My wife and I are traveling to Switzerland during the first week of March to celebrate 15 years of marriage. We are planning two days in Bern, Lucerne, or Lausanne. Then we will take three days in a ski area. We are intermediate skiers, and want to also see the Alps. We are leaning towards Wengen and the Berner Oberland, but Zermatt and the Engadine are also in the mix. Being confident that there will be good snow in early March is a plus, but it seems that Europe is getting significantly more snow than usual this season. We enjoy natural beauty, architecture, and good food. Nightlife is not terribly important for us. We would welcome recommendations and advice re locations.
Posted by
Long Beach, California, USA
3391 posts
Have you considered the 4 Vallees area? It's spectacular and it's a much more extensive area to ski with all levels of runs. Hundreds of kms of groomed trails over 6 resorts all linked by a network of gondolas. It's amazing and, personally, I think it's far better than Zermatt which is expensive and touristy. Not that this area isn't expensive but you get A LOT more for your money and it's so spread out that you can have entire runs entirely to yourself. Verbier is the most "see and be seen" resort in the group. Nendaz is more family oriented. Mont Fort has the highest bar in the Alps. La Tzoumaz is really nice because you can ski down, to back up to the top, then ski down to the Verbier side. It's a great place to ski!
Posted by
Twin Cities of MN
5581 posts
Of the cities you mention, I by far would pick Lucerne. It's gorgeous, right on a lake and river and in the mountains. I am a skier though I didn't ski in Berner Oberland. It looked like it'd be wonderful. I am a big fan of that spectacularly scenic area. Sad to say, I wasn't a huge fan of the food options in Switzerland. Restaurants are pretty pricey there. If you have an apartment type facility in BO, you could cook your own meals. The Coop grocery stores are fantastic.