Ise, tell us about Switzerland.

Geoff Smith wrote:Ise said:

"Verbier, Nendaz... and the PdS ( less naff than France but still naff).

Rather a sweeping generalisation, by inference, methinks, about France. In my experience there are many French resorts that are far from being unstylish or outmoded ( or 'naff' in the current jargon) . Switzerland, by and large, is a great place to ski. I have had good holidays there in five resorts I have also very much enjoyed skiing in several locations in France.

I think that it is a pity that , on this list, there is a tendency on the part of some subscribers to do down some countries as far as the quality of skiing, or of ski resorts, is concerned. My experience tells me that there are, of course, pros and cons for particular resorts anywhere in the world but that generalisations about countries need to be treated with considerable caution.

Keep smiling,

Geoff Smith

I think it's a pity there's a tendency on your behalf to fall guilty of exactly what you're accusing me of. I was referring to the PdS which is naff no matter what side of the border you're skiing.

Before you criticise me regarding comments on ski stations I'd be sure you've read them, understood them and considered I might have visited rather more of them than you have either in France or Switzerland. Even more, I'd be 100% sure you're not doing exactly what you accuse others of. That hobby horse got saddled up rather too quickly.

I happen to choose to live and ski in Switzerland, I've lived in France skied there, worked there, owned properties in French ski stations, I've lived in Southern Germany and skied each weekend in Austria. Uninformed I'm not.

Bandit wrote:ellistine perhaps you might wish to consider a short break in a Swiss resort this coming winter, before embarking on a full booking in the future. Lots of Swiss resorts are geared up for short breaks, and the transport links are generally excellent

We were thinking about visiting Hintertux this summer but perhaps Zermatt may be a better option. One of our party is a non skier which makes the short summer skiing a nice option. How far away are the summer pistes from the hotels generally?

Ok Ise, I apologise for misunderstanding your comment about France. It was not clear to me that you were only referring to the French side of the PdS in your earlier post.

Just for the record I have not criticised the skiing of particular countries. As I have said before I have enjoyed skiing in Austria, France and Switzerland. When asked about specific resorts I have simply given my opinion of pros and cons. I have also occasionally put in a good word for France when it has been under attack.

I have also suggested, from time to time, that, in my view, it is preferable to stay at relatively high resorts these days because of the less certain snow conditions. I remain of that opinion although I acknowledge that it is a debatable proposition. and that the problem can be looked at from several different perspectives.

I have not and would not dream of implying that you are uninformed. On the contrary I find most of your posts contain lots of interesting information.

Best regards,

Geoff Smith

ellistine wrote:
We were thinking about visiting Hintertux this summer but perhaps Zermatt may be a better option. One of our party is a non skier which makes the short summer skiing a nice option. How far away are the summer pistes from the hotels generally?

For Zermatt, the cable car, runs up from the village in several stages and takes around 40 minutes. Add on to that time, the distance from your hotel or apt. I will be staying in one around 3-5 minutes walk away. As Zermatt is car free, many of the hotels transport guests using electric taxis.
There is access for non skiers to the highest point, as the journey is by cable car. Naturally the resort has many activities on offer during the summer.
http://bergbahnen.zermatt.ch/e/peaks/

bandit wrote:

ellistine wrote:
We were thinking about visiting Hintertux this summer but perhaps Zermatt may be a better option. One of our party is a non skier which makes the short summer skiing a nice option. How far away are the summer pistes from the hotels generally?

For Zermatt, the cable car, runs up from the village in several stages and takes around 40 minutes. Add on to that time, the distance from your hotel or apt. I will be staying in one around 3-5 minutes walk away. As Zermatt is car free, many of the hotels transport guests using electric taxis.
There is access for non skiers to the highest point, as the journey is by cable car. Naturally the resort has many activities on offer during the summer.
http://bergbahnen.zermatt.ch/e/peaks/

My impression is that right now we've better snow in Switzerland than the Austrian glaciers but that could change overnight :D

It's quite a big town really so getting around is something to think about although the bus is pretty good, either a couple of francs or on the lift pass. I certainly try not to use the taxis which are fairly pricey. I think the hotels often charge for the taxi as well.

There's a great pizza place opposite the KL lift as well if you stay near there.

Tourists can go up, in fact climbers and tourists outnumber skiers in the summer. It's worth remembering it's a glacier at the top for tourists, it's very, very dangerous and they absolutely should not wander off the tracks as a guy did last time I was there :

http://snowslider.net/2007/07/29/breithorn-4164m-zermatt/

That's a good excursion, some kit required though which can be rented locally although you need boots rigid enough to take a crampon.

Best way to Zermatt is on the train though from the airport, renting a car isn't a good idea to pay to park it for week.

I've never skied in Switzerland :( , but I really want to soon. I have heard that Lenzerheide and Flims/Laax are good. What is your opinion on them?

Btw Ise, stunning pics from that latest Zermatt trip, it looks absolutely incredible!!! Thanks for sharing :D

bennyboy wrote:I've never skied in Switzerland :( , but I really want to soon. I have heard that Lenzerheide and Flims/Laax are good. What is your opinion on them?

Btw Ise, stunning pics from that latest Zermatt trip, it looks absolutely incredible!!! Thanks for sharing :D

Thanks, I missed the best one, we climbed the east ridge which isn't the normal route and as we were moving roped together I couldn't grab the camera and get a good shot which would have been this :

http://www.summitpost.org/view_object.php?object_id=124043

I'm going to climb it and ski it in the winter so I'll try again :D

My opinion of Lenzerheide and Flims/Laax is that they're too far from my house and I've never been, sorry :oops: So many mountains, so little time :D

I'm a Switzerland fan and have skiied France and the USA a fair bit. I'd agree about the Ski Club of GB - I think there's a big bias in their reporting, for whatever reason. Big thing to remember is that most Europeans book direct with rental agencies - it's only us Brits who seem to go in for packages in such a big way. The package companies really just concentrate on places with a lot of hotel beds. The basic cost in £/Sq.M in Switzerland is actually lower than in France with a higher build quality - so this tends to make for 'better' accomodation: apartments also tend to have central heating and hot water in CH rather than electric radiators and an undersize immersion. So why not do what the Europeans do and book direct in one of the connected resorts, where the local tend to have/rent their apartments?