Flims/Laax,
Switzerland
A splendid, spacious area that deserves
to be better known.
Flims/Laax
has an impressive 220 km of mainly intermediate slopes.
The resort is very popular with weekenders and has
invested in some large-capacity lifts, including a 3-stage
gondola from Flims, a jumbo gondola from Laax and several
high-speed chair lifts. It can be very quiet during the
week, and it is
virtually unknown outside the Swiss and German markets. It
deserves better. Don't be put off by the unfortunate (for
English-speakers) local name for 'peak', which is 'crap'.
All the mountaintops are called crap, a top après-ski
venue is the Crap Bar and the tourist office has used the
slogan 'Flims is crap' in promotions.
There
are very long runs from the tops of three different
interconnected mountains, amid stunning scenery - all
ideal for adventurous intermediates. And there's plenty to
play around on in all areas. The two main drawbacks are
its sunny orientation, which can soon spoil the snow on
the lower part of the mountain (especially later in the
season), and the lack of any sense of real Alpine charm in
any of the alternative places to stay. They aren't ugly -
just lacking in the chocolate-box charm you might look for
in Switzerland.
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What's
Great
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What's
Not-So-Great
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Extensive, varied slopes suitable for all but
experts
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Impressive lift system+ Virtually queue-free on
weekdays
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Fair number of slopes above 2000m, partly offsetting
effects of their sunny south-east orientation
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Lots of wooded runs for bad-weather days
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Just 90 minutes from Zurich airport
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Sunny orientation can cause icy or slushy slopes and
shut lower runs
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Buses or long walks to lifts from much of the
accommodation
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Very subdued in the evenings
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Village very spread out, which detracts from its
charm
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Weekend crowds
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Local dialect has unfortunate name for 'peak' - they
call it 'crap'
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Learn
more about Flims/Laax
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