FAMILY TRAVEL: The Good Family Hotel Guide 27. Hotel Victoria, Kandersteg, Switzerland

Mood

A homely, four-star family hotel in a chocolate-box Swiss village. It is run by Casi and Muriel Platzer, whose children, Casimir and Maewa, are never far away.

Accommodation

There are 78 rooms, all with mountain views (weather permitting) and private bathrooms. Child-listening monitors are available.

Activities

The full gamut of alpine activities. In summer: hiking, rock-climbing, mountain biking, horse riding, parascending, white-water rafting. In winter: cross-country and downhill (limited for experts, excellent for beginners) skiing from the doorstep, tobogganing, skating, dog-sledging and ice fishing. There's also an indoor pool, children's playroom and table tennis. Children can be looked after by nannies Monday to Friday in a free kindergarten.

Refuelling

The hotel's Ritter restaurant serves classic Swiss meals. There is a daily, supervised children's supper serving sensible portions, beautifully presented. Once a week, a cheese fondue is served at the hotel's mountain hut, reached by cable car.

Fellow guests

Many regulars, mostly British and Swiss families, returning in both summer and winter.

Sample price

A week's stay booked through Inntravel (01653 629010), with half-board accommodation, flights from London City airport to Berne, and transfers, costs from pounds 542 per person. Under-twos stay free, two to fives pay 20 per cent of the holiday cost, six to 11s 55 per cent, and 12-15s 80 per cent.

Address

Hotel Victoria, Kandersteg, Bernese Oberland, CH-3718, Switzerland (tel: 00 41 33 675 8000, fax: 00 41 675 8100)