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A perfect Saturday in February

Seven stops, one sledge and no queues. Built around getting up slightly earlier than everyone else and lunching slightly longer.

08:30 → 22:007 stopsCouples, families with confident skiers

When
Winter, a Saturday
Time
08:30 → 22:00
Suits
Couples, families with confident skiers
Cost
●●●○ plus lift pass
  1. 08:30Stop 1

    Stop 1: Coffee, standing up

    Verdict: go, ifCafé Example●○○○

    Croissants are gone by nine, and so is the only seat. Drink it at the counter like a local and be at the gondola before the ski school.

    Croissants gone by nine. Drink it at the counter.

    ↓ 4 min walk to the gondola

  2. 08:45Stop 2

    Stop 2: First gondola up

    The single best decision of the day. Twenty minutes later the queue is a social event you didn't ask to attend.

    Twenty minutes later, the queue is a social event.

    ↓ Ski across to the quiet side

  3. 09:00Stop 3

    Stop 3: Ski the quiet side

    Verdict: goExample RunLift pass

    Long, wide, north-facing and empty until about ten. Do it twice, then stop pretending you're not thinking about lunch.

    Long, wide and empty until ten. Do it twice.

    Plan B · Visibility gone? Take the train to Example Valley Town instead; you'll be back for dinner.

    ↓ 15 min to the hut

  4. 12:30Stop 4

    Stop 4: Long lunch, longer than planned

    Verdict: go, ifExample Alp Hut●●○○

    The rösti is merely fine; the view and the table by the stove are why you're here. Book it on Thursday. Order the house wine and don't look at your watch.

    Book the table by the stove. Don't look at your watch.

    Plan B · Hut full? Konditorei Example in the village does a serious soup.

    ↓ 25 min down by sledge

  5. 16:00Stop 5

    Stop 5: Down by sledge, not skis

    Verdict: goExample Sledge Run●○○○

    Hire at the top station, return at the bottom. Faster than skiing, funnier, and nobody judges your technique.

    Hire at the top, return at the bottom.

    ↓ 10 min walk

  6. 17:00Stop 6

    Stop 6: Soak

    Verdict: go, ifSpa Example●●○○

    If your legs are complaining, an hour of steam fixes it. The school groups leave at a quarter to five.

    An hour of steam. School groups leave at 16:45.

    ↓ Back to the hotel, change, 15 min walk

  7. 19:30Stop 7

    Stop 7: Dinner in the corner

    Verdict: goRestaurant Example●●●○

    The venison, the corner table and a walnut tart you will claim not to want. Book this one first; everything else on this page can be improvised.

    Venison, corner table, walnut tart. Book this first.

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