Resort height: 1100m
The mountains
For years, Laax has combined its ski area with the neighbouring town of Flims, and together they provide 220km of intermediate-friendly cruising, over mostly rolling terrain. Both resorts are fairly low, however, at 1100m, and the lower runs are often slushy at the end of a mild day. So to get the most benefit, you should plan your skiing or snowboarding holiday in Laax for January or February when the snow is likely to be at its best.
Midweek, the upper ski slopes are very quiet, and their altitude (rising to 3020m) means they're snowsure too. Laax is a good place for the wobblier kind of skier or snowboarder to come and build their confidence.
But it's the Crap Sogn Gion terrain park which really marks out Laax - home to a superbly-shaped half-pipe, and all kinds of other jumps and features (there's another half-pipe up on the glacier). It's one of the best in the skiing and snowboarding world, and regularly holds top-level competitions. Even when it's just the young guns of Zurich at play there, the displays of acrobatic skill (and courage) are mind-boggling. (There are also lots of easier features in the park on which newcomers can practise.)
Getting there
It's less than two hours from Laax to Zurich and Friedrichshafen airports. Public transport from Zurich is good, although you have to ride the bus for the final section (and knowing where to get off can be an issue in a resort as spread out as this).
Rating: 
8/10
Après-ski
During the week, the nightlife in Laax is pretty muted: but at the weekend it rocks - courtesy of the huge sun terrace at Crap Sogn Gion (busy from about 3pm) and, later on, in the bar at the super-trendy Rider's Palace. There's a vast club downstairs too - which holds a maximum of 1,500 people (the Rider's Palace is also a B&B, but sleep on a Saturday night is out of the question). Eating out in Laax is restricted mostly to the hotel restaurants: try the Posta Veglia guesthouse for regional specialities (and fiery local spirits).
Rating: 
5/10
Non-skiers
Laax has a less one-dimensional feel to it than most ski resorts, especially in the neighbouring town of Flims - home to some grand old nineteenth century hotels, and an interesting little art gallery. Some of the hotel spas are amazing too, and well worth sampling (though you must be prepared to go naked in the saunas!). There's toboganning, snow-shoeing and cross-country skiing on offer on the mountain, too.
Rating: 
7/10
Cost of living
Midweek especially, Laax can be cheap. Though if you're here for the party scene at the Rider's Palace, you could easily spend a lot of money on Friday and Saturday night.
Rating: 
6/10
Attractiveness of the resort
The mountains aren't quite as craggy or steep as they are elsewhere in the Alps, so the Laax scenery is a little disappointing. The resort is spread out, too - but at least most of the buildings are cute and traditional.
