 Poster: A snowHead
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Hello everyone,
Snowboarder here from the USA, doing my first trip to the alps. I'm flying into Geneva March 19 at 5:15pm and leaving March 24th at 7:05pm.
I'm having a pretty hard time deciding how to plan this trip because on one hand, I want to party and have not just a great but a legendary apres experience. At the same time, I also want to see the Matterhorn and ride into Cervinia for lunch. So my question is, do you think it is feasible to go to Zermatt for 3 nights and two full days of riding), then going over to 3 Vallees for potentially 1.5-1.75 days of riding, then heading back to Geneva for my evening flight home? or is it more worth it to stick to Zermatt? I could also just do a day trip to somewhere closer like Laax or Saas Fee, just for the experience.
Some things to note:
1. I have a hotel booked in Zermatt (refundable) from March 19 to March 22.
2. I also have a room booked in Zermatt for the entire trip (March 19-March 24) that is also refundable.
3. Being American, I'm used to traveling multiple hours to get to different places around the state. Hell, sometimes I drive two hours just to get to work.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@The_Intrepid, welcome to the forum.
To be honest, it sounds totally mad to try to combine Zermatt and 3V in just 4 days (... but then I am not a snowboarder). They are in opposite directions from Geneva, and with only a day or so you would hardly scratch the surface of the 3V.
Laax isn't much better, it would leave you with a very long trip to return to Geneva. But Saas Fee should be feasible.
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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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| The_Intrepid wrote: |
I want to party and have not just a great but a legendary apres experience.
I have a hotel booked in Zermatt |
I've got bad news for you...
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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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| red 27 wrote: |
| The_Intrepid wrote: |
I want to party and have not just a great but a legendary apres experience.
I have a hotel booked in Zermatt |
I've got bad news for you... |
well like I said, it's refundable
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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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I'd agree that it would be mad to try to combine the 2. One resort or the other.
Have you looked at how you will get from Geneva to each resort given your timings?
Also not easy to find less than 7 nights accommodation in the 3 Valleys.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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From Geneva go to Verbier for après. You could easily combine with Zermatt 2-3 days in each travelling by train
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@The_Intrepid, not sure I'd ski to Cervinia "for lunch"?
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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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Zermatts great, 3V is a long way away and you will waste time between the two.
If you want to try a resort with a bit more of a party vibe, Verbier is your best bet, being close by having a party atmosphere and great terrain.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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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 love when our US friends come to visit. They will be in London, up to Edinburgh, nip to Stonehenge, a little trip to Paris and "thinking about maybe Madrid" all in a week. The distances are nothing to back home, comparably.
@The_Intrepid, Zermatt is great but 3V is definitely more lively.
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The drive from Zermatt to Val Thorens is less than 5 hours according to google maps so that is doable in the evening even including the train down from Zermatt to the car.
When travelling all the way from the US is some inter ski resort travel not less of a big thing, especially for an American. Hotels are absolutely available, you just have to pay the larger rates than normal.
I'd pop to Cervinia for lunch as a) it'd be visiting another country and ski resort and chalet etoile is incredible.
It's absolutely doable. Would I do it, hell no! But I can see why you would.
If going to the 3 vallees I'd stay in Val Thorens for the apres. I'm not sure what the apres in Zermatt is like nowadays.
It'll be expensive, it'll be exhausting but it would be a great trip for someone trying to cram stuff in.
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You know it makes sense.
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Stay in Zermatt, ski over to Cervinia (with basics in a backpack) and stay for a couple of nights there. From Cervinia get an early morning taxi/transfer to La Thuile/Aosta/Pila/Courmayeur which are all quite near as they’re all in the Aosta Valley. That would be my recommendation. Combining 3V with Zermatt doesn’t make much sense although, of course, it’s doable.
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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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| Legend. wrote: |
| I'd pop to Cervinia for lunch as a) it'd be visiting another country and ski resort and chalet etoile is incredible. |
… as are Foyer des Guides, Bontadini (the restaurant proper, not the self-serve above it) and Rascard (although that requires a booking and transfer from Valtournenche)
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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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| Blackblade wrote: |
| Legend. wrote: |
| I'd pop to Cervinia for lunch as a) it'd be visiting another country and ski resort and chalet etoile is incredible. |
… as are Foyer des Guides, Bontadini (the restaurant proper, not the self-serve above it) and Rascard (although that requires a booking and transfer from Valtournenche) |
Not 2 I know but will add them for future trips. There are other very good restaurants in Cervinia but Chalet Etoile is exceptional.
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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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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Verbier! you can see the matterhorn from there and have the full on apres experience. Or split Zermatt and Verbier if you must.....
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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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Since you only mention Zermatt and 3V - if you want apres, you will find 3V livelier (just make sure you're not in one of the smaller satellite parts of the resort). Courchevel, Meribel and VT all have excellent Apres.
For snowboarding both resorts are excellent so you'll enjoy the snow side of things. You should pick one however. You can't do both.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Forget 3 Valleys!
4 days isn’t long enough to see the 3 Valleys. Never mind “splitting” it with Zermatt.
Take @gilo’s advice. Go to Verbier for both the skiing and the partying.
Oh, don’t go beyond the piste markers. It’s not avalanche controlled.
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@The_Intrepid,
Got to Portes du Soleil - closer to Geneva than Zermatt or 3V, plus you would be able to board in both France & Switzerland. Base yourself in one of the French villages - it'll be cheaper, including the cost of the lift pass.
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@Kenzie, but that wouldn't offer "a legendary apres experience" the OP is after would it? Making assumptions on what I've heard/read as I've not been!
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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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@The_Intrepid,
Ask on the Portes du Soleil 2023/24 thread on the Snow Reports forum below for which of the villages are recommended or apres-ski. Then ask after bar recommendations!
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Days 1-2 = Zermatt
Days 3-4 = Verbier
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Hey
I have been to Zermatt twice 4 & 6 days. The village it’s stunning, Matterhorn legendary and views amazing. Apre ski quite limited, the Hennu Stall probably most lively, going down to village. Also in town Harry’s ski bar. Music very Germanic and old. Food in my opinion extremely expensive and not appealing to me. French or Italians do it much better. Cervinia would be definitely a good option for lunch. Book in advance. Also take into consideration the connection Zermatt- Cervinia could be closed due to bad weather or just the Italians being slow with grooming / opening their side. I really enjoyed Switzerland by I love 3 V more , it’s massive, apre ski at Follie Deuce in VT & Meribel is super fun. With DJ, shows, people dancing on the tables. There is none of it in Zermatt. Obviously the food, pastries, cheese and wine is the best. Saying that I would probably for 4 days choose Z& C. You need at least 1 week in 3V so you have to come back again.
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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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| mtlover wrote: |
Hey
I have been to Zermatt twice 4 & 6 days. The village it’s stunning, Matterhorn legendary and views amazing. Apre ski quite limited, the Hennu Stall probably most lively, going down to village. Also in town Harry’s ski bar. Music very Germanic and old. Food in my opinion extremely expensive and not appealing to me. French or Italians do it much better. Cervinia would be definitely a good option for lunch. Book in advance. Also take into consideration the connection Zermatt- Cervinia could be closed due to bad weather or just the Italians being slow with grooming / opening their side. I really enjoyed Switzerland by I love 3 V more , it’s massive, apre ski at Follie Deuce in VT & Meribel is super fun. With DJ, shows, people dancing on the tables. There is none of it in Zermatt. Obviously the food, pastries, cheese and wine is the best. Saying that I would probably for 4 days choose Z& C. You need at least 1 week in 3V so you have to come back again. |
I'm starting to lean more and more towards 3V. Better food, wine, cheese, apres, just seems more up my alley. I've actually been to Zermatt before as a teenager so I've seen the Mattterhorn. If I happen to switch to 3V, where would you recommend staying? I've heard Meribel is a good option as it is in between everything so theres easy access. I also see really affordable places in Les Bruyeres and Courchevel 1550.
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@The_Intrepid, A couple of things you have wrong (gleaned from info you have been given on here!) is that the food and wine will be better in 3V than Zermatt. That is categorically incorrect. Zermatt mountain restaurants and legendary.
You will get better apres that will be to your tastes by the sound of things in the 3V
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You know it makes sense.
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@The_Intrepid
Ah! If you have been to Zermatt then definitely visit 3V.
Meribel Centre is a nice/ central option but not super lively, beautiful though, especially when you get some snow. They call it Meribel on Thames, it’s mostly English people there . We only stayed there actually. Meribel Mottaret is more ski in/out with purpose built apartments and family friendly.
I have friends who go only to Courchevel 1850, it’s more upmarket, fancy/ expensive restaurants, designer shops etc. VT is more younger ppl, mainly Scandinavia / Dutch I think, accommodation in blocs/ apartments. I don’t have any experience staying there but it is but probably the most fun if you want a bit of party vibes.
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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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| mtlover wrote: |
@The_Intrepid
Ah! If you have been to Zermatt then definitely visit 3V.
Meribel Centre is a nice/ central option but not super lively, beautiful though, especially when you get some snow. They call it Meribel on Thames, it’s mostly English people there . We only stayed there actually. Meribel Mottaret is more ski in/out with purpose built apartments and family friendly.
I have friends who go only to Courchevel 1850, it’s more upmarket, fancy/ expensive restaurants, designer shops etc. VT is more younger ppl, mainly Scandinavia / Dutch I think, accommodation in blocs/ apartments. I don’t have any experience staying there but it is but probably the most fun if you want a bit of party vibes. |
I see, I actually saw a place in Courchevel 1850 for about $750 US for a week, so that is a great option. However it seems UCPA has an event in Val Thorens starting the day after I arrive so that may be the best deal I can find anywhere. About $750 US for food, lodging, and lift tickets. Appreciate the advice!
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Poster: A snowHead
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Just checking in to see if they'd talked you out of a Zermatt / 3V split over 4 days. Glad to see they have...
Haven't done Zermatt but the 3V is great. My brother in law is a boarder and loved it there when we went. Lots of kinda off-piste / side-piste to explore and a huge variety of runs.
From what we saw the après in VT is fun in a weird, plastic sort of way. Like, if there was the equivalent of La Follie D in your town you'd probably avoid it like the plague and it too would also be referred to as La Follie Douche. V amusing for a visit though. Can't tell you much about proper clubs as we go with kids these days... You'll find plenty for 4 days though, just pick the resort with the après you want though, as you don't want to be trying to get between them when the lifts close.
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FAQ
