 Poster: A snowHead
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I am going to Zinal next year and was just wondering if it is better to have a car in resort to get between the other resorts on the lift pass or if the free bus is frequent/reliable enough.
The chalet I have booked offer return transfers from Geneva for a reasonable price (cheaper than the car hire) but dont want to take that up and regret not having a car when we get there just for the sake of a few quid per person.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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cham08, reckon you'll be fine without it, very efficient swiss bus service 
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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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Grimentz is only about 10-15 minutes away by postbus, but I think you have to change at Vissioe to go to St Luc/Chandolin. I'm not sure how long this will take but I would guess a minimum of 30 minutes, possibly more.
To get to Vercorin without a car would probably take quite a while and at least 2 changes.
Hope this is some help.
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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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I was there last year without a car. It worked fine, although Vercorin seemed impossible to get to. No loss, as St Luc, Grimentz and Zinal are enough to keep you amused for a week! The change at Vissioe for St Luc was seamless, and Grimentz to Zinal is a direct bus. Having said this the buses aren't all that frequent, so you'll need to study the timetable. They were however completely reliable.
As for driving, you'll need a strong nerve as the road up from Sierre is of the 'narrow and winding with huge drop to the side' variety!
Have fun - it's a lovely valley - possibly my favourite.
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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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cham08, Never skied St Luc but I was under the impression that Zinal and Grimentz had the better skiing. Starting from Zinal you can ski the nice itinerary down to Grimentz meaning you'd only need to get the bus back at the end of the day. And you can sit on the terrace of the bar opposite the bus stop if you are early so it isn't really a hardship. I'd probably only bother with a car if you wanted the option to do days in Crans Montana, Verbier etc but they're both approx 1 hour from Zinal.
Last edited by Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do. on Sat 24-04-10 19:06; edited 1 time in total
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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IME if you don't have a car and want to explore it takes about an hour on the bus to get to St Luc. The ski Navette runs between Grimentz and Zinal only, all other transport is on the regular timetabled Postbus, with usual changeover at Vissoie.
Last edited by You'll need to Register first of course. on Mon 26-04-10 13:16; edited 1 time in total
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brian
brian
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BobinCH, Bob in CH, ah I get it! The penny drops. 
Anyway, as you say, from Zinal, skiing Zinal/Grimentz is no problem without a car. Although it does help to be aware of the bus timetable (it's printed on the piste map) because they aren't terribly frequent.
St Luc is about 45 minutes via a change of bus in Vissoie. Vercorin (outside the Anniviers commune) is only easily accessible by bus on Friday but it's the smallest/least interesting area anyway, although it has some nice tree skiing.
A week lift pass does offer reciprocal days in Crans/Montana and Leukerbad. The latter has outdoor thermal springs surrounded by the mountains and makes a great ski/spa day out.
Personally, I prefer to have a car, but am quite happy if I don't have one.
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Thanks for the advice. Much appreciated.
Is there enough skiing in Grimentz/Zinal for 4/5 days and then 1 day in St Luc/Chandolin?
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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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BobinCH, don't overlook St Luc - some really nice skiing, albeit often accessed by drag lifts. there are a few great north facing couloirs which we didn't discover until right at the end of the one day I spent there 
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| Arno wrote: |
| BobinCH, don't overlook St Luc - some really nice skiing, albeit often accessed by drag lifts. there are a few great north facing couloirs which we didn't discover until right at the end of the one day I spent there |
sounds like a perfect excuse to return.............
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Arno, alas didn't make it into the Val d'Anniviers this season. Blame that pesky Mt Blanc Unlimited pass - the best thing since sliced bread!!!
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brian
brian
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cham08, unless you are obsessed with piste kilometreage then I would say there's ample for that. I've done more than 10 weeks there over the last 4 seasons and I'm not bored yet.
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