The Skiers' Guide to Villars - Gryon: Expert Analysis & Reviews

Villars is connected to les Diablerets to provide a reasonably sized ski area - certainly good for intermediate skiers for a week or so. It has modern lifts and rarely gets crowded. The runs are mostly cruisy blues and reds with a few more challenging blacks and a modest amount of off-piste. Perhaps Villars greatest strength is that it is the easiest ski resort to get to from Geneva Airport, making it ideal for weekend breaks. There are two public transport options, both utilising trains direct from Geneva Airport, with one requiring a change at Aigle to a very reliable bus service and the other changing trains for a service to Bex and taking the cog railway from there.

I have been visiting Villars since i was 7 years old. It sits on a sunny shelf near Lake Geneva and has a special place in my heart because my parents used to live here. It is a family friendly resort but also has a lovely vibe with plenty for all skiers and boarders to enjoy. It is joined up with Les Diablerets via a crazy chair lift that goes both ways. There is a tradition that you ask a question of the chairlift coming towards you. You can also access Glacier 3000. There is a clue in the name as to how high that is! Villars is in the French speaking canton of Vaud. The ski schools are great and have lots of very friendly English speaking instructors. There are off-piste opportunities and several snow parks. In the town there is a swimming pool and wellness spa. There is an ice rink where you can also watch the local team play ice hockey in the evening if you are lucky. It is free of charge and a fabulous experience. There is also a bowling alley and sports bar with pool tables and other games. They also show sports on screens. It has a nice vibe and attracts a variety of people. Villars can be accessed by Eurostar or ferry from the UK or a flight to Geneva and a short train ride around Lake Geneva and then a bus or train up to Villars. If we want to preserve the mountain environment we all love then we should all travel with the lowest carbon footprint. If the Eurostar is booked early it is comparable in cost to flying and has 1/10 of the carbon footprint.

Villars-Gryon (also linked to Les Diablerets) is a beautiful, family friendly resort, with a vast range of pistes in its three resort area. The intermediate runs are particularly well groomed and varied, with black competition runs in abundance as well. The ski schools are superb, particularly the Red-suited Swiss school, whose instructors are great teachers & really helped me improve my technique. Many of them are former Olympic skiers, so you know that you are getting superb instruction. You can ski all day long without repeating a piste. The numerous lifts are well maintained and reliable. The mountain top restaurants and bars serve delicious local specialities - Hotel du Lac, le Golf, Lac des Chevonnes and Jimmys Bar are my favourites. The accommodation in the village ranges from the fabulous Hotel Royalp to apartments and hostels- there is something for everyone. Easily reached by the highly efficient Interreggio lakeside train from Geneva (with gorgeous views of Lake Geneva along the way) then a short bus-ride from Aigle, this delightful resort is well worth a visit. With Les Dents du Midi and other spectacular peaks visible from just about every type of accommodation, plus the beautiful shops and restaurants and very friendly people, you cannot fail to enjoy a visit to Villars-Gryon-Les Diablerets. Its gently wonderful Swiss charm has great appeal, giving you superb skiing with fun socialising too.