My Favorite Undiscovered Ski Towns in Austria + Switzerland

Just two hours from the Zurich airport in Switzerland, just across the border in Austria, lies the little town of Lech. It’s easy to get to and a perfect location for family getaway skiing. I wouldn’t recommend it for a honeymoon destination, but it’s set up perfectly for families. Your hotel is right on the slope, and your ski teacher can meet you at your doorstep. Your kids can learn to ski IN AUSTRIA from some of the best skiers in the world in a secure and safe environment, and you can have fun too. And when you’re done skiing, there’s sledding at night. It’s heaven for kids—a snow-covered playground in the Alps where children can just be children.

Lech is a very European ski destination. The hotels are all half-board, which means breakfast and dinner are included and everyone usually sits at the same table. It’s a real community experience and gives you and your kids a chance to meet other families.

They’re really into their schnitzel in Lech. It may be the best schnitzel in the world (you can decide for yourself when you visit), and they take their strudel very seriously. You get a small portion of food for dinner, and then a strudel that’s bigger than your head, drizzled in hot vanilla sauce. They do not skimp on their strudel, and your kids will love that.

During my visit to Lech, I stayed at the five-star Hotel Aurelio, where you can ski in and ski out. It’s super chic, has great service, and the spa is perfect after a day of skiing. I also like the Kristiana. To me, those are the best hip, boutique, luxury hotels—with clean lines and fewer families if you’re looking for a quieter visit. But for pure, unabashed luxury, I’d also recommend the Arlberg Hotel, where Prince Charles stays when he’s in town.

If you’re traveling with your family—Oberlech is the place to stay. There are lots of great hotels, and you have to take a tram to get to it, so kids love that. Try The Berg. It’s a great four-star hotel that’s a little more casual but very Austrian.

Andermatt is a lost Swiss village about an hour away from Zurich by car. From 1885, Andermatt was a Swiss Army town. High up in the mountains, it was remote and virtually off the radar. In 2003, the Swiss government closed the barracks and sold the town to Egyptian property developer Samih Sawiris. Samih converted Andermatt into a ski village and was open for business. But Andermatt retains its mysterious atmosphere. Scenes from James Bond Goldfinger were filmed here, and the town avoids too much promotion to keep it off the beaten path and exclusive.

Andermatt is sort of a feeling even more than it is a place. The closest I can compare it to in the U.S. is Jackson Hole, Wyoming: a really big, extreme ski town in an understated town. The lift drops you off at the top of the mountain, and—“see you later!” You can get yourself into a ton of fun. It’s a huge playground, but for adults who are serious skiers. This isn’t a family destination. I suspect that Sawiris will be investing even more of his fortune into this town, but right now, it’s a total skier’s mountain. It’s very real. The majority of people who visit are Swiss, and it’s relatively unknown around the world. Visit while it’s still under the radar!

The only thing to be careful about with Andermatt is the weather. If you’re up that high and it’s snowing, there’s no visibility. That’s why you want to stay at Chedi (see below) because if you can’t ski, the hotel is awesome. But when the sky is clear blue and there’s snow on the mountain—nothing can beat it. It’s a retreat in the mountains. The sky is so blue, the air is so fresh, the powder is so light, and the views are amazing.

I recently attended a three-day conference to exchange ideas on luxury tourism with some of the key leaders in travel. We discussed and debated on what luxury tourism means. There’s a difference between value and worth. I’m a worth guy. I believe in travel that is going to be worth my money and time, not just on value. Experiences and moments and service, to me, are what it’s all about. And at the Chedi Andermatt, it’s all about worth and the experience. What’s important to you? Value or worth?

Chedi is luxury at its best, with over 100 amazing suites. To be able to ride or ski hard on your bicycle holidays and come back to that massive spa—two saunas, two steam baths, two hot tubs—it’s just incredible. I had a vision while I was there, to offer some bicycle tours with a stay at the Chedi for a few days, cycling, and skiing on some unbelievable passes.

At Chedi, you really feel like you’re getting away because it’s not yet a jet-set location…yet.

The thing about undiscovered destinations is that they don’t stay undiscovered forever. Visit Lech, Austria and Andermatt, Switzerland before the crowds come and be some of the first to experience the best undiscovered ski towns in Austria and Switzerland.