lynnalan

I am hoping to take my 10 year old daughter skiing in late March and this will be a first trip to Switzerland for both of us. She is still very much a beginning skier so a priority for me will be an English speaking instructor or ski school class (preferably class). We are probably going to spend a few days in France (Paris) and a few in Switzerland and will likely only ski for 3-4 days.
Besides ski instruction my priorities will be charm and character, good food (not necessarily high end), good lodging, easy access to lifts, easy access via rail, some activity but not overrun by tourists and of course nightlife is not an issue.
I will be arriving in Paris from the US (that is where I could use my ff miles) and probably taking the high speed train so I would certainly consider other options for a base but have focused on Wenger and Grindelwald initially.
Thanks for any guidance!

swandav2000

Hi lynnalan,

I've skied from both places, a few times each, and I prefer Wengen.

Wengen has that charm -- lots and lots of it. And because it's a car-free town, its ambiance is even more special. Grindelwald can become bumped-off-the-sidewalk crowded at the height of the skiing season when everyone pushes down the sidewalk carrying skis.

There are English-speaking ski classes at both places. The English have been going to Wengen for about a hundred years, so, oddly, it's more common to find instruction in English there than in G. But all the instructors (everywhere in Switzerland) speak good English; I've been the only English speaker in a class, and the instructor was careful to keep me included. The last time I skied in Wengen (Feb 07), my instructor was an American!

Have fun!

s

lynnalan

Thanks that is exactly the info I was looking for!

FlyFish

Late March is an iffy time for good snow in the relatively low-altitude Jungfrau area, particularly on the lower slopes. We've skied the area three times in early March and had marginal snow twice. Still, it's a great place, and in fact we're headed back again this season, but we've shifted our schedule to late February just to be on the safe side. Alternatively, Zermatt would also satisfy the criteria you listed and would be snow-sure at that time of year.

Ingo

Exactly what the others said. If you have to chose between Wengen and Grindelwald, then it is Wengen. On the other hand I have to agree that late March is a bit too late for good skiing in the Jungfrau area. Only the highest of the runs will have good snow. If you will ski for only 3-4 days that would be okay I guess.

The cantons Valais and Grisons offer better skiing at higher elevations for late March. Zermatt was mentioned.