Zurich - ski resort nearby for a day visit

Hi, In early January 2010, I will be returning to Australia from England with a 4 day stop over in Zurich, of which one day to ski.

I am a high intermediate skier and my 11yo daughter (second timer) will be with me. We will be travelling by public transport (naturally) and only speak English.

I am wondering if someone could please suggest a good ski resort (or two) for a day visit near to Zurich for us to consider, based on terrain, views, weather and access by public transport.

Also interested in clothing hire whilst there. Unlike at home we won't have anything with us like parkas, pants, boots, gloves, beanie, goggles ... ... not sure how much of that you can hire in the area?

Thanks!

If you are going to ski on a week day then Flumserberg should be fairly good for you.

http://www.flumserberg.ch/winter/en/home/default.htm

It is a medium sized resort very easily accessible from Zurich city centre. The train drops you off directly across the road from the Gondola which goes up to the resort. This resort is best avoided on weekends though as it gets very crowded due to its proximity and easy access from Zurich.

There is also a Swiss public transport ticket called Snow'n'Rail. This allows you to buy a train ticket and ski pass together at the train station you depart from for a reduced cost. You then hand in a voucher at the ski resort and they give you your ski pass. It makes sense for one day trips by public transport to do this.

http://railaway.rail.ch/english/snow-n-rail/

Snow'n'Rail info for Flumserberg here:
http://railaway.rail.ch/english/snow-n-rail/glarus-eastern-switzerland/flumserberg/

Flims/Laax?

Tony_H wrote:Flims/Laax?

Its further from Zurich, more expensive and in my opinion highly overrated.

I would normally never recommend Flumerberg due to how crowded it gets, but on a weekday off-season it will not be crowded and in terms of ease of access from Zurich then it can't be beaten.

On a weekend, going a little further to Pizol might be more worth while.

Going to Flims/Laax is usually more about the "I've been there" factor. Its not really any different from other similar sized resorts in the area, and in my opinion many of the smaller resorts close by offer just as good skiing or snowboarding without the crowds. (Thats just my opinion though).

Good luck Glen with your search. One great advantage that the Swiss resorts have is the easy access by train - several have RAILWAY (not train!!!! Grrr!) stations close to the lift systems.

So how about Engelberg for a day visit? Easy access from Zurich via Lucerne. A decent sized ski area for a day, that's for certain.

Flumserberg is one hour from Zurich by train. Engelberg is two. Engelberg also has a little bit of a walk to the lift from the train station (There is more then one dialect of English and where I am from we call them train stations!). Also Engelberg tends to be steeper and is not as well connected as Flumserberg. Both should be avoided at all costs on a sunny weekend.

Vested interest by any chance?

Absolutely not, I personally don't like either of those two areas. But, for someone on limited time Flumserberg will be the easiest and most efficient resort with a decent selection of runs to go to for a day trip, providing its not a sunny weekend.

I just happen to live near Zurich and have been to nearly all the resorts within about a 2-3 hour radius.