The Ski Holiday Blog

Tag Archives: Zermatt

Fresh Snow Across the Alps

It’s been a while. According to an old pal who still lives in Chamonix and posted on facebook this morning, it’s been 36 days. Some resorts might even claim a longer drought, but what we do know is that the worst is over and that there is fresh snowfall in most major resorts right now. The whole ski industry has been nervously checking weather forecasts, looking to the sky and I’ve seen a few videos of snow dances being performed in various resorts since the New Year. Happily, I’m glad to be able to say the Guardian’s article yesterday, predicting the possible end to the entire season in mid-February is nothing short of a scaremongering fabrication. Even if it didn’t snow again between now and Easter, all major resorts have excellent infrastructures in place to ensure that the vast majority of their pistes remain open all season long thanks to their numerous snow cannons and creative use of piste bashers. Read More »

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Skiing off the Beaten Track

So you think you know everything there is to know about skiing in Europe? Done the Three Valleys? Of course you have. Val d’Isere and Tignes? Without a doubt. Les Arcs, La Plagne, La Rosiere? We cover all of these resorts time and time again in our blog posts and for the majority of the holidays we sell. Some of the more niche destinations are also becoming well travelled roads amongst the UK ski package holiday market. Chamonix, Morzine, Zermatt and Verbier have all become popular destinations in recent years and whilst a blog with this title would have featured them a few years back, these days we send so many people to such destinations that they simply no longer qualify as anything other than mainstream. Not that there’s anything wrong with the mainstream resorts, mind you. They all have superb modern lift systems, large ski areas, established ski schools and the altitude to ensure good conditions all through the season.

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The History of Zermatt in Switzerland

 

Today, Zermatt is one of the top ski resorts in Europe, if not the world, but how did it all begin? Has Zermatt always been a popular ski destination for the rich and famous, or has this only developed in recent times? Having visited the resort for the first time earlier this year and as I spend most days talking about the resort’s various chalets, I thought it would be interesting to look back in time and find out how Zermatt gained its international reputation.

A view over Zermatt and the Matterhorn  - Spectacular!

A view over Zermatt and the Matterhorn - Spectacular!

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Chalets in Zermatt reviewed

Having spent a couple of years working in chalet holiday sales, I’ve had the good fortune to stay in some amazing chalets….the Bellevarde Lodges in Val D’Isere – ski in/out with hot tubs on the balcony, and the Taiga Lodge in Meribel with its cinema rooms being previous favourites.  Fabulous though these are, they don’t really come close to the accommodation I’ve just stayed in on a recent trip to Zermatt.

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A week’s Ski Holiday in Zermatt and Verbier

Having worked in the ski industry since 2004, I’ve seen a lot of resorts. In fact, until last week there were only 2 major resorts in our programme that I had never visited. I won’t tell you which one I’m still to experience, but Zermatt has now been ticked off the to-do list. The only question I was asking myself is why has it taken me until the age of 30 to get out there?

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Espace Killy: 3 days and counting!

Here we are, another year has passed and another ski season is about to kick off. Forget all those excited blogs and tweets in October about new snow in Europe and a few resorts in the States opening early, we’re now getting ready for the real snow. The first guests for UK tour operators will be arriving in Tignes and Val d’Isere on Saturday, that’s the 28th November, which is the official opening date for the Espace Killy.

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