Zermatt Ski Resort — Attraction in Zermatt

I was very excited to return to Zermatt for skiing, after an absence of 15 years. Well, they say, ‘never go back’ and in this case it seems the old adage rings true. Although Zermatt was never cheap, arguably it represented good value for money, as the lift system was good, as were the snow sure ski runs, and of course the resort offered good dining, both on and off the mountain, all with the backdrop of its famous spectacular views.

The first disappointment was the discovery that the headline lift prices, already way above other comparable European resorts, was just a base price, and the price you pay is some 15-20% higher, due to their ‘dynamic pricing’ model. Other negative reviews have mentioned this, and the resort has attempt to defend the practice by stating that there is (at least) open and transparent information available. A quick look at prices on the website for March however, showed that the actual price was above the minimum price for all but 3 days, thus making it difficult to ignore the suspicion that it amounts to little more than price gouging; if the actual price is consistently more than the quoted price, why not just say so? To quote a minimum price that is rarely available is just misleading.

To add insult to injury, some lifts were not open: several in the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise were closed, and the Hohtälli lift broke down on the morning of 8 March, something I’ve not experienced before in many years of skiing.

During our week there, we waited in excess of 20 minutes for a ski bus (supposed to be every 8-10 minutes) at the bottom of the Matterhorn express (7 March), we experienced rude and offhand staff at the Ice Bar at Trockener Steg (in reply to our question when they would open, we were told, ‘when we are ready’), and as paying customers at the Klein Matterhorn restaurant, we were expected to pay an additional CHF 2 for the privilege of using the toilets after our meal.

All in all, a real shame to see what used to be a world class ski resort sink to the level of extracting the maximum money from it’s guests while providing the minimum service. We’ll be going back to Italy or Austria next year; unless or until Zermatt rediscovers the concepts of ‘value for money’, and ‘customer service’, I suggest you...

The piste’s / terrain @ Zermatt is excellent. The hurdle, however, so unfortunately, between visitors and the wonder of what god created, and what impressive lifts Swiss engineering has built to capitalise on some great skiing are the capitalist pig Zermatters and their extremely low customer-centric attitude. Sucker tourists just keep coming. Doesn’t matter how much the Zermatters absorb we them … The few major families that own all the piste land are so rich now, they don’t care about the hand that feeds them …. They don’t give a damn about you. Study the t’s and c’s of your lift tickets like a hawk, do NOT leave the front of the ticket line until you have ALL possible questions answered. Be rude. Don’t fret about your rudensss. It’s part of the German Swiss culture, so it won’t phase the local staff you’re dealing with. Their customer service staff will NOT proactively tell you what you need to know to optimise your economy. You must pull it from them, screaming. They are very well trained to extract maximum revenue and profit from you at every opportunity, and capture you in t and c traps. For example, did you know that the optional insurance covers a refund when they open less than 5/54 pistes. Not just helicoptering you off the hill, like most resorts. And Zermatt hill mgmnt sometimes doesn’t open more than 5/54 pistes. But rarely, cuz most of the time they just open exactly 5/54 pistes, cuz that is what they need to minimum, to charge you a full ticket price for that day. Check your t’s and c’s, #46 …. Zermatt hill mgmt will kill to get that 5th piste open to maximise their revenue, even on a...

Horrible customer service! Very unfriendly. Multiple examples...

-Very rude and impolite ski ticket sales women. No kidding, they are nasty. Saw it with multiple customers.

-Are you a pedestrian and want to see the top? You will be charged MORE than the ski lift! 95CHF to go up once and 185CHF if you want to take the train. Ski pass with unlimited access to the same places is 85CHF. Don't think you can buy the Ski Pass if you are pedestrian, the nasty women at the sales desk will go above and beyond to block you if you are not carrying skis and wearing boots. Does it make any sense??? Of course, they don't want pedestrians!

-You pay extra for the international side and they will close it at the first breeze. And of course no refunds.

-they closed the ACCESS gondola going DOWN for no reason at 3pm and there was no ski path either. Thousands of people carrying their skis up hill for 1/3 of a mile. Awful.

-Ski Lessons for your kids??? They are more like tour guides! Will ski 30-40 yards in front of your kids with little to no technical training. Cost almost 100CHF an hours.

No cars, but watch out for the electric taxis, they speed thru pedestrian areas and will run over you over unapologetically.

Is it a beautiful town, yes it is. But not worth it your time (is not a matter of being expensive, it is a bad and frustrating experience). There are much better options in Switzerland and France. Courchevel is 100...