heritage site because it's so beautiful).

Thanks!

🤣🍻 - what is your top 5? And isn't Denmark one of the happiest places on Earth? I was married there ... it's like Vegas if you're not from the EU.

Herzlichen Dank!

You are correct , sir. If you are an off-piste machine, you listed all the places I would recommend. There is a reason why the Freeride Wold Tour is in Verbier. But some of us just like ripping fresh lines followed by a glass of Groovy, a jausen board with Speck and Kren, some loud aprés, and an evening massage and sauna ... 😂 BTW - if you make it back to the Arlberg you should look into a guide. The Pastor Müller back country loop looks beautiful ...

Thank you for the thoughtful feedback! In fact, Les Trois Vallées, Val d'Isere, and Zermatt were in my top 10. But, as the title indicates, this analysis focuses on many non-skiing variables - the food, drinks, après, luxury, and value (an important one). Given that framing, bang for your buck, Austria and Italy generally perform well. Taking your comment to heart, I believe another video is in order - one that focuses specifically on the best resorts for size, diversity, elevation (snow surety), etc. I'd appreciate your input🙂 I sincerely enjoy skiing in Switzerland, but the après scene is nothing like Austria or France. I also shake my head in places like Verbier where multiple tow bars from the 1970s are required to traverse the resort (Combatseline to Thyon). Build a chair lift? I think they can afford it.

Corvara in Badia is in Italy

I think we would agree that, if possible, skiers and riders should visit every country in the Alps (don't forget Slovenia!). If you were to use my criteria (eat, drink, fun, x-factors), which resorts would you recommend? How do they match up from a value perspective (cost x. quality) compared to Austria and Italy? I'm always looking for new places to visit!

Laax is coming! Next video.

Yes Flims-Laax-Falera, Verbier 4 Vallées and many more nice and cosy Swiss resorts are missing. And the best thing in Switzerland: The slopes are less crowded than in Austria

@ yeah slopes are dead in the week here. You don’t get many people doing week long Saturday - Saturday ski holidays. Most mountains here are filled with Swiss locals and they work during the week.

There is a technique to winning at this game - I've been contemplating this topic for a video. At this point, I actually prefer the "flowing water" approach in Europe - it just moves faster, provided people fill the seats and are willing to ride with strangers. I love talking to strangers. They sometimes become clients ;D

Smukke steder. Og et godt publikum på Underbar.

For me, I agree due to the ease of getting to the top in the gondolas but also have the good infrastructure at the top, with many people, where I felt and people might prefer, the other locations I went to, you had to go away and generally with few people around, isolated. Which is good but I felt "safer" in the structure of Zermatt.

Everyone has a favorite! I love Zermatt. But the village needs some TLC. I've had some of my best ski days on the Cervino side. Unique, stunning scenery, great food, but a bit overpriced for what you can get in many other resorts. Also a very geizig approach to public transit in the village - free buses should stop at the base of the lifts, not taxi stands.

free buses do stop at all 3 bases, and they run every 10 mins.

@@nl7002 Yeah, sort of. Getwingbrücke bus stop is closest to Sunnegga - a 150m walk / 5+ min in ski boots. BUT the taxis are immediately at the entry/exit, of course. Why ride for free when you can pay?

Thank you! Working on it right now ...

To each their own! I know you might pass, but if you ever get the chance to attend a Hahnenkamm Abfahrt (Downhill) World Cup race, you may change your mind about Kitz. It is a special place (when it snows 😜). Superb infrastructure, very nice hotels, and I am happy to recommend some great places to eat if you ever return!

You are correct - I'm an American! I enjoy skiing in Switzerland - Zermatt, Davos/Klosters, Wengen/Berner Oberland, St. Moritz, Verbier, ... some of the most beautiful scenery, excellent pistes, and best cheese, hands down. My evaluation accounts for other things like value, infrastructure, and après. I really believe one gets the most value in Austria and Italy. Exceptional lodging, food, and experiences for considerably less cost in Switzerland (and France). I also find my hosts in Austria and Italy to be very open, kind, and generous. I am curious: what is your own experience in comparing these factors between Switzerland and Austria/Italy? Of course, if you're Swiss, I apologize if I hurt your feelings. That was obviously not the intent. Rather, just to identify places where you can experience the best skiing, food, drinks, parties, and luxury for the best price.

🤣 How do you pronounce it? The German way (Jäger vie Säge) or the Austrian way (Jäger vie Sage)? Pardon for the Österreicher dialekt 🇦🇹

Ich auch.

I like it! Cheers! Salute!

Kalimera, kalimera! No offense taken - everyone has their preferences. You can see where my personal loyalties lie (Lech for quiet luxury, St. Anton for hard skiing and parties - once disconnected parts of the Arlberg, now connected). I totally understand why many folks are mystified that F and CH don't appear in my list. Both countries host truly world-class and stunning resorts, obviously, but in my analysis the Austrians and Italians deserve to dominate the top 5 - the value to luxury ratio, breadth and diversity of terrain, beauty and charm, more modern ski infrastructure, convenience, etc. Absolutely true: it is super hard to find nature as beautiful as it is in Chamonix, Val d'Isere, 3 Vallée, the Berner Oberland, or the Engadin. Please, please everyone ski them if you have the opportunity. But while Val d'Isere is paradise, Tignes looks like a Soviet prison. And I find the whole French real estate agency intermediary thing inconvenient and often poorly managed if you rent a chalet or apartment (also poor value), especially compared to Austria, Germany, and Italy. Regarding infrastructure, why must one take three to four button lifts/tow bars to traverse the resort from Verbier to Thyon - you're Swiss, you're rich, please spend some cash and build a modern chair lift this century. As you can see, not everyone agrees! But regardless of what you think of this list, the absolute bottom line is that if you ski in Europe, you'll eat exceptionally well, drink amazing beverages, and ski a lot more terrain with epic verticals that offer much prettier and more dramatic views (IMHO) than in the majority of N. America - all for a fraction of the price. The point: ski in Europe. Eat well. Drink better. Always have fun.

Hey thanks! I get a lot of push-back on not including French or Swiss resorts in the top 5. Trust me, both F and CH have exceptional ski resorts - but I have my personal preference, and value and convenience play a significant role in my grading scheme. It is super hard to find nature as beautiful as it is in Chamonix, Val d'Isere, the Berner Oberland, or the Engadin. Please go ski them if you have the opportunity. But sometimes these resorts F and CH resorts lack charm (Tignes), convenience (the whole French real estate intermediary thing if you rent an apartment vs. Austria, Germany, and Italy), and value/infrastructure (why must one take three to four button lifts/tow bars to traverse the resort from Verbier to Thyon - your Swiss, you're rich, please spend some cash and build a modern chair lift). As you can see, not everyone agrees! The bottom line is that if you ski in Europe, you'll eat exceptionally well, drink amazing stuff, and ski a lot more terrain that is arguably a lot prettier and more dramatic than in the majority of N. America - for a fraction of the price.

@@eatdrinkfun Thanks for replying mate. I'm Australian, not American, so my perspective is different. As far as I'm concerned St Anton is first and top of the list any day of the week, but personally I am primarily concerned with the actual skiing: the height and steepness of the mountains, the diversity, breadth and variety of the terrain, and the depth of the snow. Everything else is icing on the cake, although the apres scene is a close second, and I'm sure we will both agree that you can't beat St Anton for that. I've skied in the French Alps and Pyrenees, and seen the Swiss side of Avoriaz, though nothing more, but though I've always been curious about Chamonix, I've never gotten there yet. That's why I was asking. So that was the gist of my question: how do you rate the actual _skiing_ at Chamonix, NOT considering drink, food, fun, luxury or value? To put you in the picture, I don't care for luxury in any way shape or form, and used to habitually camp in a tent in the snow.

@@GwirCethI wish I could give you more recent advice, mate, but it's been quite a long time since I was last in Chamonix. I helped a client a few years ago who was dead-set on spending Christmas there in a chalet. Chalet was fantastic but the weather did not cooperate at all for them that December - a bit of a let down with only one run operating (but full price). It sounds like you are a serious skier - and because of that I think you would probably get a lot out of Chamonix. It is a great place for skiers who like black pistes, steeps, and off-piste skiing. The 22km long Vallée Blanche is an iconic glacier run that we should do before all of Europe's glaciers are gone. Take a guide. I have not done it yet, but it's on my bucket list. If you like steeps and black slopes, you should love the Grand Montets area. Chamonix attracts the hard core and the mountaineers. It has only 80 slopes and 120km of groomed terrain. If I were generally recommending a resort that has more breadth and diversity, decent powder, good intermediate touring, then I would suggest Megève. Apologies that I'm not a better Chamonix resource for you. For that, I'm not sure you'll find anyone better than Charlie Boscoe (he's a Kiwi and he literally wrote a book about Chamonix, updated in 2022) - www.charlieboscoe.com/about

@@eatdrinkfun You had me at "black pistes, steeps and off-piste skiing". That's exactly what I'm looking for, and that's the sort of stuff I've always associated with Chamonix, it's got that reputation, ey. When I was a skibum living in a dogbox I used to have a picture on my wall of Corbett's Couloir in Jackson Hole, and that's another one that I want to get to one day. In recent years I've been skiing in Japan, and I absolutely love the country, the people, the culture, and the language; and the powder, of course; but I find the lack of high mountains and steep terrain to be mildly disappointing. At this point in time we're slowly working our way around the Japanese resorts that sound the most attractive on paper, and it's enjoyable. But so far I haven't seen anything that can hold a candle to the European Alps in terms of actual proper steep mountainous terrain. I'll check out that Kiwi bloke and his book. A tour combining Chamonix and St Anton is on the cards sometime in the near future. Thanks for that mate.

J'adore la France. Et la Suisse. En fait, Val d'Isère, les Trois Vallées et Zermatt étaient les prochaines destinations sur ma liste. Les calculs me donnent l'air partial. Peut-être que les données sont vraies. Mais je ferai aussi une vidéo de ski pour ces superbes stations.

@@eatdrinkfun bel esprit, et belle vidéo. Bon travail

You're on, my friend! Appreciate the invite and the kind comment. I began my ski journey as a 4-year-old Rote Teufel. Going back is always nostalgic, and so much has changed too. Appreciate the insider track on more places to eat and drink - always a priority. Kitz sets the bar very high.

Lol! In fact, I once visited Ischgl and never even got to the pistes. We started at the Kuhstall. Then Trofana. Then Schatzi. My friend and I ended up in some place the name of which I can't recall. At 6am we were kindly asked to leave. The parking attendant woke us up at 9:00 so that we could pay for our space for the day. I love Ischgl. :-) And the smuggler's run - always a highlight.

Super list. Love them all. But why don't the kind people of Verbier build some chair lifts to traverse the domain? Taking three to four button bars (some of the longest of my lift) seems a bit cheap and obnoxious. Some of the best fresh pow skiing I've ever done in Europe, though.

C'est énorme et magnifique. 3 Vallée has something for everyone - even two La Folie Douce franchises. I also highly recommend, for sure.

Interesting. I find using Google Maps helpful with the topo feature enabled. All the ski resorts show up - red dotted lines are the lifts. But you won't glean much information re: snow surety. In general, the best indicator is elevation. Villages that begin above 1200m are going to be more snow sure. And if a resort has glaciers, you know you can get high enough in early and late months to still enjoy (Sölden, Hintertux, Stubai, Kitzsteinhorn, Tignes, L'Alpe d'Huez, Zermatt, Saas-Fee. As for off-piste, I find it wonderful in Austria, France and Switzerland. You can ski right next to the groomed piste or head out over the edge. Best to go with a guide or a local. In Italy it's more complicated (some recent controversy with people going off piste beyond their ability without a guide - in the Dolomites it's technically not allowed unless you have a guide, though lightly enforced). Just accept that the powder found in N. America and Japan does not exist in Europe. You may have some big snow days (mid-thigh level), but the consistency and weight of the snow is very different. If you're an extreme skier - Chamonix and Verbier are made for you. But if you just like getting some fresh, the resorts mentioned above in AT, FR, and CH will make you happy.

I learned that from Eugen Scalet - chef of the MooserWirt. He's seen quite a bit in 40+ years of après. Podcast interview here: www.eatdrinkfun.com/podcast/edf/4/eugen-scalet

German here. Austria is nice. But Switzerland and France have the most breathtaking ski resorts, by far. The most incredible nature, the longest descents and the best food.

Die andere Seite ist immer grüner. Very hard to beat Trois Vallée, the Berner Oberland, and Val d'Isere. In fact scenery alone, I can absolutely see the position. They all ranked very highly. And while I adore fondue, raclette, and Ovomaltine, I find the overall value in Vorarlberg, Triol, and the Dolomites difficult to beat. What are your top 5 in France and Switzerland?

​@@eatdrinkfun Zermatt goes up to 3800 meter and 4 vallees up to 3300 both skiresorts are bigger than all of the ones the are in this video. Alsoles Ports du solei and les 3 vallees are both snowsafe and big resorts and you also didnt put dolomiti super ski in and via letta all of them are bigger than the resorts in fucking austria.

​@mauriofcb Zillertal super pass, man. 🤷🏾. People from work went to Via Latte and Saalbach, after going to Mayrhofen, Hintertux and the rest of the Zillertal Valley. They ended up wishing they'd gone back to Zillertal.

@@1Flyingfist If your priority if great skiing and après fun, I think you're on to something here ...

A challenge for snowboarders in the Alps is the flats, especially for beginners. There are areas where you just have to know you must keep up your speed - because there's as a slight flat or uphill portion ahead. But I ski with snowboarders all the time (sometimes I give 'em a short tow), but once you know where the flats are, you're generally fine.

Huntington Beach. I am shocked. ;-)

I found beer at the Parc du Champions! I thought that venue was very well done - free and open to the public, controlled traffic so it didn't get too crazy or packed. Only 1664 on tap, but I'll take it.

Glad you enjoyed it. I owe you more ...

BTW - shameless plug, but I provide trip planning consulting services if you want assistance. www.eatdrinkfun.com/customadventures . Just helped a group organize a week in Italy. Cheers!

For the locations in this video check out (1) Stanton Park in St. Anton (Rendl mountain station) - www.stantonamarlberg.com/en/winter/outdoor/freestyle-ski-snowboard - and (2) over 19 different snow and fun parks across the Dolomiti Superski - www.dolomitisuperski.com/en/Plan-ski-holiday/Snowpark . BUT, for what many think is the best park for snowboarders in Europe, get to Laax (connected with Flims Falera) in Switzerland - ride "the Beast" , the biggest pipe on the continent - www.flimslaax.com/en/outdoor-activities/ski-resort/freestyle-ski For casual slopes, it's Alta Badia all day long. Though the Arlberg has equally chill groomers that go on for days. Normal to spend 20 minutes cruising on long windy runs from top to bottom without needing a lift.

Thanks, mate. Just trying to fill a void and share some legit goodness.

C'est la vie 😜

Welcome aboard! This will happen - hopefully sooner than later.

Those are the best days!

Thank you! Me too. So delicious and still not as well known as they should be.

Thank you for the kind words! Please let me know if there are any specific ski, wine, or travel topics you'd like me to explore.

@@eatdrinkfun Now I know where to go! And will certainly shout out for guidance when defining where and when to go... Seen most of your mountain reviews, awsome work. Hope we can organiza a group in a near future.