Living in or near mountains.

NIIIXSY wrote:
I want to have a holiday this summer in mountains any recommendations where to stay ?????

This summer Grimentz and the other Val d'Anniviers villages are offering free cable cars/buses/swimming pools and guided tours...

http://www.sierre-anniviers.ch/en/Packages/Anniviers-Liberte/

I could suggest a place to stay, book via a local agency, if you'd like to see one of the most picturesque villages in Europe...... :D

Crispyapplepie !
First let me say , " what an imaginative identity you have chosen" ! I am sure your personality reflects this "image" !

I am one of the lucky ones and let me "share" my secret with you !

It is not a question of "jobs", education or SES ! It is a question of a mind set ! Skiing to me is a "life style" not a sport or a "weekend activity" !

As a result I make my lifestyle decisions in reference to this choice! My education was very traditional. My occupation very much like a monk ! No one would even consider my "hidden passions"! You must learn never to tell your employer where you were for those past three months! Most skiers tell everyone where they are going and then post pictures even videos for all to see ! Soon you are perceived as "not company material" ! Not married to agency!

If you are good at what you do people, companies, governments will be flexible!

In my professional life no one knows about my passion,,,,,no addiction! What addiction it is ! All they know is that between October and May I am not available ! After some years you acquire contacts ! Skiers who need someone to take care of their 15 room chalet! Ski companies that need someone to try their prototypes and give a honest educated evaluation!

Once you make the choice,,,then strange "events" occur ! You meet people who need someone to; host a group of Japanese skiers, evaluate potential ski resorts or skis. Once you demonstrate that you can "communicate" effectively, are dependable and fit ,,,,,,,doors open !

I am now guiding high level skiers to "skier shangrilas" because I convinced a ski tour owner that there are people who will pay to ski in spots not well know to 90% of the skiing world!

Want to enter into this world ?

Try this.

Go to any ski resort anywhere in the world. Get to ski resort well before the crowds, before the tourists and if you look carefully you will note in some corner 10-30 skiers joking, laughing, smiling! They are the ski gypsies of the world!
If they accept you, they will find you a bed for free, a local job for a season and even a possible house/chalet to buy !

You must come early,,,when coffee is just being made, when the patrollers are getting dressed, when the parking lot is empty and the sun is just rising !

Can't recommend using this ^^^approach in Switzerland. You will need a Residence/Work Permit to stay more than 90 days.

That is a beautifully romantic view of doing a ski season or moving to the mountains pav, I couldn't do that-I applied fora job in the uk and went out having secured a salary, accommodation and lift pass.

Mind you I'm not still there.......

rossyhead,
My son graduated from a well know university, but did not know what to "focus" on! He just took a year "off" and went to a ski resort! He did not have a penny!

I found some friends who were ski instructors, patrollers and groomers! They were renting a large ski cottage! I did say he had no money, so he worked for the group; washing, cleaning, shoveling, etc,,,Soon he was replacing them when they were sick,,or too tired to drive the trucks!
By November he was known as the "one who did everything" at the ski resort! Cafeteria short in staff,,,,he was asked to
Night shift on the snow guns were short,,,he was there to help out.
Marketing staff had to show ski center to a ski writer,,,,,he was there as guide.

In short he was there when needed! Salary was never discussed, but soon the manager pass him an envelope with money!

He discovered the life of the ski gyspsy!

Sasha is now a Director of a large Multi-national company and just a few days ago he casually mentioned to me, " dad thanks for not making feel guilty about taking a year off to find my bearings. It was one of my very best years "!

Amazing what people will do when they need help, reliable staff,,,,, Bandit ! The ski world is full of ski gypsies! I have an "open budget" for emergencies and yes the "directives" do not allow me to hire ski gypsies,,but when work has to be done fast, well,,,it is done !

As I said before, wonderful story and superb of him to have made so much from nothing but it must be a one in a million story-if it was that straightforward we would all be doing it.......

Your approach will not work in Switzerland. You would need to show on arrival, evidence of sufficient funds to support yourself during your stay, (for non working Valais residence I have heard that CHF 1m is about right) and show that you have arranged Health Insurance, plus get a Residence Permit for the Canton where you intend to live. If you don't have the funds you will need a Job offer, and that depends partly on your Nationality, and if there is a Swiss person who could do the job.

The Swiss are very strict, and they do deport law breakers. This is addition to those who are turned back on arrival. There is a recession in Europe, resorts are cutting back where they can.

Pavelski, did Sasha ever spend any time in Mayrhofen in the late 90s?