Latest posts for the topic "Zermatt December Skiing"

Zermatt December Skiing

Tue, 6 Sep 2016 21:19:19 GMT

Hi Guys, I'm thinking of visiting Zermatt around the 9th Dec this year, having looked into the past snow conditions in Dec it looks okay. Any information would be helpful.
Im taking my Kids aged 16 & 14, are there places to eat without booking restaurants.
We always stay ski in ski out or central and close to the lifts, so any hotel recommendations.

Cheers

Paul

Re:Zermatt December Skiing

Wed, 7 Sep 2016 15:41:42 GMT

From what I've heard, take a credit card with a very, very large credit limit

Re:Zermatt December Skiing

Wed, 7 Sep 2016 15:51:23 GMT

It was a concern, but I skied Verbier on a boys trip two years ago, which could be expensive if you wanted it to, I wouldn't anticipate it being any different than there. Hopefully I receive plenty more feed back that may give me a better indication on the level of costs.

Thanks for the message

Paul

Re:Zermatt December Skiing

Wed, 7 Sep 2016 22:47:05 GMT

No idea what the snow conditions will be like, they weren't very good in early December last year as it was very warm. There are about 150 restaurants in Zermatt so finding something to eat at that time of the season won't be a problem, there's always McDonalds! It would be best if you stayed near to the Matterhorn express gondola station, the Antares, Berghof, Bijou, Matterhorn Focus, Sun Valley Lodge and Zurbriggen Suitenhotel are all in the vicinity. It will be expensive, Zermatt has the most expensive lift pass in Europe and the Pound has lost over 45% of its value against the Swiss Franc since 2007.

If it was me and I only live about 1½ hrs away from Zermatt I would go to Cervinia. The lift pass is cheaper and the Pound has only lost 20% against the Euro over the same period of time.

Re:Zermatt December Skiing

Thu, 8 Sep 2016 12:17:23 GMT

Zermatt was expensive when we last skied there December 2014. With the weak GBP, it will be even more expensive this coming season. There are some cheaper restaurants in town but I've not come across anything similar when you are on the mountain. Cervinia is much cheaper in terms of food. However, in my opinion, the skiing and general 'ambience' is much superior on the Zermatt side.

However, I doubt the skiing will be great around 9th December, certainly not lower down and, whilst cold, there may not have been sufficient snow at high level as well to open all of the runs.

Re:Zermatt December Skiing

Thu, 8 Sep 2016 17:20:12 GMT

Thank you SwingBeep & Bedrock Barney for all your feedback, it sounds like Cervinia could be the better option. Nothing shall be booked until the Snow arrives. Is there a particular area in Cervinia that I should be looking for accommodation.

Thanks Again

Paul

Re:Zermatt December Skiing

Mon, 12 Sep 2016 06:07:14 GMT

I am not sure you need to worry about snow arriving in Cervinia. Consistently has the best early snow in the Alps and is open a few months before you arrive.

Re:Zermatt December Skiing

Mon, 12 Sep 2016 13:34:37 GMT

Thanks for your in put Ranchero, it sounds like I should book.

Re:Zermatt December Skiing

Mon, 12 Sep 2016 22:39:17 GMT

Until recently you could say with a reasonable degree of certainty that skiing would be possible in early December. But not anymore, it's become dryer and warmer recently August was 1.1 degrees warmer than the average for 1981-2010 and we had less a third of the rainfall we normally get. If you look at this chart you can see that average yearly temperatures in the Alps are rising.

I would be cautious about booking anything before we get some snow, especially if I was taking two teenagers.

Cervinia and Zermatt get most of their snow from the south, an area of low pressure forms over the Gulf of Genoa and moist air is transported to the alps. This doesn't happen all that often so you have to be patient, March is the best month to visit Zermatt. Cervinia does better because its on the right side of the main alpine ridge.

Re:Zermatt December Skiing

Tue, 13 Sep 2016 04:27:20 GMT

Guaranteed skiing on the glacier but yes is too early anywhere in world to get full vertical. If that is your date then best place to head.

Re:Zermatt December Skiing

Tue, 13 Sep 2016 19:41:01 GMT

Go to Cervinia. Much much cheaper, better food and usually better early snow.

Re:Zermatt December Skiing

Wed, 14 Sep 2016 08:15:13 GMT

The food will be cheaper in Cervinia but not necessarily better.

Re:Zermatt December Skiing

Wed, 14 Sep 2016 09:07:50 GMT

Depends what you like really