What winter sports fan hasn't dreamed of visiting Swiss ski resorts? This country, most of which is covered with mountains, is literally made for skiers and snowboarders. Tourists from all over the world flock to the homeland of mountaineering all year round. Some are eager to learn the basics of skiing, while others want to practice and improve their sports skills. For many, the desire to visit the ski resorts in Switzerland remains unrealistic, as the fear of exorbitant prices quickly cools the flare-up ardor. In this article, we will talk about the features of holidays in this country and give examples of reviews from Russian tourists.
Ski idyll
What is it that attracts tourists from all over the world ski resorts in Switzerland? First of all, here you can enjoy the ideal tracks, which are the benchmark for the entire sports world. Highlevel of service, comfortable hotels, excellent infrastructure and mild climate create all the conditions for outdoor activities in the mountains.
Popular Resorts
However, some come here for other purposes as well. It's no secret that ski resorts in Switzerland often host famous guests: crown princes, millionaires, movie actors, pop stars and top models often stroll along the alpine slopes. The desire to join high society and sit in a cafe "at the same table" often becomes a decisive factor when choosing a particular resort. One way or another, you have to pay for a prestigious vacation. Prices for the best ski resorts in Switzerland are not always affordable for ordinary Russian citizens, however, they can also 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 seeing for every avid tourist.
Grindelwald
This popular resort is famous for being accessible to winter sports enthusiasts almost all year round. Located in the very center of the country, the Village of Glaciers welcomes not only skiers and climbers, but also just lovers of walking along hiking trails. If you wish, you can stay in a wonderful five-star hotel that will satisfy even the most demanding visitor. You can also choose to stay in one of four or three star hotels at standard Swiss prices. Budget options are presentedsimpler hotels, where for a relatively small fee you get a cozy room with a shared shower.
The largest number of tourists come to Grindelwald from November to April. They have at their disposal more than 50 ski slopes of varying difficulty, cross-country ski trails and many hiking trails. You can dine 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 areas for skiing. Visitors are provided with 400 km of pistes 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. Tourist service, as in the whole country, is at the highest level - in this place you will feel at home.
If you are interested in resorts in Switzerland for advanced skiers, then you can safely go to Verbier. These places are famous for off-piste skiing and boundless fields that are not processed by machinery. Under the guidance of a guide, you can make a descent through the virgin lands into the valley and get vivid sensations that will be remembered for a lifetime. However, in order to participate in this exciting adventure, participants must have excellent skillsskating. For beginners and intermediate skiers, there are many easy slopes here, where you can ride almost without any risk.
Saas-Fe
The resort is famous for the fact that teams of skiers and snowboarders from different countries train here in the summer. It is located high in the mountains and consists of four areas for skiing. Difficult trails are more suitable for professionals than for beginners in winter sports. There are few steep slopes here, but all of them are interesting for their relief. Intermediate skiers will enjoy the long and easy pistes, 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 fight for the Ice Climbing World Cup is going on, and in March you can watch the Allalin races.
Zermatt
This luxurious resort in the mountains of Switzerland is located near the famous Matterhorn peak. Its ski slopes, snowboarding and freestyle trails are considered among the best in the country. It is here that international alpine skiing competitions and European curling competitions are held every year. Professionals who prefer the resorts of Switzerland for advanced skiers highly appreciate the local virgin pistes and steep slopes. It will be quite difficult for beginners to find a suitable route here, since the conditions are mostly created for expert skiing.
Zermatt is a very popular but rather expensive resort. Among 600 hotels you will hardly find a budget accommodation option. The best hotels are Zermatterhof or Omnia. You can find shelter in a private house, rent a chalet or live in an apartment. Despite the high prices, bars and entertainment venues 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 surroundings will not let those who come here for the company or just for the sake of a relaxing holiday get bored.
Crane-Montana
This resort often hosts prestigious sporting events and major international conventions. Both beginners and intermediate skiers will feel great here. Ski resorts in Switzerland rarely provide their guests with such wide and uncomplicated slopes. There are not so many slopes for professionals in this place, and they are not of particular interest to extreme sportsmen.
Guests of Crans-Montana can have fun at the open rink, where discos are held periodically on ice. Guests of some hotels have the opportunity to swim in the pool, visit a beauty salon or play curling. Thrill-seekers can take a helicopter and hot air balloon ride.
Davos
Some ski resorts in Switzerland offer unusual services to their guests. For example, Davos is also a treatment center, where all the efforts of the staff are aimed at maintainingyour he alth and high quality treatment. Prestigious world-famous 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.
Davos has 6 separate ski areas and 99 pistes spanning over 300km. The slopes of high mountains will not let even experienced athletes get bored, for whom steep descents and risky sections have been specially designed. This resort is also called the capital of snowboarding, as six fan parks were built here. Lovers of luge and freestyle feel great here, as this resort has created the best conditions for them.
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 has not suffered from this at all. Thousands of tourists come here every year to enjoy the unique climate and clear sunny weather. Among the guests of honor of this resort, the faces of famous politicians, show business stars, millionaires and even members of royal families often flash by.
St. Moritz has something for every level of athlete. Three sectors for skiing will satisfy all available requests. Beginners and intermediate skiers will be enchantedlong and comfortable trails. Thrill-seekers will find here icy slopes, descents on virgin lands and rather difficult “black” segments. Corvatsch has two snowboard parks equipped to the best standard. The Snow Night Party is held here once a week. The participants of this peculiar party ride until 2 am on the illuminated slopes, and then relax and maintain their tone with strong cocktails.
Gstaad
Some ski resorts in Switzerland still look like mountain villages built at the beginning of the last century. Vehicles are prohibited in Gstaad, and guests settle not only in hotels, but also in chalets. This resort is not very popular, but the creative elite fell in love with it.
Six ski areas are connected by bus routes and constantly running trains. 62 lifts rush to the Hornflu massif every day, and you can go down to several towns along the “blue” track. Thanks to this, the slopes have gained great popularity among inexperienced skiers and families with children. But this place will also be interesting for more experienced athletes, for whom there are specially allocated areas for freeride, freestyle and carving. Anyone who wishes, under the guidance of an instructor, can try out such sports equipment as extreme carving skis or snowblades. The Glacier Glacier has the longest run. Fan parks are located on the slopes of Eggli, and fans of luge will find entertainment at the upper stations.
Ski resorts in Switzerland. Tourist reviews
Despite the unstable political situation and the crisis in the tourism business, our fellow citizens boldly continue to travel abroad and are happy to share their feelings from their vacation. 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 for a long time the exemplary hotel service, the famous punctuality and the friendly attitude of the local population. Tourists note that prices in this country are quite correlated with quality. This means that you should carefully calculate the possible costs before the trip. Returning home, our compatriots warmly recall the ski resorts in Switzerland. Photos of the most beautiful landscapes are taking pride of place on social media pages and there are already talks about how good it would be to return to this country next winter.
