Hi all,
Family of 4, 2 teenagers want to ski a little in switzerland. Average skiers, any recommendations would be appreciated. Zermatt for a week seems the easy answer. Best stay being hotel or farm? Just searching for anything for a week, i guess.
Thank you,
Darren
Don't think they have farm stays in Zermatt, it is a very high end resort. There are many big international ski resorts in Switzerland, and lot more smaller less expensive areas. I'll be there in January.
The biggies:
Zermatt
Berner Oberland (Grindelwald, Wengen, & Muerren)
Davos-Klosters
St Moritz
Engelberg
Andermatt
Crans-Montana
Verbier
Flims-Laax
Are you set on Switzerland? As Sam notes, even within that domain, there are lots of
choices. But there are lots of options in France, Austria, Italy as well.
Assuming you are from the US, I would say that your primary reason for going to Europe
to ski is not skiing. It's for the ambiance, food, wine, and, if you work it right, cost savings.
Given climate change, the snow conditions by mid-March in the Alps can be variable.
I will say while the views in Zermatt are iconic and everyone wants to ski into Cervinia to
say they did it, the lift infrastructure is more sparse than you would expect.
I don't have an answer to your question, but I strongly suggest that you finalize your booking by the end of 2024. Zermatt ski resorts fill up very quickly.
I would add, do you have Epic or Ikon passes that give skiing in certain resorts?
Great info folks. I do not have my epic pass just yet for this year. I will look into that asap. thank you!
Epic pass is good at Crans-Montana and Andermatt. Also with some retrictions at Verbier.
https://www.epicpass.com/region/europe.aspx?
We booked our upcoming 2025 stay in Zermatt back in March, after returning from Grindelwald. Zermatt is one of the most expensive and exclusive ski resorts in the world. It has been a dream of my husband to get here, and he has been skiing for decades, and does black diamond runs all the time in the U.S. Previously he skied in Austria--much cheaper.
Average skiers will spend too much money in Zermatt, and not take true advantage of the long and challenging runs. Skiing a "little" sounds like you should just go to Colorado or Utah, and then become a better skier who wants to ski "a lot" before spending great amounts of money in Europe.
Zermatt is a member of the Ikon pass, not the Epic.
Husband ordered his Ikon pass in the late Spring--they are being shipped out now. They are usually sold out by December. He expects to ski in the US starting in November, which is the very best way to get use of those expensive passes--in other words--use them as much as possible!! Two years ago he had the EPIC pass, and we spent a week in Vail.
Europe expenses: High airfare, pricey hotels, ski rentals, insurance, train tickets or car rental, without a pass- daily lift tickets which are often non-refundable even if there is bad weather (windy). Yes, US ski resorts are also expensive, but you can always eat pizza, ha-ha, versus a delicious and costly fondue.
Why not consider Canada-- Tremblant is small and cheaper, Whistler is grand and also cozy--you just have to decide how much you will splurge on ski vacations. Every year we must allocate thousands of dollars--and that is just for one skier in the family!! (I am a cruising fan.)
Best wishes!
