The Austrian Alps © Fr Antunes

One of the world's top holiday resort destinations with guaranteed good snow and a very traditional atmosphere, Zürs is a quiet, exclusive haven in Austria's Arlberg Mountain Range, just 10 minutes from St. Anton. Often paired and associated with nearby Lech, Zürs is more exclusive with a number of four and five star hotels to accommodate visitors, of whom many are royalty and celebrities, in style and comfort. This resort is surrounded by truly spectacular scenery and is a refreshing antidote to the massive resorts.

Zürs offers some of the best skiing in the world, well renowned by a number of professional magazines and is often frequented by return visitors and experts who simply cannot get enough. Groomed runs cover 72 miles (117km) of the large park, and there is a good selection of beginner and intermediate runs. Off-piste skiing will appeal to advanced skiers, and when conditions are good there is even heli-skiing on offer. Zürs is connected to Lech, Oberlech, and Zug through a system of lifts and the White Ring, a popular circuit of red and blue runs. The ski school is fantastic, however visitors are advised to book in advance as they have been known to be booked out all season.

Holidaymakers will find that the shopping at Zürs is not as good as at Lech and nearby St. Anton although all skiing needs are easily taken care of.

There are some great restaurant choices for visitors on holiday in Zürs, although price tags are quite high and some do not accept credit cards. Zürserhof is one of the best and reservations are essential during peak season; Hotel Lorunser serves some of the best food in Zürs, but is only open to hotel guests. The restaurant at the Hotel Hirlanda serves excellent Austrian food, and Restaurant Chesa has modern European fare.

There is not too much to do après ski with only a small disco open at the Edelweiss hotel and perhaps the most popular venue Vernissage at the ski club Alpenrose. A holiday in Zürs is more about being focused on quieter, private evenings, and early mornings back on the slopes.

In the general area, including Lech, it is possible to go snowshoeing, sledding, hiking, ice skating and even play tennis or squash.

Zürs is very exclusive and therefore very expensive.