 Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Can't speak from personal experience, but the three larger resorts close to Zurich are Arosa/Lenzerheide, Davos and Laax.
Out of those three Arosa/Lenzerheide sounds like what you are looking for. The place tends to get a lot of hype, so maybe worth checking out.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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St Moritz might also be an option. Good terrain. Enough to keep those who prefer piste skiing happy, and great off-piste.
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I've been to Engelberg 3 times from Zurich Airport, which I like for various reasons - only 2 hours by train (maybe 1 hr 30 mins by car), often gets a good cold dump from Northerly weather systems, fantastic off-piste, great views (especially from the glacier), pretty village, fast and modern ski lifts, and I've always managed to find good value accommodation there.
They claim that skiing from the top of the Glacier (3000m) to the town (1000m) is one of the largest vertical descents on-piste in Europe, although it does require hopping onto a short chairlift (Trubsee-Hopper) which goes across a flat area. There's also a short section of unpisted black just below the glacier required for the full descent!
It's not a ski-in ski-out type of place. You might be able to find accommodation near the lifts, although I generally stay near the train station and use the shuttle buses to get to the lifts which are regular and only take 5 minutes.
It's a small resort and the pistes are quite limited (mostly reds) but could be a good option for a short break.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Generally train is just as easy as car in Switzerland, especially with the proliferating driving restrictions and speed limits. Pretty much every resort is reachable by train (sometimes only by train). Zürich airport train station is very convenient.
There are some smaller local places but some more well known spots might be, as already mentioned - Engleberg, though maybe better for off piste, Andermatt - the area over to Disentis means it is now attractive to piste skiers as well as those who would enjoy the Gemstock, Jungfrau area, Flims / Laax, Arosa / Lenzerheid. Not Switzerland but an easy drive (nearer than many Swiss places) would be the Montafon area in Vorarlberg and the Arlberg (St Anton possibly a bit more convenient than Lech/Zürs as the tunnel is potentially less weather affected than the Flexen pass)
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Engelberg and/or Andermatt have great terrain, close to Zürich and get a lot of snow. With a car you could even do a couple of days in each for some variety…
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Agree with suggestions above. From experience, road links are good to many resorts both within Switzerland an Western Austria. Engleberg is great for the length of stay you're talking about; we've usually tried to stay at hotels across the bridge and walk to the lift but with a car, I guess you could stay anywhere in town and drive to the lift.
From Zurich, both the Montafon (stay in Schruns or St Gallenkirch both as near to the lift as you can) and St Anton are doable and great options from direct experience; the drive to St Anton is very easy with excellent roads. There is a helpful website that covers the Austrian motorways for info and purchases https://www.asfinag.at/en/ and an equally helpful app from the same organisation https://apps.apple.com/us/app/unterwegs/id453459323 if that helps.
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Thanks all, some good things to be looking at there.
We hadn’t considered crossing into Austria - think we’re all a little wary of the varying covid requirements that come in to play with crossing between countries so we’re keeping it simple!
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Andermatt and Engelberg every time. Easy smooth drive from Zurich. Great off piste and plenty of good challenging stufd on piste.
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Anyone got accommodation suggestions for Andermatt?
Looking at there and Engelberg and whilst Engelberg sounds great for me OH, it looks a bit limited for piste stuff so our friends may feel a little constrained.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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if youve hired a car from ZRH then you can afford heliskiing...
seriously though as said before, laax, arosa/lenzerheide and wengen
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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I've stayed in several places in Andermatt, and I'd be happy staying again at any of the places along Gotthardstrasse (which is generally best placed for lift access). Given the choice I'd probably go for the Schwarzen Baren or Crown as first choices, then after that the Aurora tends to be at the cheaper end, or you pay a bit more for the 3 Konige & Post. There are also ways to spend a ridiculous amount of money if so inclined.
Be aware with Andermatt that the better skiers will probably want to spend more time at Gemstock, and the intermediates on the slopes towards Disentis, so it won't be that easy to meet up during the day. If that's an issue, you may be better looing at Arosa/Lenzerheide, or Davos/Klosters
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Swiss railways (SBB) used to have various ticket offers for transfers from airport to resort and back, some were not available to the public but were to hotels, tourops, etc.
If you are going to stay somewhere such as Arosa do you need to hire a car and have it there (possibly unused) for the duration? Would a train offer be better VFM (or just as important - easier)?
Once you've decided on your accommodation, ask them if they can offer a transfer ticket. They might even collect you from the station. There used to be welcome-luggage and fly-luggage - from check-in in the UK to resort station and back.
Compare cost and hassle factors and decide. . . .
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You know it makes sense.
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Ski Lodge Engelberg is a great place to stay, decent rooms, with good food and a great bar
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Ski Lodge Engelberg is a great place to stay, decent rooms, with good food and a great bar
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Poster: A snowHead
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Ski Lodge Engelberg is a great place to stay, decent rooms, with good food and a great bar
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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@Mistress Twerkle, Have a look at Klosters, better than Davos for village and accommodation, shares the same ski area, which has extensive piste skiing as well as off piste easily sampled. IMHO Klosters is more suitable, ski wise, than either Andermatt or Engelberg, both more limited in terrain.
Montafon is much further and smaller skiing. St. Moritz will be quite expensive.
Klosters is about an 90 mins by car from Zurich, or less than two hours by train. The station in Klosters is right in the centre, with a lovely old hotel, the Chesa Grischuna very close by.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@Mistress Twerkle, Good call - enjoy! 
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