recommendations for first ski trip to Switzerland

Hi all,
I live in the north of Belgium, and usually go to Val Thorens in France each winter (friend has an apartment there, so we get a good price). I don't have any complaints about the resort itself (it's high at 2300 m in resort and part of a large area - 3 vallées), but getting there (by car) can be a hassle.

It occurred to me that I could cut down on the traveling time by going to somewhere closer, namely Switzerland.

But I know a big fat zero about ski resorts in Switzerland.

Could anyone recommend an appropriate resort for a family with 2 kids (4 yrs and 7 yrs)? The older one went up on the lifts with ski school last year for the first time, and the younger one is still learning on the segregated slopes in resort, to give you an idea of their level. They have both been on ski holidays since the age of 3. My wife and I are intermediate skiers (with 10 yrs experience), although my wife is still not a fan of black runs. So a resort with a reasonable number of red runs would be attractive, ie not one dominated by blue and green with just a couple of black runs as an alternative.

I'd prefer a quiet resort, and am not interested in going to a fashionable resorts simply because it is fashionable. I assume ski schools are able to give lessons in English and or French (our languages). I'd also prefer a resort where one doesn't have to walk or pole for ages to get from the accommodation part of the resort to the lifts.

Can anyone offer some suggestions (preferably with a bit of background explanation)?

thanks in advance

Andrew

The Valais is popular with Danes and Dutch. The drive down is via Troyes then Besançpn, Pontarlier and you hit Lausanne and then it's about 40 mins to Martigny/Sion. Or you can go all-motorway via Dijon. If you use viaMichelin set the destination to Sion and it'll give you a good idea of journey times, then add another 30 minutes to get to the resorts. The area is also French-speaking, apparently with dialect words a lot like Belgian (nonante, octante etc.), so I'm told. You could tap into the big ski areas by staying at smaller linked resorts, which are cheaper anyway. Examples are Morgins for the Portes du Soleil, La Tzoumaz for the Quatre Valées. Self-contained, smaller places like Veysonnaz (which is also a spa) and Les Collons are worth considering if you don't need a big ski area. You may find some cheaper accomodation even in otherwise expensive Crans-Montana, Villars/Les Diablerets. The Bains de Saillon near to Sion are Switzerland's biggest thermal baths and more family-oriented than the up-market spas like Lükerbad, so you can take time out for a family day at the spa/pool.
I envy you mainland Europeans who aren't limited by having to use the cartel that is the English Channel transport companies. You can just ring up a local Immobilier/Agence and book an apartment and jump in your cars and go.

thanks for the tips. now I've got an idea where to start looking.
perhaps someone could give me an idea about the relationship between resort altitude and snow conditions in Swiss resorts.
My only experience is with the 3 Vallées area in France, St. Anton & Lech in Austria, somewhere in Andorra (names escapes me) and Saulze Doux in Italy. I know that in St. Anton the skiing is reasonable although the village is at 1400 m (I think) because you basically have to take, for example, a big gondola up to where the ski area really starts. Similarly, in Andorra and Italy it always meant a trek up in some kind of lift before you actually got underway.
When I look at the resort altitudes in Switzerland they are noticeably lower than Val Thorens. How directly could I compare val Thorens with a swiss resort.
thanks in advance for any info
cheers
Andrew

Hi,

I do quite a lot of skiing in Crans-Montana (1500m) but not much about the others (been once to Verbier and once to Zermatt which are both fantastic skiing areas, although the latter is hard to reach and expensive). The thing to be aware of in the Vallais (or at least east of Martigny) is whether the resort is north facing or south facing, which makes quite a bit of difference regarding the snow. Crans-Montana faces south, making for sunny skiing but also for dodgy snow when it gets warmer. This Christmas was the first for years where I can remember being able to ski to the resort. However, it also goes up to 3000+m so there is always skiing somewhere. Even as the snow on the mountain becomes slush I can still see it lying in the vallee opposite where the shade dominates. The area is light on blacks & blues, most slopes being red. Some of the connections are quite low though, so if the snow is not great you risk being limited to a part of the resort or having to take the bus to a different lift from the village (these are quite far apart). And if you are into expensive shopping, than this is the place for you...

Driving from Belgium I would take the Luxembourg-Nancy-Colmar-Mulhouse-Basel-Bern-Montreux route, which is usually quite quiet.

Hi

This may help it is a resort review I wrote a couple of weeks ago.

Thyon 2000/Les Collons/Les Masses

You'll have a hard time finding a better place to enjoy winter sports than Thyon-Région having great snow from November to April it is a skiers and boarders dream. The Val d’Herens is located in the heart of the Swiss alps on the Eastern side of the four valleys system one of the largest ski regions in Europe.
The area has over 400 kms of pistes and 100 ski lifts that seamlessly link - Thyon, Veysonnaz, Nedaz and Verbier.

There really is something for everyone, Thyon 2000 has wide open sunny slpoes for beginners and more challengin slopes for the intermediate and advance, including large areas of off piste the Billabong board park with nursery slopes for the little ones.

Thyon is one of the least know resorts in the 4 valleys, but not to say it’s not one of the best. Benefiting from the same lift system and similar altituds, the Thyon region offers better value for money and is less crowded than it’s better know neighbourgh Verbier. If you are looking for a true taste of traditional Switzerland this is the area to visit just relax and enjoy the fablouse views over the untouched alpine paradise.

With Evolene and Crans-Montana just a short drive away and the medieval city of Sion at the foot of the mountain everything is within close striking distance. Sion with it’s monastry and castle has a cosmopolitian feel with world class restaurants and designer shopping.

We know the are well so if you have any questions please don't hesitate to send a message.

Best wishes

Helen

Verbier, Switzerland is the resort thats got it all. If it snows in Europe then you need to get to Verbier. I have been there now 7 times and I still can't wait to go again.

Check out http://www.premiumverbier.com

My first choice would be the very beautiful Arosa, followed by Engelberg. Both very family friendly resorts and easy to get to, especially from you local railway station!