Verbier
Set in the heart of Switzerland’s most southern Alps, Verbier is one of Europe’s most outstanding ski areas offering 4 Valleys to choose from. It offers vast amount of wide sunny pistes and excellent nightlife to go with it.
Head up on the cable car to Mont Fort to see the spectacular views or tackle the infamous Tortin snow bowl. The après ski is world famous with several bars, including happy hour at the Hotel Farinet bar from 4pm, or the Pub Mont Fort later on. Eating out is good to with several restaurants around the village but certainly not cheap; be sure to check out the famous Offshore burger and milkshake from the Offshore Bar by the main Verbier chair lift.
The only drawback to Verbier is the price, eating out and drinking is expensive as well as the lift pass, which will set you back at least £220. If you wanted to do it on the cheap you could book the flights yourself, pay for airport transfer and go self catering, with the local Denner supermarket offering cheap food.
Skiing in Verbier
Verbier is more suited to intermediates, experts and snowboarders. There are blues and green runs for beginners but you may get a little bored wih these quite quickly. There are some nursery slope in the village that are free to use to help you get started. That said it is a world class ski resort known by many across the world. There is so much ski diversity available in Verbier with access to the 4 Valleys which gives you 412km of skiing, 205 pistes with 92 ski lifts to get you around. If you purchase the full ski pass you will have access to the ski resorts of Bruson, Evolène, La Tzoumaz, Nendaz, Siviez, Thyon les Collons and Veysonnaz. There are no drag lifts unlike France which make it great for snowboarders. There are lots of high tech lifts and most famously the ‘Le Jumbo’ cable car, which carries 150 people at a time up to the Mont Fort glacier .
Verbier Nightlife
Verbier isn’t cheap, so if you’re looking to save money drink before you go out and take adavantage of the happy hours at 4pm until 6pm in most pubs after you finish on the slopes.
Key places to visit on your night out is to start at Hotel Farinet Bar for the 4pm happy hour at around 12 Euros a jug of beer, they also have live bands. This is open all night so you can always head back later. Pub Mont Fort just up the road from the main lift is also very popular and very busy from 10pm. The Offshore is a cool bar with a pink VW outside but is better before dinner. Big Ben Pub nearer to the gondola station, and down in the center of town near the round-about at The Nelson Pub.
For nightclubs head to the Casbah Club and Club Taratata who play techno-music, largely for a younger crowd of 20-somethings. The Farm Club in the Hotel Rhodania caters to an older, more sophisticated crowd, and the Ice-Box Club is also popular with a slightly older, local crowd with some British visitors. Entry prices vary but will be no less than 14 Euros and drinks will be equally as expensive.