Looking Beyond the Big Names in the Alps

Owning property in Verbier, Lech or Val d'Isere is often seen as the height of Alpine prestige. However, as prices rise and regulations vary, buyers are finding better value in neighbouring resorts. The big names are famous, yet the resort next door often shares the same ski area and lifestyle but without the same prices. Across France, Switzerland and Austria, we compare some of the Alps’ best-known resorts with their lesser-known neighbours.

Saas Fee to Saas Grund

Saas Fee is undoubtedly one of our most popular resorts not only in Switzerland but also the Alps. Less than a 5-minute drive and 250 metres below, however, is the village of Saas Grund. Smaller, quieter and more residential, Saas Grund offers exceptional value with larger plots and more square metres for your money. Unlike Saas Fee, Saas Grund permits cars, making train and airport transfers much easier door-to-door.

The village has fewer day visitors, giving it a more authentic and close-knit community feel. Saas-Grund also has its own Hohsaas ski area, reaching up to 3200m and offering high-altitude, uncrowded slopes. Even though the resorts have separate lift systems, the two areas are well connected by car or ski bus and are covered under the same Saastal lift pass. Enjoy Saas Fee’s glacier skiing and apres and then head down into your peaceful home in Saas Grund.

New on the market we have a fully renovated hotel, Primavera. The prices start at CHF 460,000 for a two-bedroom apartment and go to CHF 1,750,000 for a 5-bedroom penthouse. The development comes with an on-site restaurant as well as spa facilities great for using after a day spent exploring the valley.

Verbier and its neighbours

Verbier is another name synonymous with status and luxury, but properties can be very expensive and non-Swiss residents find it harder to buy here. Often a Swiss permit is required, although, we do still have some properties on the market for all nationalities.

Nearby resorts such as La Tzoumaz, Veysonnaz en Les Collons can be great alternatives within the 4 Valleys and close enough to Verbier for you to still enjoy the attractions of the village. These resorts are not only lower in price range, but they also have a larger selection of chalets for those wanting their own detached property rather than an apartment.

La Tzoumaz is a serene little mountain village up at 1500m with excellent connections to Verbier via the Telemixte lift. The village is filled with many ski in, ski out chalets from luxury 5-beds to smaller, traditional chalets with high levels of privacy. Fortunately, all nationalities can buy in La Tzoumaz with no restrictions at all.

Boasting breathtaking views over the Rhone Valley, Veysonnaz is a family-friendly resort. The village has many excellent restaurants and for a lively evening as the night goes on, Verbier is easy to reach. You could buy a luxurious 3-bedroom apartment such as Ski Heaven 9 in Veysonnaz for under 1 million CHF but a similar property in Verbier would cost CHF 3 million.

Les Collons has majestic mountain views (including the Matterhorn!) with immediate access to Switzerland’s largest ski area. Les Collons is situated at an altitude of 1800m and is just a 20-minute drive away from Sion, making it highly accessible from the airport. With south and east facing views, the properties here are often bathed in sunlight and rent exceptionally well. 

Alpe d’Huez to Les Deux Alpes

Both Alpe d'Huez en Deux Alpes are international, high-altitude resorts just across the valley from one another. With base elevations of around 1860m in Alpe d’Huez and 1650m in Les Deux Alpes, they offer reliable snow conditions and extensive ski terrain. However, their atmosphere and property markets differ meaning that each appeal to different types of investors.

Titled ‘the island in the sun’ Alpe d’Huez has an unbeatable record of sunny days per year with impressive and far-reaching south facing views. The village is traditional and the skiing goes up to 3330m! Families invest here both for the successful rental pool and the second home opportunities.

Only 45 minutes away across the valley is Les Deux Alpes, which offers pistes up to 3600m and summer skiing. Les Deux Alpes boasts Europe’s largest skiable glacier and is the second oldest ski resort in France. The village is flat making it convenient to walk around with all shops and restaurants within easy access. We have newbuild apartments for sale as well traditional chalets offering large plots for privacy and a remote, peaceful feel. Prices here tend to be lower than the prime spots of Alpe ‘Duez.

Val d’lere to Tignes

Sharing over 300km of slopes across the Espace Killy, Val d'Isere en Tignes are world-famous. While both are well-known, Val d’Isere often receives more attention thanks to its chocolate-box style and premium pricing. Since both resorts provide identical ski access, investment decisions are driven by budget, architectural preference and rental strategy rather than terrain.

Val d’Isere is among the Alps’ most affluent resorts, offering Michelin-star restaurants, luxury boutiques, and an established high-end rental market. For buyers with more modest budgets or those seeking a sportier, more functional environment, Tignes is an attractive alternative. Its Grande Motte glacier reaches 3656m, providing summer skiing and a longer season. The higher base and purpose-built layout make the village convenient with all amenities including ski schools on hand. Most properties benefit from ski in, ski out access, with modern developments offering luxury amenities as well as larger chalets at a fraction of the cost of Val d’Isere.

Lech and its nearby villages

Hoewel Lech is a wonderfully traditional Alpine resort it does have strict limitations on property purchase. Whilst we do still have an impressive array of properties here, sometimes clients find it easier to buy in towns such as Stuben and St. Anton.

Sharing part of the 300km of slopes of the Arlberg, Stuben is located 1410m high and is one of the more tranquil resorts. Although only 15 minutes away from the centre of Lech, Stuben offers true peace and tranquillity in the mountains. It is an old town with traditional chalets such as Chalet Valentina, but we also have a brand-new development Nexus Suiten benefitting from spa facilities, hotel services and professional rental management. 

St. Anton is just as well known as Lech, and again it can be tricky to buy here, but when opportunities do come up (such as Chalet Nadia), clients get very excited. St Anton is lively, fun, stunning and is again part of the mighty 300km of the Arlberg.

Kitzbuhel to Kirchberg

Kitzbuhel is deservedly a big name in the Alps as it boasts heritage, prestige and high-end properties. The town has a very special medieval charm and brings visitors every year for the impressive skiing, annual Hahnenkamm race and luxury boutiques. However, prices are high and the exclusivity may encourage clients to look around.

10 minutes away by car is Kirchberg which offers direct lift access into the same KitzSki area as Kitzbuhel but at lower prices. The village has a livelier, more relaxed feel and gets an astonishing 180 days of sunshine. For buyers wanting the Kitzbuhel ski domain without paying high prices, Kirchberg is a great choice.

Further along the same ski area, St. Johann offers a quieter, more residential setting with traditional chalets and strong value relative to Kitzbuhel. We even have a very rare second home chalet available here for owners wanting complete flexibility and control.

For more information on any of the resorts listed above, or for general advice on properties in the Alps, do contact us here and we would be more than happy to assist.