Does this place exist?

ise wrote:

Dave Mac wrote:Your local knowledge would be helpful here Ise. Still researching a New Year trip, suitable for beginners and experienced skiers.

We can get a reasonable easyjet flight to Milan Malpensa. The drive to Brig looks to be achievable by road. Does this road tend to remain open through the season? And might the journey be around two hours?

I'd take the train from Milan, there's a through service from Milan to Geneva actually. Bandit might know more, I think she looked at that option for going to Grimentz.

Not actually done this route yet. Your options seem to be:

From Milan Malpensa by bus or train into Milan Central, then onto the Cisalpino and change at Brig for the Postbus.

From Milan Malpensa by car, and over the Simplon Pass, which is usually open.

From Milan Malpensa by car, and pop your car onto this at Iselle.... http://www.bls.ch/e/autoverlad/autoverlad.php
which will avoid any weather problems on the pass. NB. I have a sneaking suspicion that this does not run in the winter..which is weird :?:

I do know a man who has done the Pass route, he intended to use the tunnel, but missed the entrance signs!
One small matter, his Italian hire car did not have winter tyres, unlike Swiss airport vehicles.

Somewhere like Saalbach maybe?

Flybe fly to Salzburg from Southampton, and Thomsonfly do as well from Bournemouth, so thats pretty handy for you!! Only 90 mins max from Salzburg airport as well. I think there is a train station in Saalbach as well, but without researching it i cant be sure. Scenery isnt absolutely amazing, but being the Alps it does impress :lol:

Got plenty of skiing, tonnes of cruisers and some harder stuff should you feel adventurous :-) Its a lively place, but there are plenty of places to stay so you can get away from it very easily. There are some quite good shops there as well, but i dont know about jewellers as i've never been looking for that sort of thing :lol: Or if you want the same ski area but dont want to stay in the centre of it, Leogang is a nice place (just in the next valley but connected via a few lifts!!) Some of the skiing is above 2000m and theres a good few north facing slopes, so if the snow conditions arent great they will be better on that side. Slopes are all within walking distance, whether you stay in Saalbach, Hinterglemm or Leogang. And of course there are plenty of decent hotels. We stayed in the Hotel Saalbacherhof, right in the centre of the town and was really nice. (Within 5 mins walk from the Schattberg gondola and Kohlmais gondola as well!) And finally, there is good cross country skiing, plenty of hiking (as long as it doesnt dump 50cm a day!!) and the usual aray of general activities!

ise wrote:

bandit wrote:I suggest that Gstaad would suit Rose, as it's closer to the airport, has plenty of expensive shopping, and a railway station :D

I have been, but it's a while ago, but I do remember that the slopes were not crowded, but the restaurants were :lol:

Gstaad would be great. Is it closer though? No direct train from an airport and a fair drive from GVA. Both easier on the train.

The train would be a much more relaxing way to journey from the airport to Gstaad. As Rose wants to use the train to go sightseeing, then possibly one of the Swiss Rail Passes may be of interest.

with Leukerbad there might be a change in Lausanne, and I expect that Gstaad involves a change of train there also.

bandit wrote:

The train would be a much more relaxing way to journey from the airport to Gstaad. As Rose wants to use the train to go sightseeing, then possibly one of the Swiss Rail Passes may be of interest.

with Leukerbad there might be a change in Lausanne, and I expect that Gstaad involves a change of train there also.

For Leukerbad you need to change at Leuk for the bus up to Leukerbad, if you time it right you don't need to change at Sierre. For Gstaad, I think you need to get to Montreux and change onto the MOB.

Yes, you're right, Montreux, I could not remember which station had the connection with the MOB. I remember ages ago, I had to change at Lausanne for Sierre, not sure why, I always check the timetable closely now.

Montruex is the "M" of MOB, Montreux-Oberland-Bern.

Fly to Innsbruck and go to Ischgl, St Anton or Mayrhofen for example, all short transfers. Innsbruck flights are available from Southampton and Bournemouth.

Or Geneva, local flights again. The world is your oyster from Geneva, although I have only recently been to Verbier, and would suggest that ticks your boxes.

If you book a package, you will get transfers included. Otherwise, I know Mayrhofen is on the railway, and you can train to Le Chable which is linked by gondola to Verbier.

Yes I would say Switzerland would tick all your boxed, I would try the Thyon end of the 4 Valleys as it is less busy and more traditional. Sion 20min below the mountain is a great place to shop, live a mini Geneva. Great restaurants and cafe culture.

Just the other side of the mountain in Cran Montana great for a days visit to ski and shop, Nax is an amazing very small be beautiful traditionaly Swiss resort something different for a day. Lots in the area.

Also great in the Summer for mountain biking and hiking.