 Poster: A snowHead
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Hey guys! I'm planning my first ski trip to Europe and I've chosen Zermatt as my destination. I had been hoping to go in the first week or two of March... but the problem I'm runing into is that the hotel I'd like to stay in requires you to book only Saturday-to-Saturday stays during this period... and unfortunately I have no good flight options that line up with that. So I'm forced to either book in the last week of Februrary (Feb 24th - March 2nd) or the third week of March (Tuesday March 19th - Wednesday March 27th).
Late march definitely seems the cheaper option with hotels, however, cost is not my biggest priority here, I want to ensure a great experience for my trip. It's important to me that the village has good snow cover, and that the ski out (below treeline) sections aren't melted/slushy.
With this in mind, do you think late March would be too risky? Or is it a pretty safe bet at Zermatt?
PS: I am not dead-set on Zermatt... I had originally hoped for a resort with better below-treeline skiing... but I also want a 4-star hotel room with at 210cm long bed (I'm a tall guy) and Zermatt had the best selection of these. Plus I liked the town & the convenient access by rail. If any of you know of a better option, please let me know! 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@Fiveby21, you sort of, maybe, want to avoid February and early March as those are school holidays, broadly speaking, certainly in France (no idea re Switzerland/Italy, there's a calendar knocking around somewhere, and so things might be a bit busier. Zermatt in fairness probably doesn't suffer as much (or at all).
a 210cm bed, crikey, you probably need to be in Switzerland for that level of detail!!
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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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Anywhere in Europe can have softer snow by Late March below the tree line if the weather is warm.
Having said that Zermatt is about as safe as it gets.
Personally I wouldn't hesitate to go to Zermatt in late March The majority of the skiing is above tree line though.
If you want more below the tree line earlier you could consider Verbier.
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I thought about Verbier, but everyone said it was more of an off-piste place, and I plan to stay on intermediate pistes.
Waht do you think about the town of Zermatt in late march? Will there probably be snow cover or is it likely that it would've melted by then?
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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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@Fiveby21, Verbier is excellent for off piste but has loads of intermediate pistes, if you want tree line skiing. I don't think you can count on snow in any village at that time of year.
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@Fiveby21, You mentioned you want better below tree line skiing and also that this is your first trip to Europe. Are you aware that the tree line altitude in the Swiss Alps is considerably lower than, say , Colorado?
There's an interesting comparison here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tree_line
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| T Bar wrote: |
Personally I wouldn't hesitate to go to Zermatt in late March |
Me neither, Zermatt is (usually) awesome in March.
I wouldn't expect snow at village level but I wouldn't necessarily in late Feb either. That's just luck of the draw.
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@Fiveby21, Zermatt is a good bet for skiing in March any time as it has lots of high altitude skiing. Bear in mind that in the Alps (I'm thing about the French/western end) the tree line hovers around 1800-2200m, so a great deal of skiing in snow sure resorts is above that level. In late March I think I'd want to be based at a resort no lower than 1400m and with skiing up to 3000m plus. Zermatt itself sits at the end of a north facing valley, so the snow keeps well below the tree line, but the universal problem is that the runs back into any resort below the tree line tend to get mushy at the end of the day when the temperatures go up, not least given the amount of traffic heading back to base at that time. There is no shame in downloading on the lifts if it's bad. Over the top you have the sunny side running down to Cervinia-there are glorious wide open pistes where you can really let rip. I'd say Verbier as a resort is more south facing soI think that is less likely to meet your requirements on the mush front!
And finally-Zermatt is an iconic place to ski and visit-it's one on those resorts that I think are on the "must do" list for anyone coming over from outside Europe, so I'd say go for it. The view of the Matterhorn alone with blow you mind!  .
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| Fiveby21 wrote: |
I thought about Verbier, but everyone said it was more of an off-piste place, and I plan to stay on intermediate pistes.
Waht do you think about the town of Zermatt in late march? Will there probably be snow cover or is it likely that it would've melted by then? |
There are plenty of intermediate pistes in Verbier.
I've skied quite a lot in Verbier in early April and a couple of times in Zermatt.
Verbier overall has a somewhat larger ski are and more skiing below the tree line. Zermatt has more high altitude north facing skiing. Both should have good snow in late March how low down the snow gets soft and slushy/ frozen overnight will vary quite a lot from year to year and often week to week in the same season. Ive been several times for a fortnight in April when the second week has been better than the first. However you would be very unlucky not to get good snow in both resorts . If it hot and sunny Zermatt may be better if it is stormy Verbier may be.
You should be able to ski to resort level in both areas how much actual snow is lying in the village is anyone's guess neither are guaranteed.
The village of Zermatt is more attractive than Verbier it also has a very well known view of the Matterhorn which is impressive however when in the mountains the views in Verbier are probably a ltitle more varied. You can have a great time in either place and its a bit of individual preference plus luck with the weather as to which one would turn out better for you.
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Can't you search a different hotel and go earlier, with probably better ski conditions and more chance for snow in the village?
We have been there last Christmas week for 5 nights, albeit in a (good and central) 3 stars hotel.
Christmas week is a busy week, some places accepted only 7 days indeed.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Verbier.
Feb or Mar.
You can thank us later.
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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 been in Zermatt in March/April several times and the resort runs, such as they are, were all open. In fact we had a day when it dumped it down with snow at village level in the last week of April. In truth though the resort runs on the Zermatt side aren't really the most interesting in a resort full of great pistes and generally we download more often than not. The Zermatt resort runs don't really end in a central hub with loads of bars and restaurants like in other resorts, they're mostly in the really nice village centre and hotel area or on the pistes.
Zermatt is about as snow-sure as you can get, and its a stunning place to visit - we go most years and never tire of it so I really recommend it for a one-off trip to Europe
Verbier is great too with more pistes than you have been led to believe, although it is especially great if you like a bit of off-piste too. It is a big area as well, but getting to the slopes from Verbier to the east beyond Siviez is a bit of an uninteresting slog, including a drag lift that seems to go on forever and is a real thigh-burner
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Late March is good in Zermatt as you get the long sunny afternoons, and nothing beats sitting with your favourite tipple at the end of the day looking across at the Matterhorn! And there’s certainly more intermediate piste cruising than Verbier, especially all those pistes on the Cervinia side. I don’t think you can beat Zermatt for the (Matterhorn) wow effect - especially if coming all the way from the US.
From the Findeln side there is a nice hotel with a busy apres outdoor deck just off the piste above the Sunegga? Lift. There is also the Hennu stahl on the Furi side and plenty of nice hotels and bars in town
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You know it makes sense.
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@Fiveby21, I’d take the late Feb option. Snow cover in town is probable, but the streets are cleared so quickly, you can go round in trainers nearly all the time. My snow boots have never been used in 8 or so trips there. @BobinCH, Bar above Sunnega is the Blue bar I believe. Great views, but self service. Resort runs should be fine, but they are simply a road home. Pretty much straight line stuff, with an occasional scrub off of speed, as all abilities use them, so don’t overly worry about them. Henna stall coming home on the Furi side I have never found good. Stop spat the Blattern bar just above IMO. Coming down the home run from Sunnega,go right to the end and the Cervo hotel has a good outdoor bar and music. A simple lift down to the streets after. As I said, eight times, and going again!
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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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Poster: A snowHead
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Thanks for the advice guys! I ended up booking in late Februrary after all - the cost difference was not significant.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@Fiveby21, you'll have so much fun.
Ask here if you'll need dinner recommendations.
For a fun after skiing afternoon in the center of the village close to the bus station, check Harry's Ski Bar
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