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Resort: Saas Fee
Country: Switzerland
Domain: Saastal
Author: Elizabeth B

Date: April 2006
Our holiday: I was travelling across the alps, and met up with some friends in Saas Fee for 5 days
Website : http://www.saas-fee.ch/en/welcome.cfm
Basics : Saas Fee is in the Valais region of Switzerland. I drove there and stayed in Saas Grund as Saas Fee is car free. It can be accessed on public transport by getting a train to Visp and then a post bus. Sion airport is the nearest, but Geneva is within reasonable travelling distance.
Lift system : The main lift up from Saas Fee is the Alpin Express. This is a two stage "people eater" (large cabin gondola), followed by a funicular. The other way into the main ski area is via an antique gondola. There is another small area accessed by a modern gondola. Due to the glacier, most of the lifts are t-bars. There is one chair lift that has been modernised this season, and there are plans to add another this summer.
The terrain : The Saastal area is split into three - Saas Fee is the largest, Saas Almagell and Saas Grund. These are linked by a regular bus service. Saas Almagell and Saas Grund have enough terrain for a day, but not much more. Saas Fee isn't the biggest in the world, but has a glacier so is snow sure.
The snow : Despite being late in the season, the snow conditions were good right the way down to the resort.
Off-piste : Due to the glacier, off piste is not allowed at Saas Fee. There are some opportunities at Saas Grund
The resort : Saas Fee is a pretty place with spectacular scenery and alpine charm. Saas Fee is car free, and the village is quite spread out....so expect to do some walking. The Alpin Express is a couple of mins walk from the car park/bus stop - this is worse at the end of the day when the walk is up hill! This year they have introduced some resort buses (electric milk float type) but they are not included on the lift pass.
Food : They've just rebuilt the Morenia restaurant (half way up the alpin express) and that was very nice. In Saas Grund, the Roby and the Dom both did nice food at a good price.
Accommodation : I stayed in Saas Grund, as I had a car with me and this was a cheaper option. The first place I stayed was the Hotel Roby, right in the centre of Saas Grund. This was a pleasant, but basic hotel, that had a nice restaurant. As this was fully booked for the Easter weekend, I then moved to the Hotel Touring which was superb. I had a large double room (with sofa) and free access to the swimming pool/whirlpool/sauna.
Costs: The Roby was CHF 44 per night b&b, the Touring was CHF 73 per night b&b
Conclusion: I think a week in Saas Fee is too long (for the size of the ski area), but 5 days was about right. I'd happily go there for a long wekend.

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