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Resort Guide

Suitability	Resort height: 1856m
Families:		[No]
Glacier:		[Yes]
Beginners:		[3]
Intermediates:		[4]
Advanced:		[4]
Snowboarding:		[4]

The world’s original winter sports resort, St Moritz has a deserved reputation for glitz and glamour that has continued now for more than a century. It also has some superb skiing on two local mountains, with the Engadin area lift pass covering about 10 separate areas altogether, with a rail or bus link between them all. Although it remains a magnet to the world’s rich and famous, it is possible to stay in St Moritz on a relatively normal ski holiday budget, as there are affordable shops, restaurants and hotels between the five five star luxury giants which dominate the resort. Costs for the lift ticket, along with rentals, ski schools and mountain restaurants are also in line with the Alpine average. All this and 322 days of sunshine a year.

St Moritz stands proudly above its magnificent Lake, which freezes so quickly and to such a thickness of ice that it can stage its famous horse races and other events on it each winter. The resort is divided in two to some extent, with St Moritz Dorf a relatively compact affair, dominated by three of the five deluxe hotels, separated by the best in designer retail and gourmet restaurants, and climbing the steep slope above the Lake. At the end of the lake is the second part of the resort, St Moritz Bad, where it all began, many millennia ago, thanks to the natural springs. The resort’s spas have been famous since pre-Roman times with archaeologists discovering a wooden water pipe that has been carbon dated to 1466 BC.

St Moritz organised the first winter sports holiday in 1864 when an innovative inn manager invited some British summertime visitors to return for the winter. Betting them a free stay that they’d be warmer and see more sunshine in St Moritz than home in London. He won his bet and the rest is history.

Beginners

The main ski area above St Moritz is Corviglia which is reached by a funicular railway from St Moritz Dorf or by cable car (tram) from St Moritz Bad. The terrain here is mostly made up of fast cruising runs and some gentle descents that are ideal for beginners. Although the wealthy all hire private teachers (often booked up years ahead), the regular ski school offers the highest standards!

Intermediates

Intermediates have the most to gain from the big Engadin area. Holders of the Engadin lift pass can also get half price lift tickets at other Alpine resorts including Bormio and Livigno over the border in Italy, Kitzbuhel in Austria, Gsaad in Swizerland and even Vail, Colorado. But there’s plenty of skiing on your doorstep.
Across the valley from the main area of Corviglia (see Beginners section) is a second major ski area, Corvatsch / Furtschellas. The terrain here is a little steeper with predominantly red runs. Depending on where you are based in St Moritz it is 20-30 minutes to the base of the Corvatsch lifts in Surlej. Corvatsch is the highest ski area in the Engadin with lifts up to 3,305m (10,840ft), opening up 1,525m/5,000ft of vertical with glacier skiing at the top. There are another ten separate ski areas along the Engadin valley but these are all small areas, mostly with just a handful or lifts next to towns and villages neighbouring St Moritz.

Advanced

On Corviglia the FIS Downhill course Piz Nair (3055m/10,000ft), which has the steepest start of any downhill course, is reached by a cable car (tram) to the top of the area from the mid station. At Corvatsch there is a great black run down from Giand’Alva over an 875m/3,000ft vertical back down to St Moritz Bad at the end of the day. Otherwise advanced skiers often head to the third major area, about 45 minutes (12 miles) drive away at the far end of the valley. The Diavolezza Glacier lifts ascend to 2,978m (9,827ft) on each side of the Bernina Pass over to nearby Italy, opening up some legendary terrain. Heliskiing is another popular option.

Snowboarding

Although St Moritz’s glitzy reputation may make it seem an unlikely choice for boarders – if we accept another stereotype – in fact the resort’s pioneering spirit continues to this day and 30 years ago some of Europe’s first boards appeared on the local slopes. There’s now a big terrain park on Corviglia, complete with boardercross course and served by a high speed quad.

Other Activities and Facilities

If you visit in mid winter (particularly January and February) you can witness the many events on the snow covered frozen lake including polo matches and horse races. You can also visit the famous Cresta run and the only bobsleigh run in the world still hand made each year to create the world’s largest ice sculpture.

Spa culture remains big in St Moritz as it has for most of the past 3,000 or so years. The original spring still flows, now running through the Kempinski which has a particularly strong health-driven division, including a Diagnostic and Prevention Center which opened earlier this year, as well as a luxury spa for guest enjoyment. There is also the new MTZ Heilbad St. Moritz Medical Therapy Centre which opened nearby in 2003. All of the other deluxe hotels have superb spas of course. The new Carlton’s four-storey facility looks set to take standards to new heights.

If you fancy a flutter, the new St. Moritz Casino opened in the western wing of the Kempinski Grand Hôtel des Bains, which is open to 3am nightly.

Après Ski and Dining Out

As with any major ski resort, there’s a wide range and choice of bars to head for once the lifts close. One early evening stop for everyone is Hanselmann's, the century old purveyor of fabulous cakes and ice cream. Then for those buying in to the popular activity of people watching, the long corridor of the lobby in Badrutt’s Palace Hotel is known locally as ”the catwalk of St Moritz” and there is usually a polite rush to secure the best tables.

Later on, the upmarket action is largely divided between the legendary Kings Club in Badrutt’s Palace and the Dracula Club owned by the Kulm Hotel (the original five star) . The King’s Club has been the resort’s leading nightclub for decades and older guests go misty eyed when they reminisce about a time in the ‘60s when you couldn’t see the floor for casually discarded fur coats. It still attracts royalty and celebrities including Robert De Niro.

There are however plenty of bars and restaurants for the less well heeled rest of us. Most clubs are open to at least 4am, if they have a closing time at all. Cocktail bar Secondo is the first bar in town to open for the day at 7am, just three hours from closing the night before.

Families

Non-ski childcare is provided in individual hotels, particularly the five-star establishments which have delightful nurseries that may be open to non-residents, if not full with the children of hotel guests. It is best to seek current advice from the tourist office if you wish to make use of such a facility. Children age three up can join in special ski school nursery classes.

Accommodation in St moritz

• Europa Palace - 4 star,
• Hotel Kulm - 5 star, half board
• Hotel Kulm - 5 star, half board
• Hotel Monopol - 4 star, half board
• Hotel Steffani - 4 star, half board
• Hotel Steffani - 4 star, half board
• Julierpalace - 3 star, half board
• Kempinski Grand - 5 star, half board

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