Arosa Lenzerheide - Community Reviews & Ratings

Lenzerheide - Valbella is one of those resorts that is not a resort but a real place, where real Swiss people live, work and enjoy the best an Alpine location can offer, including the occasional World Cup race to get the crowds and buzz going.Visiting in March is a good time as there is less of a problem: one side of the valley going darker later on? Just take the efficient and frequent ski bus to the other side of the valley and it is good to continue in the sunshine to the end of the day. And there is plenty of terrain to use, with a variety of slopes from rocky runs at the tops to gentle and beginner friendly slopes lower down. The lift system is modernised, with the almost brand new Rothornbahn (gondola) taking the majority of skiers to the end of the valley and giving plenty of space to work along to the other end. Tree runs are limited (the Swiss do like to protect the wilder parts) but there is plenty of upper terrain to challenge all but the most extreme skier. Mountain restaurants are evenly spaced and offer a wide variety of fare (inc Rösti) for lunch or that important Ovomaltine stop. The village itself is just that: a living Alpine village with everything that could be expected and then a bit more. Food options are not boundless, but offer a good variety from a kebab shop all the way up to traditional Swiss hotel restaurant gourmet food. Highly recommended is the pizza place at the Hotel Kurhaus, which goes from coffee shop to nightspot effortlessly. There is a nightclub there as well to keep the most energetic going into the small hours.Accommodation is equally varied, with a good range of 3* to 5* hotels, though a wide variety of holiday apartment lets are readily available in close proximity to the slopes, the village amenities and the forest walks and cross-country trails for the non-skiers. Ski hire places are available with a good range of equipment, though I did not use the ski school on this visit, so cannot comment on the quality or cost of lessons.Travel is relatively straightforward from Zurich, either approx. 2 hours by train to Chur and then local Postbus (a marvel of Swiss efficiency), or about 2 - 2 1/2 hours by car, passing through Chur and then straight up a pleasant mountain road into the village itself. All in all, a great little known place to British skiers that the Swiss want to keep a secret from the rest of us...