Hey Swiss Mags: Need Help Planning Zermatt Trip

[IridePow]

Have to agree that heli-skiing in the Alps is totally out.
The alps are just way more crowded than other places (Alaska etc.) and you just annoy the hell out of a few hundred others trying to enjoy a place. Just to get a little bit faster to the top.

Maybe if you are uncertain about your abilities in the backcountry or do not know a place too well --> take a guide, use-lift served easy access (there are lifts pretty much anywhere a summit is) hike/skin for a bit and he will take you to the goods.

[Cedrik]

The Hotel Marmotte is plenty nice. My wife and I would definitely stay there again.

http://hotelmarmotte.ch/hotelMarmott...n0=5&n1=1&n2=0

[Hugh Conway]

It's an artfully-laid trap designed to seductively and effectively separate you from your every last franc, but it's jaw-droppingly stunning.

That's the true "Swiss" experience, isn't it? I mean, if you just wanted a charming alpine village with gorgeous mountains you could go to Austria, France or Italy and spend less money, sometimes alot less money.

And seriously, heliskiing? Holy sucker.

[jerlane]

So WTF?!?!? Do Euro's plan their vacations two years in advance or what? It seems like just about every place I've checked is either booked or only accepts reservations for seven nights. I'm getting bummed. I thought that planning our trip 3-4 months in advance would be plenty. Apparently I was wrong.

Any thoughts on this? Do places open up as time gets closer or this this typical and we're simply too late?

Any thoughts on Chamonix? Since we're flying in and out of Geneva, I'm going to start looking there as well.

[skinnyskier]

If you want to stay in the Valais, but can't book Zermatt, there's also the Saas valley to the east and the Arolla valley to the west. If you're willing to try the northern Oberland, and want to avoid Grindelwald, there's the Lauterbrunnen valley with Wengen and Murren. They are not road-accessed, so they have an only-in-Switzerland feel. Adelboden has lots of tourist infrastructure, and hosts a World Cup. All of these places are easy to reach from Geneva.

Chamonix has a totally different feel from places like Zermatt, and is much bigger. Argentiere has a more village-like feel, if you end up in the Chamonix valley.

[blissard]

So WTF?!?!? Do Euro's plan their vacations two years in advance or what? It seems like just about every place I've checked is either booked or only accepts reservations for seven nights. I'm getting bummed. I thought that planning our trip 3-4 months in advance would be plenty. Apparently I was wrong.

Any thoughts on this? Do places open up as time gets closer or this this typical and we're simply too late?

mid-february means winter holidays in switz, france et al. Some places may be booked early, and openings may appear, but with some flexibility i'm sure you'll find something. There are lots of good options around Geneva.

[Schnappi]

just to point out what freak's said: if you need a chopper in the alps to ski nice lines, you are doing something completely wrong.

You cannot call yourself a man until you strap yourself into an AS350 piloted by an Italian in possession of only 2/3 of his real teeth.

@jerlane: if you visit zermatt, the other side (cervinia) is quite nice, too. try to go to valtournenche, very beautiful old village.

I second going to Valtournenche. Cervinia is a ghetto. Valtournenche is what you imagine a town in the Italian Alps should be.

and regarding prices: zermatt, verbier and other famous swiss resorts are ~2-3*as expensive as in most austrian resorts (in the same category). f.e. obergurgl ***** is ~120.- euros(night).

But austrian resorts are full of dirtbag (and worse) Germans. The other so called "famous swiss resorts" are full of Brits and Swiss people. Some of whom will take you heli skiing.

[Hugh Conway]

So WTF?!?!? Do Euro's plan their vacations two years in advance or what? It seems like just about every place I've checked is either booked or only accepts reservations for seven nights.

No, Euros plan their vacations to posh resorts in weeks, i.e 7 day bookings. Especially in February and March, i.e. school holidays. Things may open up or they may not.

Chamonix is different in attitude, amenities and skiing. The main things it has in common with Zermatt is 1) it's in the Alps and 2) Americans have heard of it.

Go to one of the many other places that have been suggested here.

[Marius]

But austrian resorts are full of dirtbag (and worse) Germans. The other so called "famous swiss resorts" are full of Brits and Swiss people. Some of whom will take you heli skiing.

not all austrian resorts. several are changeing to the russian highsociety. that means even more drunken dirtbag-style
in case you go there: just take saucerboy 80's-style clothes and pull on each liftline your "Flachmann" with Schnaps and everybody loves you. believe me. i did lots of field studies in this scientific field.

@jerlane: it's not booked out, for sure. the less then 7day-rooms are given 3-4weeks before to public by the wellknown city tourist offices. or call the hotels directly.

[Ripzalot]

FYI we are flying in and out of Geneva and arrive Feb 10th and leave the 15th early. So we will arrive in Zermatt Wednesday afternoon and will have Thurs-Sun to play and head back to Geneva Sunday night.

i was thinking you were booking early enough to beat the school holiday but there are quite a few during your dates. Zurich and Geneva are the biggies but also some overlap with the start of Vaud (Lausanne).

http://www.bigbluetours.com/ferien/f...weiz-kalender/

best to target something outside of the local and big city school holidays. which isn't easy during your timeframe. and as you are finding out, anything less than a full week is difficult unless you wait until the last minute. and then you pretty much have to take what you can get rather than be able to pick a nice place. or better yet, extend your trip to a full week.

[freak]

@jerlane: it's not booked out, for sure.

2cnded.
i cant believe the whole place is booked out. did you call the tourist office?

freak~[&]

[jerlane]

Update: so we were finally able to book a reasonably priced hotel and will be staying in Zermatt at Hotel Antika for four nights from 2/10-2/14. Our flight back is the morning of the 15th, so we will head back to Geneva on the 14th and spend the night there.

Can anyone offer any thoughts on where to stay in Geneva? I guess our options are to max out our stay in Zermatt and take a late train back to Geneva and just stay near the airport and not do any Geneva stuff, or to leave earlier in the day and actually try to see something. Any thoughts?

Also, any other pearls of wisdom for where to ski and what to do in Zermatt would be appreciated. Less than two weeks away, can't wait!

[BigDaddy]

For Geneva near the airport, we stayed at the Crown Plaza. I was able to use mileage, so it was free, but I think it's pricey. My burger was $27 (while my daughter's was $17 and the same exact thing...!)

Definitely head over to Cervinia and keep your eyes posted for snow reports. Zermatt can suck, while Cervinia gets a foot sometimes. (My avatar is from a great day in Cervinia.) Enjoy your trip.

[Schnappi]

Update: so we were finally able to book a reasonably priced hotel and will be staying in Zermatt at Hotel Antika for four nights from 2/10-2/14. Our flight back is the morning of the 15th, so we will head back to Geneva on the 14th and spend the night there.

Can anyone offer any thoughts on where to stay in Geneva? I guess our options are to max out our stay in Zermatt and take a late train back to Geneva and just stay near the airport and not do any Geneva stuff, or to leave earlier in the day and actually try to see something. Any thoughts?

Also, any other pearls of wisdom for where to ski and what to do in Zermatt would be appreciated. Less than two weeks away, can't wait!

Note: you would never get any of the following advice from the likes of Marius and freak.

For decent hotels near the airport, try the Moevenpick. The price is fairly competitive and there's decent sushi in the restaurant in the basement.

Have lunch at Chalet Etoile on the Cervina side one day. Have Steinpilzsuppe at Blatten. Get hammered at Hischi. Eat lamm at Chez Heini.

[jerlane]

Anyone have info on hiring a guide for the day? I'll be skiing with the mrs. most of the time, but may go solo for a day and a guide would be a good thing. Also, anyone know a way to save on lift tickets?

[whipski]

Priceline works all airport hotels are booked so but there are options immediately adjacent.