The Skiers' Guide to Saas Fee

We had a great week! The mountain isn’t great for beginner riders as progression runs are hard. Apres was great fun

Having visited the Valais canton and Saas Valley area while backpacking Europe in 1989, I was keen to go back and experience the skiing in Saas Fee. The commute via Geneva was pretty slick - trains leave the airport for Visp, from where one can get a bus all the way up to the Saas Fee village. It’s a beautiful small village where everything is mostly walking distance. Being a car-free village, commuting other than walking or bicycle, is available by battery-powered shuttles or village bus. We stayed at the Sporthotel Europa on Hannigstrasse on a bed and breakfast basis. Included in the rate are the spa facilities which include sauna, steam bath, hot tub, showers etc. for relaxing after a cold day on the mountain. Skis and equipment was available from many of the rental outlets. We went with Intersport, having used them on a previous skiing trip in Europe - top notch and professional friendly service. Arriving on the 4th of January, we just missed the peak season crowds which was great. Due to the altitude and area being glacial, it was freezing, but the warmth of the service and scenery made up for that. To get back into the flow, we started on the small blue runs serviced by button and T-bar lifts accessible in the village near the ski school and ice rink. To get to higher runs, we had to take gondolas/cable cars via Felskinn, Spielboden and Alpin Express stations. One issue we had with going higher, is that a lot of the blue runs are only accessible or connected via reds. Our two children who had only skied once before were quite nervous which limited their choices up on the glacier areas. Conditions were great though, blue skies and well groomed runs. A treat was to go up to the Mittelallalin revolving restaurant - spectacular. This is reached by taking the Alpin Express to Felskinn. You have to transfer by walking a short distance through the tunnel to get the Metro Alpin, a funicular railway. Food and drink prices are quite high, but visiting from the UK, pretty much on par. Overall a great experience in spectacular surroundings, but ski trips as always are too short. Until next time...

I came to saas fee for my first time ever, my first time on the slopes ever. Within 7 days I was looping a blue/red so that shoutout goes straight to the ski school, was a great atmosphere with beautiful views plan on going back this year and making it a family thing

Amazing Resort, returning for my fourth time very soon, great for families, great ski and snowboard schools, night life a little quite, but how I like it, amazing food

Only the peak was open so it was hard to get a full feel. But it was really good all the less. Groomers were nice. Views incredible. Staff really nice. Genuinely enjoyed my time. Only wish I got there when the full mountain was open.