What winter sports enthusiast didn’t dream of visiting Swiss ski resorts? This country, most of which is covered in mountains, is literally created for skiers and snowboarders. All year round, tourists from all over the world flock to the homeland of mountaineering. Some are eager to learn the basics of skiing, while others want to practice and improve their athletic skills. For many, the desire to visit the ski resorts of Switzerland remains unrealizable, since the fear of sky-high prices quickly cools the flaming fervor. In this article we will talk about the features of rest in this country and give examples of reviews of Russian tourists.
Ski idyll
What is so attractive for tourists from all over the world ski resorts in Switzerland? First of all, here you can enjoy the ideal tracks, which are the standard for the entire sports world. The high level of service, comfortable hotels, excellent infrastructure and mild climate create all conditions for outdoor activities in the mountains.
Popular resorts
However, some come here for other purposes. It is no secret that Swiss ski resorts often host famous guests: crown princes, millionaires, movie actors, pop stars and top models often walk along the alpine slopes. The desire to join the high society and sit in a cafe "at the same table" often becomes a decisive factor when choosing a resort. One way or another, but for a prestigious vacation you have to pay. Prices for the best ski resorts in Switzerland are not always available for ordinary Russian citizens, however, they can find the best option for themselves in more affordable hotels. In addition, an interesting excursion program and the indescribable beauty of the local nature are worth every avid tourist to see.
Grindelwald
This popular resort is famous for being accessible to winter sports fans almost all year round. Located in the very center of the country, the Lednikov Village is waiting for guests not only skiers and climbers, but also just lovers of walking along the hiking trails. If you wish, you can stay in a beautiful five-star hotel that will appeal to even the most demanding visitor. You can also choose one of four or three star hotels for accommodation at standard prices for Switzerland. Budget options are presented by simpler hotels, where for a relatively small fee you will get a cozy room with a shared shower.
The largest number of tourists come to Grindelwald from November to April. At their disposal are more than 50 ski slopes of varying degrees of difficulty, cross-country skiing tracks and many hiking trails. You can have lunch at one of the local restaurants, go to a nightclub or a disco in the evening, and go shopping in your free time. If the weather turns bad, you will have the opportunity to swim in the indoor pool, go ice skating, play bowling or squash with friends.
Verbier
Alpine winter resort in Switzerland is located in the center of one of the largest ski areas. It offers visitors 400 km of slopes along the most beautiful routes, more than a hundred lifts and all the conditions for lovers of cross-country skiing and hiking. You can stay in one of the many hotels or rent a guest house. Travel service, as in the whole country, is at the highest level - in this place you will feel at home.
If you are interested in the resorts of Switzerland for advanced skiers, then you can safely go to Verbier. These places are famous for off-piste skiing and limitless fields that are not processed by machinery. Under the guidance of a guide, you can go down the virgin lands to the valley and get vivid sensations that will be remembered for a lifetime. However, to participate in this exciting adventure, participants must have excellent riding skills. For beginners and middle-skiers alike, there are many simple tracks equipped here that you can ride on with virtually no risk.
Saas fe
The resort is famous for the fact that in summer teams of skiers and snowboarders from different countries train here. It is located high in the mountains and consists of four ski areas. Difficult tracks are more suitable for professionals than for beginners who love winter sports. There are few steep descents, but all of them are interesting for their relief. Mid-level skiers will like long and uncomplicated slopes, some of which stretch for 14 km. Arriving here in October, you can become a spectator of the Snowboard World Cup. In December, freeride competitions are held here and an international ice sculpture festival is held. At the end of winter, in Saas-Fee you can see how the struggle for the Ice Climbing World Cup is going on, and in March observe the Allalinsky races.
Zermatt
This fashionable resort in the Swiss mountains is located near the famous Matterhorn peak. Its ski slopes, tracks for snowboarding and freestyle are considered one of the best in the country. It is here that every year international skiing competitions and European curling competitions are held. Professionals who prefer Swiss resorts for advanced skiers highly value local virgin slopes and steep slopes. It will be quite difficult for beginners here to find a suitable route, since basically the conditions are created for expert skiing.
Zermatt is a very popular, but rather expensive resort. Among 600 hotels you can hardly find a budget accommodation option. The best hotels are considered to be Zermatterhof or Omnia. You can find shelter in a private house, rent a chalet or live in apartments. Despite the high prices, bars and entertainment are always full of people. In your free time you can swim in the pool, play billiards and bowling, visit the fitness center or relax in the sauna. Excursions around the resort and its environs will not let you get bored by those who came here for company or simply for a relaxing holiday.
Crane montana
This resort often hosts prestigious sports competitions and major international congresses. Here, both beginners and intermediate skiers will feel great. Swiss ski resorts rarely provide their guests with such wide and easy slopes. There are not so many descents for professionals in this place, and they do not cause much interest among extreme people.
Guests of Crans-Montana can have fun at the outdoor ice rink, where periodically held discos on the ice. Guests of some hotels have the opportunity to swim in the pool, visit a beauty salon or play curling. Thrill lovers can take a helicopter ride and a hot air balloon ride.
Davos
Some ski resorts in Switzerland offer their guests unusual services. For example, Davos is also a medical center, where all the efforts of the staff are aimed at maintaining your health and high-quality treatment. World-renowned prestigious clinics accept patients with respiratory diseases, allergies and skin diseases. This resort has a large selection of hotels of all categories, but they all have a high level of service. Pensions, chalets and guest houses are not inferior to five-star hotels, and the cuisine in each of them is beyond praise.
In Davos there are 6 separate areas for skiing and 99 tracks that stretch over 300 km. The slopes of high mountains will not let even experienced athletes be bored, for whom steep slopes and risky sections were specially developed. This resort is also called the capital of the snowboard, as there were built as many as six fan parks. Lovers of luge and freestyle feel great here, as the best conditions have been created for them at this resort.
St. Moritz
This is one of the oldest and most prestigious resorts in the country, which is a symbol of luxury and a role model. The prices here are quite high even for Switzerland, but its popularity did not suffer at all from this. Thousands of tourists come here every year to enjoy the unique climate and clear sunny weather. Among the distinguished guests of this resort, the faces of famous politicians, show business stars, millionaires and even members of royal families often flash.
In St. Moritz there is a lesson for an athlete of any level. Three sectors for skiing will satisfy all available requirements. Beginners and intermediate skiers will be fascinated by long and comfortable slopes. Thrill-seekers will find icy slopes, virgin descents and rather difficult “black” stretches here. In Korvach, there are two snowboard parks equipped with the best standard. Once a week, the Snow Night Party is also held here. Participants of this peculiar party ride until two in the night on the lighted tracks, and then relax and maintain their tone with cocktails.
Gstaad
Some Swiss ski resorts still look like mountain villages built at the beginning of the last century. Vehicles are prohibited in Gstaad, and guests are accommodated not only in hotels, but also in chalets. This resort can not be called very popular, but it was loved by the creative elite.
Six ski areas are connected by bus routes and constantly running trains. 62 lifts rush to the Hornflu massif daily, and you can go down to several towns along the “blue” highway. Thanks to this, the slopes gained great popularity among inexperienced skiers and among families with children. But in this place it will be interesting to ride for more experienced athletes, for whom specially allocated areas for freeride, freestyle and carving. Everyone, under the guidance of an instructor, can experience such sports equipment as extreme carving skis or snow blades. The Glacier Glacier has the longest track. There are fan parks on the slopes of Eggley, and toboggan fans will find entertainment at the upper stations.
Ski resorts in Switzerland. Tourists reviews
Despite the unstable political situation and the crisis in the tourism business, our fellow citizens boldly continue to travel abroad and share their feelings about their vacation with pleasure. The Russians, who were lucky enough to visit the ski resorts of Switzerland in 2014, unanimously admire the beauties of nature and unforgettable impressions. Everyone who came here for the first time will remember the exemplary hotel service, famous punctuality and friendly attitude of the local population for a long time. Tourists note that prices in this country are quite correlated with quality. And this means that you should carefully calculate the possible costs before the trip. Returning home, our compatriots warmly recall the ski resorts of Switzerland. Photos of beautiful landscapes take pride of place on pages on social networks and you can already hear talk about how good it would be to return to this country next winter.