Looking to go to Switzerland and Austria for about 2 weeks for our honeymoon. Love to ski and would like to spend about half of the time skiing. Any recos on places to stay and travel/ski packages?

Hi EBrom,

I think the best way to do this is to get one of the ski packages from a hotel. In Switzerland, you can usually get one that includes 6 night's accommodation, 6 day's half board, and 6 day's ski lifts for one price (can be around 1,200 chf per person up to 3,000 chf per person depending on the hotel).

You can find them by going to your chosen town's website, then finding hotels that look fun/pleasing, and checking their specials.

I've done one from the Alpenrose in Wengen and really loved it; I recommend it highly. Not in ski season, but I've also done a package at the Gstaaderhof in Gstaad and found it a great deal.

Have fun as you plan!

s

Gstaad is at a lower level and the snow there is less reliable. I was in Gstaad yesterday and saw several bare patches on the slopes. The snow did not seem that great.

(Also, Swandav, have you been by the Gstaaderhof lately in winter? Yesterday, I stopped there to look at their restaurant menu. The road in front has non-stop traffic all day and what you smell outside the hotel is auto exhaust, not fresh mountain air.)

Some more reliable place, snow-wise: Lech in Austria, Arosa, Wengen and the Engadin in Switzerland.

When will you do that? 2 months ago you spoke about December 2015.

Thanks WeisserTee and swandav!

neckervd - either December or January. In the previous conversation it was mentioned that January would be better than December.

WeisserTee -- no, I haven't stayed at the Gstaaderhof in winter, but I've stayed there twice in the summertime for the Menuhin Fest (last time for 11 nights). Yes, I know that main road that skirts Gstaad goes right by the hotel, but they must have put me in a room away from the road (or the rooms are well insulated) because I didn't hear a thing. I didn't open my windows or walk along the road, so I didn't have to smell any of that exhaust -- thank goodness!

Ebrom -- Yes, January would be better than December if you want a snow-sure resort. As WeisserTee notes, Gstaad isn't all that snow-sure. Wengen is -- even if there is no snow in town, it's likely there will be enough snow to ski on on the mountains.

s