Just back from Grindelwald

First of all thanks to Ace for your suggestions getting to / from the French
side of Basel airport, which is indeed easier than the swiss side - only
downside was having to buy the swiss motorway vignette and the car not
having snow tyres (but given the weather a sun-roof would have been more
practical - and pulling in to fill up in the petrol station at the airport
only to find english credit cards don't work - doh, should have remembered
this).

It was our first time to Grindelwald (2 adults, 2 kids) and the first time
we organised everything ourselves, whch was a good move, with the holiday
cost for all four us coming at £1000 (before lift passes, equipment etc)
which for a half term week I was well impressed with.

Weather was warm (very warm) and conseqently there was no snow in
Grindelwald itself apart from a little in the beginners area that was
suffering quite badly each day. Quite a long trek up to the areas that had
snow, but once up there the pistes weren't too bad given the lack of recent
snow (it didn't snow all week and I think the last was a few days before we
arrived), but were turning quite slushy in the afernoon, so more like late
spring skiing. Quite a lot of runs were closed and obviously the runs to
the valley were out (with maybe one exception, but that would have involved
having to ski between snow patches on grass). It was our first time skiing
in Switzerland and I found the piste gradings similar to what I've found in
France, although if anything some of the blues seemed undergraded (but this
possibly down to overskiing given the general lack of snow) and the reds
overgraded. Didn't venture out on my own to try any blacks so can't
comment.

The town itself was nice enough, not too busy, although parking can be a
problem during the day. We did find the logitistics of the childrens ski
school quite an overhead, as the meeting point for the youngest was in the
beginners area a 10 minute bus ride from grindelwald, with the elder a 30
minute cable car ride up the mountain. Also getting across the valley
between the two main areas (First - Maennlichen / Kleine Sheidegg) involves
a long trek (30 minutes down in cable car / train from one (poss normally
ski), trek across town via bus, 30 minute cable car up the other side).

On the other hand, queues weren't too bad if you choose the time (i.e before
9am or around midday) given it was half term.

Overall I was quite impressed. A little disappointed as I feel I didn't get
to experience the skiing at it's best, but would come back to the region,
possible to Wengen / Muerren instead.