Skip to Page Content [Access key 'C'] or Sidebar Links [Access key 'S']. View site Accessibility [Access key 'A'].

13/07/2010

Celebrate New Year ski holidays in Zermatt

, , , , , ,

There is something magical about celebrating New Year in the Alps and Zermatt has to be top of the list of the best resorts to be in when it comes to your New Year ski holiday. The world famous Matterhorn sets a stunning backdrop to the New Year’s Eve fireworks display and the numerous bars and restaurants offer somewhere for everyone  to celebrate in style whether you are spending your New Year ski holidays with family or friends. If you don’t want to spend all night partying, the wonderful choice of catered chalets in Zermatt means you have a home away from home to welcome in the New Year without having to worry about who is going to be doing the cooking!

You might have a bit of a fuzzy head when you wake up on New Year’s Day but what better way to clear the hangover than to step out onto Zermatt’s immaculate pistes and spend the day in the clean fresh air exploring some of the best skiing in Europe! With most of the pistes above 2000m, you are guaranteed good levels of snow during the first week of the year and although most of the slopes are more suited to the better skier, there are still some that beginners will enjoy learning on too, meaning you can take the whole family on your New Year Ski Holiday.

Whatever your budget and group size, there is a chalet to suit you in Zermatt for your New Year Ski Holiday. Below we have picked out a few of our favourite chalets for celebrating New Year 2011 in style!

For your family New Year ski holidays in Zermatt

Angelina – Sleeps 8
Angelina is a good standard chalet for a family ski holiday over New Year. All of the rooms are ensuite or have their own private facilities, food and service is of a good standard and flights and transfers come as part of the package which takes the stresses and strains out of travelling with children. The chalet is in a quieter part of Zermatt meaning it is close enough to walk into town for the early evening festivities but far enough away for you not to be disturbed by the revellers partying until dawn!

 

Luxury Zermatt New Year ski chalet

Les Anges – sleeps 14
This chalet has to be one of the best chalets in the Alps! For what is essentially a family home, it is incredible! Spread over three floors, all of the stunning bedrooms have ensuite facilities and with a large living area which includes a baby grand piano, as well as a separate television room and wonderful outdoor terrace, there is more than enough space for 14 people. Food and wines are of the highest standard and there are incredible views of the Matterhorn. This is a perfect chalet for enjoying New Year with your family or seeing the New Year in with a group of friends.

 Ski convenience for your New Year ski holidays

Rebecca – Sleeps 6
With Zermatt having so few ski in/out chalet, Rebecca is one of the best located for groups who are used to the ski convenience offered by other resorts. The short walk downhill to the Sunnegga lift in the morning is compensated for by the fact that anyone who is of an intermdiate level or above can ski back to the chalet in the afternoon, providing you are in the right part of the ski area! Sleeping 6 people chalet Rebecca is modern and perfect for celebrating the New Year in style!

 

Large Group New Year ski holiday

Klein Matterhorn Claudia – Sleeps 8-11
When booking your group New Year ski holiday, convenience is usually top of the list. Klein Matterhorn Claudia just a short walk from the Klein Matterhorn lift meaning it is very handy for getting on and off the mountain in the morning and evening, which means you don’t have to walk far or get on and off buses! It is a short walk into town so easy to get to all of the shops, bars and cafes. Also, with four bedrooms in the chalet but a maximum of 11 beds, groups with an odd number can take exclusive use of the whole chalet without paying any dreaded under occupancy supplements! As there are three other chalets in the building, large groups could take use of the rest of these too.

Value New Year ski holiday

La Casa - Sleeps 8
The words value, Zermatt and New Year don’t often go together but La Casa is the exception to the rule here. A new chalet to us this season, prices are very reasonable considering the quality of this chalet. Located in the Petit Village area of the resort, it has use of a funicular to get down into the town centre (and saves the walk back up the hill!). The money you save on this chalet can go towards the New Year celebratory drinks!

13/07/2010

Enjoy Zermatt Christmas ski holidays

, , , , , ,

Christmas has to be one of the best times of the season to visit Zermatt. Imagine spending a Christmas ski holiday in Zermatt,  a true winter wonderland, surrounded by snow, in a traditional chocolate-box setting, with a view of the Matterhorn from wherever you look. What could be better?!

Zermatt is one of the top ski destinations in the world and a Zermatt Christmas ski holiday is as good a time as any to experience the incredible pistes and stunning views. The lift pass may be a little more expensive than other Alpine resorts but the pistes are always well-groomed, the lift system is quick and efficient and there is plenty of off-piste to discover for those who want to make their Christmas ski holiday a little more exciting. The resort is also great for non-skiers, so anyone who is planning on taking members of the family who don’t ski will not need to worry as there are plenty of things to keep everyone busy. Plus, at Christmas there are lots of festive activities for adults and children alike that take place in the town centre. 

Zermatt certainly attracts a wealthy clientele, yet Christmas is an ideal time for everyone to spend a little more than normal on your ski holiday. However, by staying in a catered chalet in Zermatt, you can have a fabulous family Christmas ski holiday without the stresses and strains of having to shop for or cook Christmas dinner when you return from a day on the slopes. You know that all the costs have been covered and you can leave your chalet after opening the presents with the children on Christmas Day morning, enjoy an amazing day skiing with the family and then return in the evening to a delicious Christmas dinner that your chalet hosts have prepared for you. There are catered chalets to suit all group sizes and budgets in Zermatt, from comfortable three star properties to the incredibly luxurious six star chalets. Below we have selected a few of our favourites…

Family Zermatt Christmas Ski Holidays

Haus Gmatchi – Sleeps 6
Haus Gmatchi is one of the oldest chalets in Zermatt and is located in the old town where the narrow cobbled streets wind between former farmhouses and cattlesheds. This chalet however has been modernised and now has a high quality interior yet has retained its traditional external appearance. This chalet is perfect for a family Christmas ski holiday with the children who will love the chalet’s quirky nature. With an excellent standard of catering, Haus Gmatchi has to be one of the best chalets in Zermatt for your family Christmas ski holiday.

Luxury Christmas Holiday

Maurice – Sleeps 12
Everyone likes a little bit of luxury at Christmas and chalet Maurice has this in abundance! Located in the exclusive Petit Village area, this is an incredible chalet and perfect for splashing out on a luxury ski chalet at Christmas. Chalet Maurice has to be one of the best chalets in the whole resort; fabulous ensuite bedrooms, delicious gourmet meals and wonderful views of the resort and the Matterhorn that can also be enjoyed from the outdoor hot tub!

Ski Convenience

Klein Matterhorn Anita - Sleeps 8-9
Very few chalets in Zermatt are actually in a ski in/out position and so the Klein Matterhorn chalets are the next best thing. Just a three minute walk from the Klein Matterhorn lift means chalet Anita couldn’t be in a better location for getting on the mountain in the morning and for ending the day in the afternoon. Four chalets in this building suit groups of between 6-11 people, making them perfect for your family Christmas ski holiday!

Large Group Christmas Ski Holidays in Zermatt

Mazot – Sleeps 16
If you are part of a large group looking for a Christmas ski holiday in Zermatt then chalet Mazot has to be top of your list. On of only a handful of chalets sleeping more than 10 people means that this is popular throughout the season, especially for Christmas skiing holidays. You couldn’t ask for a better location with the chalet being right in the heart of the town.

Good Value Zermatt Christmas Ski Chalet

Aeschhorn A – Sleeps 10-12
Zermatt isn’t known for being a budget-friendly resort, but if you look carefully enough you can find a comfortable chalet in a great location that doesn’t cost the earth. Chalet Aeschhorn A is a hidden gem when it comes to finding a good value chalet, especially at Christmas. With its old fashioned and somewhat quirky interior decor, the chalet is spacious and great for families or groups of friends who want to celebrate Christmas in the Alps.

13/07/2010

Zermatt Ski Resort

, , , , , , ,

A few key facts

  • Resort Altitude: 1620m
  • Highest Lift: 3820m (Klein Matterhorn)
  • Total Piste Length: 183km (Zermatt) 150km (Cervinia)
  • Longest Piste: 22km
  • Easy Runs: 16%
  • Intermediate Runs: 58%
  • Difficult Runs: 26%
  • Snow Park: Y
  • Europe’s highest skiable peak (3800m)
  • Europe’s highest railway station at 3089m (Gornergrat top station)

    • An introduction to Zermatt ski resort

    Zermatt has around 5800 permanent residents yet there are over 13500 guest beds. Although nowadays it is probably most famous for its ski slopes, Zermatt is just as popular a destination throughout the summer months with walking, climbing and summer skiing being the main attractions. In fact Zermatt made its name as a result of Edward Whymper’s successful yet tragic attempt to become the first person to reach the summit of the Matterhorn in 1865. Mountaineering was the primary attraction during the late 19th century as Zermatt progressed from a rural farming village into a popular tourist destination. Alexander Seiler was responsible for developing the hotel trade after taking out a lease on Zermatt’s first hotel – Hotel Cervin – which he later became the owner of, renamed as the Monte Rosa, and then took over the Riffelberg Hotel in 1854. This all happened before Whymper’s success on the Matterhorn, but meant that the beds and facilities were in place and ready for the increased number of visitors resulting from the successful Matterhorn conquest. Seiler knew that hotel rooms would be in more and more demand and so from the late 1850s he began buying more and more land from local farmers and in 1878 he began a brand new project in the Riffelalp area just above the village centre.  The Hotel Riffelalp was to be not only the best mountain hotel in Switzerland, but in the whole of the Alps. The lack of mountain railway meant all of the building materials had to be taken up the mountain on horseback, and along with the fact that Alexander Seiler personally financed the whole project, it took six years to complete the hotel.

    As per Seiler’s vision, Hotel Riffelalp did attract a number of wealthy visitors from Britain and the rest of Europe and had to be extended in 1898 to cope with demand. During this time, the resort of Zermatt developed and became very popular. The Gornergrat railway had also been built and this opened in 1898 meaning there was now an easy and efficient way for guests to reach the Riffelalp area, although the hotel still had to build an electric tram line to take guests from the station to the hotel. This became the highest tramline in Europe.

    In 1908, the Seiler family (who were continuing with Alexander’s vision after his death in1891) decided Zermatt would be the perfect place for winter sports and so organised a visit for the press in 1908. It wasn’t until 1928 that the first official winter season took place and from then on Zermatt grew and grew in popularity. Today it is one of the prime European destinations for skiing and attracts a wealthy crowd. In spite of its popularity, it has managed to retain its traditional charm and village feel. The pedestrianisation of the town centre means people walk far more than they do in other resorts, the air is cleaner, it has a calmer feel, and electric taxis and buses are available for shuttling people around from the lifts and train station.

    An overview of the ski area

    It has to be said that Zermatt ski resort is one of the best ski areas in the world and one that everyone should experience at least once. It is a mountain paradise for anyone of an intermediate level or above and especially for expert skiers and boarders. There is a small beginners area just above the Sunnegga lift station and the ski schools are good, but it doesn’t offer the variety for beginners that other resorts do though. For anyone who is confident though then there is an amazing amount of pistes and off-piste runs to be explored. The ski pass may be expensive, but the pistes are kept in immaculate condition and the lifts are quick and efficient. Some people complain that the Gornergrat train is slow, but where else in the world can you get a train that runs alongside the piste from resort centre all the way to 3089m? For those who want to get on the piste as quickly as possible in the mornings, then Sunnegga or Klein Matterhorn are the best options.

    The Zermatt ski area is joined with Cervinia on the other side of the mountain. There are some amazing blues and reds as you descend from the T-bar that links the two resorts and although Cervinia is the opposite of Zermatt ski resort in its appearance (think 1960s style apartment block construction!) there is an excellent range of slopes and again the lifts are quick and efficient.

    Apres ski

    The apres-ski scene is not as big as in other European resorts yet there is still an excellent choice of bars and clubs in which to enjoy a drink at the end of the day or party until the early hours. The Hennustall is at the bottom of the Blatten piste as you come back into the resort by the Klein Matterhorn lift. With live bands and Euro-party beats, it is a fun place to end the day’s skiing and with a very gentle 200m or so down to the bus stop you don’t have to worry about navigating the slopes in a semi-drunken state!

    In town,  the Papperla pub is a popular apres ski haunt with live music and an outside bar for some apres entertainment. In the evenings the downstairs nightclub stays open until the early hours. The Vernissage bar is also a popular bar but attracting a wealthier clientele. This venue is a bar, club and cinema all in one with the old fashioned projector being the centrepiece of the upstairs bar. Underneath the Hotel Post is a variety of different bars suitable for those who just want a quiet after-dinner drink or others who want to dance all night.

    Along with the bars, there is a fantastic selection of restaurants in Zermatt serving cuisine from all around the world, and of course the internationally-renowned fondue!

    Activities in Zermatt

    Although most people in the winter visit Zermatt to experience its impressive ski area, there are many other activities on offer. Walking and snowshoeing are popular for non-skiers, along with toboganning, cross-country skiing and ice skating. For those who are a bit more adventurous, ice climbing, paragliding and heliskiing are also on offer. Walking and mountaineering are popular in the summer and of course the numerous shops, bars and cafes in the centre always attract visitors.

    Catered chalets in Zermatt

    Although Zermatt has a smaller range of catered chalets than other resorts, there is still something for everyone. From town centre convenience to family chalets to the ultimate in luxury accommodation, please call our sales team who can advise you on the best chalet for you.

    10/01/2010

    A History of Zermatt Ski Resort

    , , , ,

    From humble beginnings…

    Until the 19th century, Zermatt was a relatively poor, rural village whose inhabitants mainly worked on the land and visitors were few and far between. Tourism began to develop in the 1820s and 30s and the first hotel – The Cervin which later became the Monte Rosa – opened in 1838. As most of the surrounding peaks were gradually being conquered by some of the best climbers and explorers of the time, the one challenge remaining was the Matterhorn. Today, this can be seen from almost everywhere in Zermatt and on the surrounding slopes and is one of the main reasons people visit the resort. Back in the mid 1800s, several people had attempted to reach the summit and failed. The British explorer Edward Whymper had tried and failed eight times to climb the infamous Matterhorn from the Italian side of the border, but in 1865 he decided to attempt it from the Swiss side, and would need to start his expedition in the village of Zermatt.

    Whymper joined forces with Reverend Charles Hudson who was also preparing an attempt, and along with two local guides, Peter Taugwalder father and son, a French guide Michel Croz, Lord Francis Douglas and Douglas Robert Hadow, the group of seven began their climb to the summit of the Matterhorn in July 1865. They were racing a group of Italians who had started out the day before from the Italian side and on 14th July, Whymper and his party became the first group of people to climb all the way to the peak of the Matterhorn and conquer one of Europe’s most famous mountains, standing at 4478m (14692ft) above sea level.  

    Sadly, the expedition became most well known by the fact that four of the climbers died on the way down. Only Whymper and the two local guides, Peter and Peter Taugwalder made it to the bottom. In spite of this however, Zermatt gradually developed into a popular summer mountaineering resort and attracted visitors from all over the world. As visitor numbers grew, so did the demand for hotels and tourist amenities. Alexander Seiler who now owned the Monte Rosa hotel, began leasing more hotels and bought more and more plots of land from local farmers. He built the Riffelalp hotel on the mountain side about a mile above the village centre and wanted this to be the best hotel in the Alps. It even had special permission to build an electric tramway to take guests to and from the centre of Zermatt which was the highest tram in Europe and still is to this day. Completion of the Gornergrat railway in 1898 increased the number of visitors to the hotel, yet it took until 1928 for Zermatt to become a winter resort.

    The first official winter season was in 1928 and since then the resort has developed and grown in popularity. It is now one of the most popular resorts in the world and with some of the highest slopes in Europe it offers not only fantastic winter skiing, but summer skiing too. Although Zermatt ski resort has grown in size it has maintained its traditional charm, and building restrictions in recent years have allowed the town to keep its chocolate box appearance. It still attracts a very wealthy clientele and is certainly one of Europe’s most expensive resorts, but unlike some of the other big-name resorts such as Verbier, Val d’Isere and Courchevel, the wealth is relatively understated.

    Combine an incredible ski area with well maintained pistes, an efficient lift system and some of Europe’s best mountain restaurants, and Zermatt ski resort really is one of the must-experience resorts in the world.