THE VILLAGE

Unlike many Alpine resorts, Verbier was here before the skiing and commercialism took it over. As a result it has a village feel to it and a family-friendly atmosphere. There are children going to school in the mornings, the farmers feeding their livestock, and delivering fresh produce to the restaurants and shops, artisans conducting their trade and locals going about their daily business. All this gives the village a unique atmosphere, poles apart from the purpose-built resorts found elsewhere. A major plus point is the South facing aspect of the village, and reputation as a sun-trap. Located in a shallow bowl on the side of the mountain means that it lacks the temperature and shade disadvantages of a valley resort.

Eating and drinking is taken seriously in Switzerland, and the supermarkets in Verbier reflect this, with all everyday items available on the shelves for the same cost as in the valley. They will also deliver your supplies to the apartment. Alternatively, if you wish order online prior to arrival, this can be arranged by Coop and goods delivered awaiting your arrival. There are butchers, bakers, chocolatiers and wine merchants in the village too, if you wish to browse rather than one-stop shop.

 

CHILDREN

Verbier is a children-friendly resort with extensive crèche facilities, either on the slopes or off. You can place children in ski-school and collect at lunchtime or after a day’s skiing. The village has multiple crèche facilities, and we can provide information on babysitters, nannies, day-care and rental of cots on request.

NON-SKIING - WINTER

Verbier has a wide selection of boutiques and shops for non-skiers, extensive cafes and restaurants in the town itself, and well-marked, groomed trails for walking, snowshoeing or cross-country skiing. These will lead you on easy routes to some of the mountain restaurants without having to ski there or avoid skiers hurtling past while walking on the pistes.

Paragliding from the middle of the station down into the valley with a VERBIER SUMMITS’ instructor may be an interesting way to spend an afternoon and a novel way of enjoying the views. You can do this with skis on or off.

There are two thermal spas, SAILLON-LES-BAINS and LAVEY-LES-BAINS within less than 40 minutes by train or taxi, both offering a superb pampering for an afternoon. There is also AMBROSIA in the village, which offers a holistic massage and beauty experience.

Another attraction may be Chamonix, a 1 hour 30 minutes drive or a pretty train ride away, for stunning views onto Mont Blanc while lunching in its spectre.

THE SKIING

The resort of Verbier is widely regarded as the Number 1 ski resort in Switzerland for the Alpine skier. With groomed pistes accessible to all, it is primarily suited to the fearless second-time skier, intermediates and experts. For BEGINNERS there are slopes in the village to start out on and the advantage is being able to retire to the warmth if it gets too cold – or stressful, and as the holiday, and your ability, progresses, you can advance to the higher reaches of the resort. Most restaurants are easily accessible regardless of ability, so there is no need to be left out of the fun if you are the fledgling skier in the party

Verbier is renowned as a playground for INTERMEDIATE and EXPERT skiers though, with a huge number of well-maintained pistes, affording you the choice of corduroy, bumps, steeps, deeps and jumps. If you want to cover miles the 4 Valleys lift system provides a perfect itinerary to blast from one end to the other, and back, in a day’s hard skiing. The challenges of Tortin and the Montfort lie ahead too, with breathtaking views of the Mont Blanc, Combins and Matterhorn massifs.

Although the pistes are where we all begin our skiing careers, the back-country, and OFF-PISTE deeps, steeps and POWDER are where we are all aiming for. Verbier is the number one resort for experiencing this in all its glory. With a vertical drop of over 2500m possible from the lift system, only Chamonix can match it for extent. For the sake of 10 minutes’ walk, you can enjoy untracked slopes for hours on end. There are a number of guides resident in Verbier, and for a group of you, this is the perfect way to avoid the masses and experience skiing as it is meant to be. For the less experienced, but aspirant, among you, why not have a lesson?

ENTERTAINMENT

Verbier has a reputation for its nightlife, and for its après-ski. Starting on the slopes half-way down at BAR 1936, then popping in to the FER A CHEVAL (Furry Shovel) for a catch-up on the day’s events and a slice of complimentary pizza, before either the salubrious surroundings of the TEA BAR on the Place Central or the classic covered terrace APRÈS SKI BAR of the Farinet Hotel. This is not for the faint-hearted, with live bands and a lot of steam being let off! But the atmosphere is electric, and it is worth a look at least once.

After dinner, prepared by you or one of our trained chefs, or in one of the village’s multitude of restaurants, there are number of options. Your choice of a cocktail in CROK NO NAME or KING’S BAR, a civilised beer in the TEA BAR, GARBO’S or BAR JO, a noisier beer or cocktail in the ubiquitous PUB MONTFORT or a game of pool and table football in the BIG BEN. As the evening progresses the choice is yours – TARATATA for the younger crowd, CASBAH for the trendy or of course the iconic FARM CLUB.

Throughout the winter there are films, lectures and presentations. DOMINIQUE PERRET (Freerider of the Millennium!) and his photographer MARK SHAPIRO are Verbier residents and they have both got stories to tell. Le Hameau has hosted the showing of the Banff Film Festival finalists in recent years, and the cinema will show films in their original format. The Verbier MUSIC FESTIVAL takes place in the summer, as well as a HORSE SHOW and MOUNTAIN BIKE CHAMPIONSHIPS.

 

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