Verbier sits at the south western corner of Switzerland, near the border with France and Italy. Verbier itself stands at an altitude of 1200m, and the resort stretches to the top of the Mont Fort glacier (3300m). It is reachable from Geneva Airport in about 2.5 hours by bus.

There is an extensive system of about 96 lifts, including "Le Jumbo", the largest cable car in Switzerland, which can transport up to 125 people to Mont Fort. In addition to this, there is a free bus service which connects all the major lift stations at street level.

In general, Verbier has a lot to offer intermediate to advanced skiers, but some of the so-called "easy" runs can be a bit steep and narrow, which is a bit disconcerting to beginners, snowboarders in particular. There is a small, but limited practice slope at the foot of the mountain, on the northern reaches of the village. Lessons are available, and the tuition is of a high standard, but pricey.

The nightlife in Verbier is generally excellent, but be warned -- prices in the bars can be exorbitant, I was charged 10 swiss francs for a vodka for example. There is a comprehensive range of hotels and restaurants serving good food, as well as a number of outlets on the mountain itself; but the quality of these can be variable, and prices again can be steep -- so shopping around is vital.

The best part of Verbier is the scenery, it is simply stunning. On a good day, the Matterhorn is perfectly visible from the summit of Mont Fort. The faint hearted will be pleased to hear that the summit is open to pedestrians, as the only ski-route down from the glacier is a pretty challenging black-run.

The quaint shops in the village centre are not recommended to shopaholics who have already exceeded their credit card limit as they are bursting with irresistable merchandise.

On the whole I would say that Verbier is well worth it, but entry level skiers and snowboarders may want to make sure they are of a reasonably good standard to make the most of the excellent runs which are on offer.




Recommended: Yes

Level of Experience Needed: Intermediate
Best Time to Visit: January
Best Suited For: Couples