Veysonnaz
The old village is a 5 minute walk downhill from the ski lift and hotels. There is a bank here, a post office, church, cafés and restaurant. At the higher hotel level there are apartments and chalets, built in the Alpine style. Veysonnaz attracts full sun all day and the drive over to H.Nendaz takes 20 minutes which increases the scope of après-ski etc greatly. Sion, the oldest town in Switzerland and Capital of the Valais region, is only 13km away down in the Rhône Valley.

Beginners skiing is reached by taking the lift up to Thyon 2000 and a short walk to the baby lifts. From the third day or so there are 2 other short blue runs to try out but the run back down to Veysonnaz is a red one. There are however a lot of longer blue runs at Les Collons which means driving from Veysonnaz. Of course with a car, the skiing at Haute Nendaz and Siviez is also made possible for the beginner.

Haute Nendaz
This is similar to Veysonnaz in that the modern village with its hotels, apartments, restaurants, nightspots and ski lifts lies above the original village. With its many wooden chalets it is quite attractive and it is a proud holder of the important “Families Welcome” award.

Beginners skiing is very well provided for with the baby lifts up at Tracouet reached by the gondola. Then after the first days there are excellent blue runs down to Prarion and the Alpage back down to Haute Nendaz. The 4 Valleys skiers guide comments “Tracouet will become a real paradise for children with a kids village at the top and a lot of attractions for kids and adults on the lake”. A trip to Siviez in the free bus (20 minutes) provides more blue and red runs.

La Tzoumaz
This is a modern village consisting mainly of apartments, chalets and 3 hotels. You come here for the good value accommodation and the excellent skiing, not so much for the architecture as some of it is not too great, although this situation is being rapidly improved by the building of attractive wooden chalets. With the blue runs from Savoleyres down to Verbier there is a very relaxed start to the day. Returning in the evening you are offered a splendid choice of long blue or red runs back to the resort. There is also a wonderful ski tour run through woods all the way down the valley. Go to www.matterhornstate.com/en/Valais-WinterVS-DownhillsVS-26943.html and www.ultimate-ski.com and click on Verbier off-piste 'off the back'! On an afternoon off a visit to the charming neighbouring village of Isérables is well worthwhile.

Beginners skiing takes place near the Taillay chair lift where there is a good sized piste served by a small lift which is reached via the shuttle bus from the village. After the first days the Croix de Coeur beckons and from its restaurant you look down on Verbier 2000 ft below and the sunny slopes with their enticing blue runs. Returning to La Tzoumaz there are more blue runs on the north facing Savoleyres slopes.

Verbier
Situated at just under 5000ft, this world-renowned resort, built in chalet style over the past 50 years, enjoys a glorious sun soaked position. Spectacular views and even more spectacular skiing are the hallmarks of this, the biggest of the 4 Valley resorts. There are nursery slopes just above the village and blue runs up at La Chaux and one descending to the resort from Les Ruinettes. Having said this, Verbier is really a place for the intermediate and advanced skier who also loves to ski off piste.

Après - Ski
Veysonnaz	- various cafés, 5 bars, 1 disco.
Haute Nendaz	- 10 bars, 3 discos.
La Tzoumaz	- cafés, 1 pub, 1 disco.
Verbier	- Masses of it!