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Courchevel

Prime price range: €12,000psm+

Typical ultra-prime price: €34,200psm

Pistes: 150km

6 day lift pass: €240

Popular with: Russian oligarchs

Courchevel offers access to Les Trois Vallées, one of the largest ski areas in the world, in addition to its own 150km of pistes. It is one of the world’s most exclusive resorts, host to six Michelin starred restaurants. Ultra-prime property here is the highest-priced in the Alps, and popular with UHNWI from around the globe.

St Gervais

Prime price range: < €4,000psm

Pistes: 445km

6 day lift pass: €209

Popular with: Those seeking privacy

With access to Evasion Mont Blanc, St Gervais offers quality powder snow across 445km of slopes. Also enjoying a strong summer season, it attracts visitors to its thermal spa, along with mountain biking, climbing and hiking activities. An affordable alternative to better known Megève.

Méribel

Prime price range: €8,000 to €12,000psm

Typical ultra-prime price: €19,000psm

Pistes: 150km

6 day lift pass: €234

Popular with: Groups

Méribel enjoys strong domestic and broader European demand for residential property. The global spotlight will be on Méribel in 2015, when it plays host to the World Ski Cup finals. The resort offers an array of skiing for every ability, a medium-sized resort, property is priced in line with the region average, suggesting room for price growth as its profile grows.

Verbier

Prime price range: €12,000psm+

Typical ultra-prime price: €22,400psm

Pistes: 202km

6 day lift pass: €294

Popular with: Danish Royal family, Richard Branson

Verbier is the largest resort in Switzerland’s four valleys and offers the kind of entertainment and facilities found in top cities, with a cosmopolitan atmosphere to match. A ‘W Hotel’ recently opened in the town. Big ticket buyers dominate the prime sector, hailing from across Europe, the US and Asia.

Flims

Prime price range: €8,000 to €12,000psm

Pistes: 235km

6 day lift pass: €345

Popular with: Freestylers

The three villages Flims, Laax and Falera together constitute the largest ski area in Graubünden. Attracting young freestylers with its four funparks, Europe’s biggest halfpipe and the first freestyle indoor hall, the resort was until recently only known to the Swiss. In summer, the area boasts 330km of mountain biking routes.

Kitzbühel

Prime price range: €8,000 to €12,000psm

Typical ultra-prime price: €15,900psm

Pistes: 170km

6 day lift pass: €241

Popular with: Prince of Monaco

Difficult pistes, but low altitude and a sunny aspect mean snow can be unreliable – although increased snowmaking has offset this in recent years. Kitzbühel is the most ‘affordable’ of the Alpine ultra-prime resorts for property. Attracting advanced skiers, demand for property is of the type that appeals to couples or groups.

St Moritz

Prime price range: €12,000psm+

Typical ultra-prime price: €28,600psm

Pistes: 350km

6 day lift pass: €302

Popular with: Swedish Royal family

The place to see and be seen, St Moritz is a long established haunt of the world’s rich and famous (Greta Garbo and Brigitte Bardot both wintered here). It celebrates its 150th birthday as a ski resort this year. Hosting numerous events, including the Engadin Skimarathon, St Moritz is the choice for the global billionaire.

Saas-Fee

Prime price range: €4,000 to €8,000psm

Pistes: 150km

6 day lift pass: €311

Popular with: Families

A large and popular resort, with a long season thanks to its high altitude (between 2,500 and 3,500m). An attractive mountain village, free of cars, property on offer here is traditional in style. Popular with beginners, its distinctly Alpine character sets it apart from the competition.

Ischgl

Prime price range: <€4,000psm

Pistes: 238km

6 day lift pass: €226

Popular with: Clubbers

Ischgl, dubbed the ‘Ibiza of the Alps’ attracts a young and vibrant crowd, drawn to the huge number of pistes and regular concerts and events. The nightclub operator Pacha operates a franchise in the resort. Comparatively low prices here make it a market to watch in the coming years.

Taken from
Spotlight: Alpine Property Market 2014-15