We were lucky enough to ski over the Thanksgiving holiday in Zermatt, Switzerland, home of the Matterhorn. It was a great trip and I highly recommend it. We went as part of a bus tour so all our arrangements were made for us which was very convenient as this was our first European ski experience.
There are no cars in Zermatt and you have to take a train to get into town. You can find small electric taxis and delivery vehicles, similar to long enclosed golf carts, and the occasional bus, but that is the extent of traffic in this picturesque village.
We had two days of really great weather and the third stayed cold and windy but eventually turned sunny in the afternoon. The biggest difference between US skiing and here is the lack of trail markers. Bright orange poles mark the edge of a run but you can really ski anywhere that isn't roped off. They don't name their runs or mark the beginning so it's easy to get off track if you're not paying attention. Trail maps are not as detailed as the ones you find in the US.
For those who don't ski, there is plenty of shopping, hiking, snow shoeing, food, music and sightseeing to keep you busy.
But no matter how you spend your days and nights, Zermatt is a trip worth taking!
Hotel Review: We stayed at the Hotel Atlanta, which has a great central location, although not many amenities. The hotel is what we consider a "ski hotel," which means a place to shower and sleep but not much else. The breakfast was pretty sparse, the wi-fi was not working, and there is no hot tub or sauna. On the bright side it has a million dollar view of the Matterhorn, it is clean, and the location is perfect.
There are no cars in Zermatt and you have to take a train to get into town. You can find small electric taxis and delivery vehicles, similar to long enclosed golf carts, and the occasional bus, but that is the extent of traffic in this picturesque village.
We had two days of really great weather and the third stayed cold and windy but eventually turned sunny in the afternoon. The biggest difference between US skiing and here is the lack of trail markers. Bright orange poles mark the edge of a run but you can really ski anywhere that isn't roped off. They don't name their runs or mark the beginning so it's easy to get off track if you're not paying attention. Trail maps are not as detailed as the ones you find in the US.
For those who don't ski, there is plenty of shopping, hiking, snow shoeing, food, music and sightseeing to keep you busy.
But no matter how you spend your days and nights, Zermatt is a trip worth taking!
Hotel Review: We stayed at the Hotel Atlanta, which has a great central location, although not many amenities. The hotel is what we consider a "ski hotel," which means a place to shower and sleep but not much else. The breakfast was pretty sparse, the wi-fi was not working, and there is no hot tub or sauna. On the bright side it has a million dollar view of the Matterhorn, it is clean, and the location is perfect.
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