Brandnertal ski resort is close to Austria’s Swiss and Liechtenstein borders and is very much oriented towards family skiing, with skiers under the age of eight skiing for free. The laid-back family-friendly atmosphere is a welcome respite for those wanting to escape the hectic pace of livelier ski regions to the east.

Picturesquely located at 1,037m in the Brand Valley, Brandnertal is a quaint old resort town whose heyday of the 1930s has given way to a more relaxed atmosphere. Reminders of Brand’s 700-year-old history are prevalent around the town, with much of the accommodation being afforded by quaint hotels, apartments, guesthouses and inns.

Modern establishments blend tastefully with the old, and there are plenty of inexpensive cafés and restaurants. Indeed most of Brandnertal resort’s amenities are reasonably priced, which helps explain its attractiveness as a family ski destination. Après-ski is typically Austrian, with plenty of winter parties with bonfire, tea dances, discos, and folklore evenings.

In terms of the skiing, Brandnertal resort has only 36kms of pistes, which cater best to beginners and average intermediates. Better skiers and snowboarders can try going off-piste to challenge themselves. The runs are well linked and kept in good condition if there is sufficient snow, and there are some attractive tree runs back down to the village.

If you get tired of Brandnertal’s slopes, farther down the Brand Valley is the even smaller Burserberg, and the famous Arlberg region and the Montafon Valley are within comfortable driving distance from Brand, offering attractive daytrips. Zürich in Switzerland is 150kms away, providing a bad weather getaway.

The ski season is from Christmas to Easter. February and March are the pick of the months, while mid-January offers the best discounts. Brand is easily reached by rail or road, with Zürich being the main transportation hub for the region.