Arosa
For the best snow of the season in Arosa, make sure you wait until at least February. But whenever you go you will enjoy the whole experience that awaits you.
Some people are happy to ski the whole time and not do much else. But if you want more out of your skiing holiday then Arosa might be the place for you. It isn’t renowned for its après-ski, but that is one of the main reasons why families find it so attractive. Think of a relaxing, sedate and calming atmosphere at night and you’ll get the picture.
As far as the skiing is concerned, most levels of skiers will find plenty to enjoy here. There are some wonderful cross country trails to explore too, so it’s not all slopes and ski lifts. Arosa itself is perfectly placed for getting on the slopes, so you won’t waste time travelling either.
Champery
This is another entry in the section that could be termed ‘skiing paradise untouched by tourism’. Champery has a good range of hotels to please many budgets, although there isn’t much in the way of self catering chalets here.
The beginner and intermediate skiers among you will find a wealth of slopes to get started on; the area isn’t so well suited to those who know exactly what they’re doing. There’s enough to enjoy when you’re not on the piste though, with a couple of nightclubs in the area and also a handful of nice bars.
For those who like a proper restaurant each evening you’ll have a good choice from more than two dozen of them. Champery isn’t for everyone but of those who do stay they generally have a lot of good things to say about the place. It’s more laid back than some, so be sure to enjoy.
Crans Montana
This is the amalgamation of three distinct towns, and it has been one large resort for over forty years now. One of the good things about it is that even though the resort may get busy during the winter season, that doesn’t automatically mean the slopes will be packed. This is because it is just as good for other sports as it is for skiing.
Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn can be viewed from the area, and you might just find yourself constantly stopping to admire the views. This is definitely an area that should be avoided by the experienced skiers though, since there is very little to get stuck into here. More gentle runs that are perfect for beginners and more intermediate skiers are mostly what you’ll find.
This resort isn’t set up to cater for those who want to party hard all night though. As such families can visit without fear of being kept up all night by rowdy parties.
Davos
This little gem is more suited for the more experienced skiers. Whether you go on or off piste, you won’t be stuck for anywhere to go and you could ski happily for a week or more without really retracing your steps.
You won’t be disappointed with the après-ski either. There are several options for spending a lively night out and about, regardless of whether you start off with a meal or not.
The village itself isn’t the most stunning of ski resorts in Switzerland, but it has its own charm. Many of the restaurants in the area are rather upper class and as such (thanks to the higher prices) may not be ideal for families.
Some of the hotels aren’t the most attractive ones you’ll find either, so you will enjoy it more if you don’t mind basic and somewhat boxy places to stay. Dedicated skiers who just want a bed to fall into will no doubt manage perfectly well.
Flims
Flims Laax Falera, to give it its full name, has miles and miles of slopes to tempt the majority of skiers. If you happen to fall into the category of being just a little more inexperienced than World Cup skiers though, you’d be better off going somewhere else.
For all other skiers the slopes of Flims are a real joy. The scenery is great too, and you are essentially staying in an area which comprises three separate resorts – Flims, Laax and Falera.
The one thing you need to be a bit careful of is the way the various runs are graded. Instead of sticking to the standard way of doing things, the powers that be have come up with their own system. This could be rather tricky if you end up getting confused by it and choosing a route that is beyond your capabilities. In short – be very careful.
Klosters
One of the most famous locations in all of Switzerland, Klosters is also famous for requiring you to take out a second mortgage in order to afford a holiday there. It’s not actually quite that bad, but the fact that British royalty have long chosen Klosters as the destination for their skiing holidays does make it seem rather out of reach.
That’s a shame, since it has a lot to offer to the less well heeled among us too. It has a good mix of runs for skiers of all abilities and although they are more spread out than some other resorts, they still offer a great day’s skiing for everyone.
There are plenty of bars and restaurants here too which offer all kinds of cuisine. It’s a good place to bring the whole family and there are lots of other activities to get stuck into both indoors and out.
Laax Murschetg
Laax is perhaps slightly better known than Murschetg. But whether you’ve heard of the area or not you will find a lot to get stuck into here. It’s developed well over the years, and it’s got the advantage of being a neighbour to Flims and Falera too, so there are plenty of slopes to try out.
As such it’s worth doing your homework before you decide which direction to head in. Some of the surrounding areas are set up to appeal to more experienced skiers rather than beginners, and vice versa.
It’s good for pretty much everyone though, and while it doesn’t qualify as the most attractive ski resort in Switzerland it has certainly done enough to stay out of the worst and most basic looking of resorts too. There isn’t quite the array of restaurants that you’ll find in other resorts, but you’ve got a great choice of more snacky places available.
Saas-Fee
If you want atmosphere along with your skiing, then consider Saas-Fee as the place to get it. The scenery here is nothing short of superb, and luckily it benefits from a higher location than some of its Swiss cousins. This means you’re virtually guaranteed to get the snow you’re looking for.
With 100km of pistes to negotiate this is a good resort for everyone to enjoy too. There are plenty of slopes that will appeal to every type of skier, no matter whether this is the first time you’re slipping into those boots or you’ve been a thousand times before.
Many people come here for a few days break rather than a whole week, and there is definitely enough to do here in that shorter amount of time. For a long weekend it would be ideal. And when you get back to the village you can tramp about without watching out for cars too – perfect.
St Moritz
This is famous and deservedly so – it has the most amazing mountains and snowscapes to marvel at, as well as offering some really good runs down the mountain.
Once again it is something of an upper class destination, but don’t let that put you off. It certainly has more than its fair share of five star hotels, although you can find cheaper accommodation in four stars quite easily.
As for the skiing, it has a good mix of opportunities for everyone – although the experts will love the 40% of slopes that are meant for them and them alone. There is a snowpark here too, and the addition of some superb mountain restaurants will make it easy to stop for a long lunch!
It’s a family friendly resort so you can relax and feel welcome even if you do have the kids with you. In short, St Moritz is well worth the visit.
Verbier
This is a resort that is packed with energy as well as skiers looking for the next run to try out. This isn’t really for beginners, nor is it for people on a budget. Verbier is one of the more expensive resorts and as such might not be so appealing for families.
With a whopping 400+ kilometres of piste to get to grips with you can be sure you won’t get bored here. The only thing you might find even tougher is the nightlife. There is plenty of it and it really doesn’t stop – so if you like quiet evenings you might be better off elsewhere.
This is unfortunately not a resort that is traffic free; however it does offer a huge number of restaurants and enough nightclubs and bars to keep you up at night. If you like your skiing lively rather than easy going, Verbier might be for you.
Zermatt
Why is this resort so well known? It could have something to do with the huge sight of the Matterhorn that towers above it. It’s not so well adjusted to receive beginning skiers but everyone else will love it. There are three main ski areas that will keep you busy for the duration of your stay.
The wonderful thing is that no matter what your budget is, you’ll be certain to find the ideal accommodation. You’ve got everything from a self catering chalet to a five star hotel to choose from here. And make sure you don’t leave without having at least one meal at a mountain restaurant.
For those in search of some après-ski there is plenty just waiting to be found. And once again there is a good choice – from the lively to the more laid back. No matter what you want from a skiing break you are likely to find it in Zermatt.