Resort height: 1304m
The mountains
St Anton's fame rests upon its awesome off-piste skiing and snowboarding - rated by some (including Olympic gold medallist Franz Klammer), as the best in the world. The north face of the Valluga is the real challenge, and any attempt to descend it without a guide is tantamount to suicide.
You don't have to be an Olympian to ski in St Anton, however. There's plenty of gentler off-piste skiing to be tried, for example over in the Rendl sector of the lift system, and one British-run school, Piste to Powder, is purpose-built to help ambitious intermediate skiers make the transition from groomed snow to the deep and fluffy stuff. Meanwhile, on-piste, any skier worth his or her salt will want to try the Fang race course, and the bump run off the top of the Kappall chairlift down into the Mattun valley.
Finally, don't forget that the ski resort of Lech-Zürs is a short bus ride away. It has the highest snowfall average of any large Alpine resort, so if the powder is skied out in St Anton, it's worth making the journey to look for powder there.
Getting there
You wouldn't want to drive to St Anton from the UK, and the train journey is an over-nighter. But flying is easy. Aim for Innsbruck and you'll find the transfer takes little more than an hour. Friedrichshafen airport is about 90 minutes away and Zurich airport 2 ½ to 3 hours.
Rating: 
10/10
Après-ski
St Anton is the party capital of the Alps - thanks in large part to the Mooserwirt, which sits on the ski slopes just above town, and bears witness, every evening, to the kind of party you'd expect to see on New Year's Eve. Hundreds of skiers and snowboarders pack the place, and dance like maniacs for two hours, before the DJs turn the decks off in time for dinner. Then comes the tricky part - getting back down into town in one piece. In the aftermath, people don't really care what they eat, but if you're after a memorable meal, then jump in a cab to the Arlberg Hospiz-Alm at St Christoph to sample its great cooking and legendary wine list.
Rating: 
5/10
Non-skiers
There's a fantastic new wellness centre in St Anton, and some good restaurants to visit by gondola on the mountain, but ultimately this isn't a non-skier's destination - unless, by non-skier you mean “someone who's too hung-over to get out of bed each morning”. Anyone in search of good shopping and a more balanced atmosphere should jump on the train to Innsbruck for a day out.
Rating: 5/10
Cost of living
St Anton is one of the most sought-after resorts in the Alps, and you'll pay a premium to ski here. Provided you're an advanced skier or snowboarder, and/or a night owl, you'll think it's money well spent.
Rating: 
8/10
Attractiveness of the resort
The centre of town is pretty and pedestrianised, and makes an attractive place to wander. In fact the whole St Anton resort is low-key and attractive, although it lacks the visual splendour of Zermatt or Chamonix.
