Where to ski besides Zermatt?

On 19 Nov 2003 00:09:50 GMT, Wombat wrote:

Jim Hutton wrote in
:

I second St.Moritz. Fabulous skiing - especially if you include
Pontresina and the glacier at the top of its valley (sorry, name
escapes me). Resort is big and a bit spread out, but sightseeing of
all the rich Germans is an entertainment in itself.

Is it hugely expensive? How much would a week in Chamonix vs. a week in St.
Moritz be?

We stayed 'round the corner' in Pontresina, in a self-catering flat.
Not wildly expensive - cheaper than Zermatt IIRC, although this price
thing is difficult since one is rarely comparing like with like.

From Pontresina we took the (excellent) ski bus into St.M or up the
valley to the Morteratsch glacier. No problem.

Supermarket food etc is about the same all over Europe....

Accomodation depends on a huge range of factors - have a look on the
internet, or contact a local agent if self-catering.

If hotels - remember, in Switzerland or Austria even the cheapest
hotels will NEVER be sleazy, just simpler. In a way, I prefer a cheap
small hotel which is often family run and more friendly, almost like
home.

The reference to rich Germans is to the people strolling around the
shopping malls in their designer furs - it don't cost nuffin' to look!

Go for it, you won't regret it !

Save Chamonix for another time (skiing less attractive and less
convenient, hotels crummier, bus service appalling -MUST have a car).
On the other hand, the Grand Montets are my perfect off-piste
playground.

Oh dear - choices, choices ....

Jim Hutton

In article ,
Wombat wrote:
I'm in the US and know nothing about these places so all suggestions
are welcome.

Get the Reuters book on world ski resorts.
There are 2 other books: I recommend against the Blue Book,
and the other book isn't bad, just limited.

Wombat wrote:

We're going to be spending a week in Zermatt starting March 6. We'd
like to spend another week someplace else either before or after
that. Ideally it would have other things to do besides ski (say more
sightseeing) but still be good for skiing (on piste). I think we'll
probably be flying in/out of Geneva but we could alter that depending
on what looks good. I'm also trying to connect this with a timeshare
exchange so my options there a


I would recommend Crans-Montana. Skiing is pleasant and it is very
pretty. Zerrmatt and the Jungfrau region are probably the best Alpine
sights/experiences. But Crans-Montana should be a nice compliment to
Zermatt.

On 21 Nov 2003 23:32:38 -0700, (Eugene Miya)
wrote:

In article ,
Wombat wrote:
I'm in the US and know nothing about these places so all suggestions
are welcome.

Get the Reuters book on world ski resorts.
There are 2 other books: I recommend against the Blue Book,
and the other book isn't bad, just limited.

Or access the Which Good Ski and Snowboard guide, available online on
the Ski Club website (in my sig).

--
Ace (bruce dot rogers at roche dot com)
Ski Club of Great Britain - http://www.skiclub.co.uk
All opinions expressed are personal and in no way represent those of the Ski Club.

In message , Ace
writes
On 21 Nov 2003 23:32:38 -0700, (Eugene Miya)
wrote:

In article ,
Wombat wrote:
I'm in the US and know nothing about these places so all suggestions
are welcome.

Get the Reuters book on world ski resorts.
There are 2 other books: I recommend against the Blue Book,
and the other book isn't bad, just limited.

Or access the Which Good Ski and Snowboard guide, available online on
the Ski Club website (in my sig).

ISTR the OP asked about combining skiing with sightseeing. It's a good
website, but it does assume you're there to ski !

Maybe they could stay in Verbier and use the gondola connection with le
Chable to go sightseeing by train or car. Le Chable at least has a
station and is on the main road, as well as about 1000m lower down.
--
Sue ]

In article ,
Sue wrote:
In message , Ace
writes
On 21 Nov 2003 23:32:38 -0700, (Eugene Miya)
wrote:
In article ,
Wombat wrote:
I'm in the US and know nothing about these places so all suggestions
are welcome.
Get the Reuters book on world ski resorts.
There are 2 other books: I recommend against the Blue Book,
and the other book isn't bad, just limited.

Or access the Which Good Ski and Snowboard guide, available online on
the Ski Club website (in my sig).

ISTR the OP asked about combining skiing with sightseeing. It's a good
website, but it does assume you're there to ski !

My first run down from the Gornergrat a few years back after a couple of
days of snow, I just had to stop and look NW: that was the Matterhorn.
This is pretty easy terrain but it was a train ride up.
But the Swiss and the Italians have different ideas of grooming.
The Swiss side is a bit confining, and I would somewhat take issue of
comments about off piste (scrape bottoms).

But I've spent a total of 10 days including a night and a few days over
on the Italian side on 2 separate trips (great weather both times except
that it was really cold). I have left enough money in Zermat (now maybe I
will get back for a climbing trip, but that's a different story).

Maybe they could stay in Verbier and use the gondola connection with le
Chable to go sightseeing by train or car. Le Chable at least has a
station and is on the main road, as well as about 1000m lower down.

Well, my first trip had a week in Chamonix (need to go back).
And I also spent 5 days in the Berner Oberland (also need to go back).
However, there are lots of nice little obscure places that I would visit
for vastly different reasons.

I also plan to skip St. Moritz proper and stay outside of it.

I need to get back to helping a colleague move to Zurich for a 1 year
position at the ETH (hey a place to stay!).