SAAS FEE IS ONE OF THE MOST UNDER-RATED SKI RESORTS IN EUROPE, WITH GREAT ALPINE CHARM AND GUARANTEED SNOW

Saas Fee has just one major image problem: it is near Zermatt, but it does not have the Unique Selling Point of a Matterhorn. This makes it, in the eyes of some skiers, the poor man's Zermatt. But, frankly, this perception is unfair. Saas Fee deserves to be evaluated as a ski resort in its own right, rather than compared to its near neighbour.

Secondly, Saas Fee – often nicknamed “the Pearl of the Alps” because of the way it is surrounded by no fewer than thirteen 4,000-metre peaks – has some of the most dramatic scenery to be found anywhere in the Alps. Its skiing terrain is genuinely awesome, too. There are very few resorts where ordinary piste skiers get to ski in such a high-mountain glacial environment.

Thirdly, Saas Fee ski resort itself is a pretty, charming and old-fashioned one with lots of beautiful old wooden chalets. It is car-free and getting around on foot is easy, although there is also an electric bus service. The locals are mostly friendly and welcoming.

Finally, and although this may appear to contradict the last paragraph it does not, Saas Fee is a young, modern and dynamic ski resort in the vanguard of winter sports development. This is a resort that has wholeheartedly embraced and exploited the snowboarding, carving and “New School” revolutions in the ski business. In off-peak periods – and especially in the autumn, when this resort does a surprising amount of business – boarders may well outnumber skiers on the slopes. Furthermore, there is a huge range of accommodation here to suit all budgets and plenty of lively nightlife for visitors of all ages.