The first video shows the avalanche transceiver tester that is located in the main street of Stuben Am Arlberg – I have been to very, very many ski holidays resorts over the last few winters and this is a rare sight – Stuben really does offer the best off-piste that I have found and is serious about as well!

The second video is a snow report and a bit of a profile on Stuben and the skiing there.

Stuben powder – image © ineedsnow.com

Snow – let’s start with something that goes beyond the subjective, snow fall histories. Zurs am Arlberg is rated as having the second highest snow fall accumulation of any ski region in the Alps, only beaten by the Bregenzerwald ski area of Warth-Schrocken located just in the next valley. Statistics are banded around for Stuben claiming it has the 3rd highest snow accumulation of any resort in the Alps – for anyone visiting between December and April any year they are almost certain to see near unbelievable snow depths around the village. The same can be said for Lech and St Christoph whilst the Valluga peak above St Anton ensures that the ski area is often deep in snow.

Lech am Arlberg & Arlberg gets snow – image © ineedsnow.com

Resorts – St Anton is a true alpinists resort with hard core riders and hard core après skiers, St Christoph is stylish and upmarket, Stuben is really atmospheric, Zurs is ski-in, ski-out, whilst Lech has style, fine hotels and real refinement. Amongst the resorts there is almost something for everyone

Zurs am Arlberg ski-in, ski-out luxury - image © ineedsnow.com

Ski terrain – St Anton steeps, Lech – Zurs and St Christoph intermediate cruisers or Stuben off-piste. The variety of skiing in the Arlberg is absolutely superb and really covers the entire spectrum of abilities, not all comparably sized ski regions can boast that.

St Anton steeps – image © ineedsnow.com

OK, the downsides……

Costs – the Arlberg can be more expensive than many other Austrian ski regions. That said I skied in Courchevel 1850 last year and saw lunchtime menus in mountain huts that featured dishes at over €100 and bottles of wine for €9000. We had a client contact us recently saying they bought 2 glasses of orange juice (200ml and not freshly squeezed) in 1850 for €32 – nicht gut!

Crowds – popularity leads to crowds and whilst Meribel pistes (in The 3 Valleys) can seem like Liverpool Street at 17:30, the Arlberg does have some issues with crowded pistes just above St Anton and traffic on the Lech roads. To get away from either head to Stuben.

Glacier skiing – one thing that the Arlberg does not have is glacier skiing and whilst it is not for everyone it does extend the ski season hugely. That said there are Austrian resorts that are 750m higher than Stuben that don’t come close to their snow fall levels.

Generally though I think I have to say that I have yet to find a ski region offering more than the Arlberg. I will keep skiing and looking though – feel free to add your favourite region…..

Bregenzerwald - the snow capital of Europe – image © ineedsnow.com

With snow records for the accumulation in both a resort and a ski area that tops Europe, a stunning, stylish and authentic way of living and one of the best welcomes in the Alps – Bregenzerwald really does have it all. The snow record is staggering; I skied in a large ski area this weekend in Bregenzerwald and there was not a snow cannon in sight. The top lifts are not high by some standards but the amount of natural snow the Bregenzerwald ski resorts get make them top of the Alps in snow accumulation charts. The villages are truly immaculate, we stayed in Au and there was a really unique feel to the resorts and their architecture. They are not Swiss in feel, nor traditional Austrian but consist of immaculate small units blending old and modern in a fantastic style. And the welcome we got was great and universal, ‘guten tag’ from all staff and locals we met and when I returned to a chair lift later in the day today, the lifty who had given me a piste map some hours earlier had a wave for me from his office.

Après ski in Bregenzerwald is tame compared to some Austrian resorts, whilst those wanting huge lift linked areas can find better options. But if you need snow for scenery, to learn on or to charge through off-piste Bregenzerwald is hard to beat. If you need top quality accommodation in unassuming and immaculate villages then go to Bregenzerwald. And to top it all in these hard times, a 500ml glass of beer was just €3,10 in the local bars. One plug – the staff, the food and the accommodation at the Hotel Adler in Au were really outstanding.