Which ski resort??

Spot on bandit - a real far way! And yes, needs to be real Swiss spectacular! The difficult part being we keep on comparing to US resorts, and as you mentioned, cannot compare at all. We'll be coming into Zurich IA though.

I'm comparing Verbier, Saas-Fe and Wengen at the moment. Just flicked through Saas-Fe though. Will have a deaper look.

In summary, we need:
Accomodation: condo, sleeps 4 (to our self). Intermediate pricing, not tooooo expensive, but realize you get what you pay.
Skiing: beginner and intermediate, not too far from condo, and easy lift access.
Night life: no need
Town / village: Things to do off-slope days
Transport: close "to do other parts of coutry exploring"

Thanks for info!

I'm not sure that Verbier is going to suit your party. It's a big resort and there's lots of slopes, but lots of the accommodation is not ski in/out. The resort has excellent skiing for very good skiers. It's also quite pricey and attracts folk who like to be seen spending their money

As you are flying into Zurich, you may want to consider Engelberg, which has direct rail connection from Zurich, and plenty of novice skiing, as well as sightseeing from the revolving cable car up to the glacier where there are intermediate slopes.
http://www.titlis.ch/index.php?id=134&lang=en

or Davos: http://stayplus.davos.ch/ferienplaner/ferienplaner/intro.html?lang=en&saison=so
Which is around 2hours 20 mins from Zurich by rail, and has a huge choice of slopes. It's a town sized resort with plenty to see both on and off the slopes. Linked to Klosters by ski slope and rail.

SkiFam wrote:

Spot on bandit - a real far way! And yes, needs to be real Swiss spectacular! The difficult part being we keep on comparing to US resorts, and as you mentioned, cannot compare at all. We'll be coming into Zurich IA though.

I'm comparing Verbier, Saas-Fe and Wengen at the moment. Just flicked through Saas-Fe though. Will have a deaper look. 

I'd skip Verbier, not very Swiss at all, it just happens to be here and attracts the crowds which is handy as it keeps them away from elsewhere. The skiing in Wengen isn't really very special either so I'd skip that as well.

Saas Fee is pretty nice but Zermatt is better in that area.

ise wrote:

I'd skip Verbier, not very Swiss at all, it just happens to be here and attracts the crowds which is handy as it keeps them away from elsewhere. The skiing in Wengen isn't really very special either so I'd skip that as well.

Saas Fee is pretty nice but Zermatt is better in that area.  

I will think of Verbier as the "Flypaper for the Valais" from now on

Yes, Zermatt is (very) good, but consider the criteria the OP wants to achieve. I've yet to ski Zermatt in winter, but it seems to lack ski in/out.

Wengen is dominated by spectacular peaks, and the OP wanted day's off sightseeing. As this is a group with some novice skiers, though you might consider the slopes nothing special, it might suit them much more

Zermatt's pretty bad for people who need everything handing to them on a plate, it does reward people who like to take time looking at maps and making plans.

Saas Fee isn't ski-in/ski-out either though. As for Wengen, I don't know, are there really many good novice slopes? Some good terrain for the self-styled intermediates for certain. I just dislike how badly linked it all is. Zermatt has that advantage that it all radiates from the town even if it involves moving around town in the morning/evening.

The scenery and landscape in Wengen is good but really the skier isn't engaged in it at all, it's just a backdrop; in fact I think this is why it just doesn't work for me. The real mountains are accessed from the Jungfraujoch and the shortest route is a day tour with about 3 hours climbing. The fans of the area never get that far of course.

Whereas in Zermatt, you're in amongst that landscape all the time, you can ride lifts and ski on the Klein Matterhorn, without much expertise you can join a trip and ski on the Breithorn. For 170chf a day you can join the guides office and ski off piste and you'll be in amongst seracs and glaciers in that huge mountain landscape.

ise wrote:

Saas Fee isn't ski-in/ski-out either though.
 

Well, you can generally ski back to the bottom of the nursery slopes, and the Alpin Express gives access to the mid station without endless hiking through the village.

ise wrote:

Zermatt has that advantage that it all radiates from the town even if it involves moving around town in the morning/evening.
 

Agreed, but the party may find themselves on different hills within the resort, so it could be hard to meet up for lunch (for example)

ise wrote:

Whereas in Zermatt, you're in amongst that landscape all the time, you can ride lifts and ski on the Klein Matterhorn, without much expertise you can join a trip and ski on the Breithorn. For 170chf a day you can join the guides office and ski off piste and you'll be in amongst seracs and glaciers in that huge mountain landscape. 

I must get over there and ski the Breithorn, or walk it maybe. This sort of skiing may not appeal to the OP and their party, who may prefer less challenge.
Personally, back in September I got tired of wailing tourists in the swinging KM cable car, each time we passed a pylon
Would Zermatt offer the OP sufficient value for money?

Seems to me that Switzerland may not be able to offer you all you want. You mentioned France. Looking at your criteria I'd seriously consider the Three Valleys. Now before you all start shouting about how expensive Courchevel is (and it is), the place to stay is La Tania. It's right in the middle of the three valleys, the majority of accomodation is ski/out and it is cheap by comparison to it's more illustrious neighbours. With the Area pass you get to ski from Val Thorens across to Meribel and on to Courchevel. Fantastic big pistes lots of tree skiing, top access to all the slopes very good lift system. We went there two years ago with three other families. All of us had varying abilities fron first time skiers to advanced intermedites, and it ticked all the boxes. Fly into grnoble or Turin and about a two hour transfer time. Check out La Tania's own web site http://www.latania.co.uk
It may have put you into even more of a tail spin in decideing where to go, but I hope this helps.
Bill

billrol wrote:

Seems to me that Switzerland may not be able to offer you all you want.  

I think I must have missed a bit there which bit of this can't it offer ?

In summary, we need:
Accomodation: condo, sleeps 4 (to our self). Intermediate pricing, not tooooo expensive, but realize you get what you pay.
Skiing: beginner and intermediate, not too far from condo, and easy lift access.
Night life: no need
Town / village: Things to do off-slope days
Transport: close "to do other parts of coutry exploring"