Switzerland is one of the top destinations for skiing holidays. Its Alpine resorts, extending all the way along the mountain range, combine spectacular scenery with premium hospitality to make your ski break a truly memorable one. With an amazing range of activities and facilities at each resort, there’s always something for everyone.
You can enjoy a day on the slopes followed by a night of entertainment, cuisine or relaxation. Swiss skiing resorts tend to feel more traditional than their French or Italian counterparts, as they have grown up naturally around existing towns and villages. Many are linked together by fast and efficient transport systems as well as ski lifts, making it very easy to move between them if you like a change of scenery or if you want to try out more challenging slopes.
A Quick Guide to Choosing a Resort
There are many factors to consider when deciding which resort to go for. The first is probably your party members’ skiing strengths and abilities. Resorts such as those at Zermatt and Wengen are good all-rounders, geared towards both amateur and professional skiers alike, and will have a range of pistes for nearly all abilities.
The Verbier resort is more for the intermediate and advanced skier, so includes more difficult runs and some challenging off-piste terrain which is sure to keep more experienced members of the group occupied. For absolute beginners, the excellent ski school at St. Moritz offers lessons in skiing and snowboarding for both adults and children. These can be taken in groups or as one-to-one tuition. Keen snowboarders can enjoy the excellent snowparks and halfpipes at Flims Laax.
How much Snowfall will there be?
Another important factor to consider is the predicted snow cover at your chosen destination. Whilst most of the resorts have reliable snowfall in the winter months, it is definitely worth checking the snow reports beforehand. For guaranteed snow cover, the resort at Saas Fee is an excellent choice due to the particular environmental conditions there which usually provide deep snow between November and April.
For those who are going for the night-life and other non-skiing activities, another thing to think about is what sort of atmosphere you’re looking for.
The resort at Arosa is a perfect choice for families as it has a relaxed ambience and offers many extra activities such as sleigh rides, winter walks and curling. For a more glamorous feel, the resort of Gstaad has a good selection of nightclubs and restaurants, whilst Nendaz, with its frozen lake and snow garden, is particularly good for children and also has an excellent range of non-skiing activities such as bowling and paragliding.
If relaxation is more your thing, the excellent spa hotels at Scuol and Interlaken are the perfect choice for a bit of pampering.
If fine dining is going to be a big part of your holiday, Zermatt has over thirty top restaurants to choose from, whilst Saas Fee, just to the east, boasts a revolving restaurant at the top of Mount Allalin. From there you can enjoy a delicious meal whilst taking in the breathtaking scenery and views of the spectacular blue glacier beneath. Most of the Swiss resorts have an abundance of restaurants to choose from, so you’re bound to find something to suit any palate.
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Working with Verbier ski accommodation provider verbier.co has given Simon Barnett a detailed insight into a number of Switzerland’s leading resorts. He understands that this is one of Europe’s skiing hubs.