NQC's ongoing ski (maybe) Swiss weekend chaos ... Zurich?

[NotQuiteCockney]

Ok, so ... I'm going away next weekend. I have flights to Zurich. I have childcare for the Friday afternoon. It's sorted.

My plan was to go x-country skiing at Unterageri. Only there doesn't seem to be any snow there, or anywhere near Zurich as far as I can tell. And anyway, I'm having a hell of a time getting ski boots at Unterageri, anyway.

My options, as I see them:

• go to Unterageri, and go hiking. The potential hotel is cheap, and has some spa/pool options. And frankly, I need to do some OU work or read or something, anyway. X-country ski sounds good, but isn't essential
• stay in Zurich. I like cities, and have never been here
• find somewhere to do x-country or downhill ski, for at least part of the holiday.

I'd like to do something new or interesting. I absolutely have to have exercise, but can bring hiking boots, running shoes, whatever. Countryside could be good. I could spend some of Friday or Sunday in Zurich (albeit with big rucksack - are there left luggage facilities at Zurich train station? oh, yes, web says yes) for my city fix.

Are there options I'm missing? Is there anything I need to see in Zurich?

Sunday in Zurich could be deadly quiet - no shops open , apart from the station ! but there is always the art museum, the old town, cafes (Sprungli at Paradeplatz), walking/jogging by lake, up intot he hills for a walk ... Go somewhere even if it is just down to Lucerne for the day by train (less than an hour)or better still , stay there go to Enegleberg for a day in the mountains (abotu 40 minutes further by train). There will be snow near Zurich - check out the webcams!

Einsedeln is also a nice place to visit by train, with monastery and has a cross country ski area , not so sure about ski hire etc although there are sports shops. A good scenic walk above Zurich goes from the Uetliberg(train up from main station) to Felsenegg(cable car down, train back ) along a ridge.

Ok, lots of ideas. I'll have a dig. It just sounds very warm there now, and it's meant to be 8 or 9C on the weekend, with rain, making snow impossible, surely?

Does it have to be Zurich? I know you said you have flights booked but there is yards of snow in the French Alps....

Alternatively, check the Swiss snow reports at iglu (I assume you'll know better than me which resorts are near Zurich!)

I am still dithering, now between Zurich and Unterageri and Engelberg. It's still looking like it will be warm on Saturday. I get into Zurich at 1:30 or so on Saturday (aiport). So I could be in Engelberg for 5 or 6, and maybe do a bit of skiing then? Probably not.

Hotels in Engelberg are rarer, and more expensive, than hotels in Zurich.

I think I will probably stay in Zurich and go for a daytrip, if that?

really ? My mum stayed at the Central in Engelberg which was a decent price and well located. We've eaten there and it was a nice meal. Too late to ski at 5/6 , will be getting dark and icy. There is a sports shop at Zurich main station, not sure if it hires equipment or just to buy, downstairs towards the Limmatquai exit iirc.

By 'rarer', I mean, there aren't many rooms left - I think there was one, and it wasn't cheap. Or at least that was the case when I looked earlier this week.

I've now totally changed my mind, and think I'm going to Baden. I'll enjoy the springs and have a relaxing weekend. Baden is easy to get to from the airport, and sounds nice and easy. It's no doubt even sleepier than Zurich, but then again, relaxing is what I really need.

ooh nice or have a look at Bad Ragaz more in the mountains so you could probably find somewhere to ski/walk nearby but there is also a spa.

Bad Ragaz is a lot further from the airport. [lazy]

I'm sure it's nicer, but the idea of only 40 minutes or something on a train is v appealing at this point.

The way I feel today, I might be ok tomorrow, or I might be only barely functional.

Still haven't:

• booked a hotel
• got the package ready for the babysitter
• packed

Whoops.

And websites keep trying to get me to stay in Dietikon.

Weirdly, this hotel is very appealing to me. I don't know why. There are no pics of the rooms or the hotel! It's all in German! WTF?

Very tempting though www.spavillage.ch/en/news.cfm?category=MediaH&subcat=NewsH&id=101345 and ski school do cross country tuition! An hour and half with change at the main station in Zurich . Is there even snow in Baden ?

no you don't want Dietikon ! That hotel is £100 per night though single ,if very arty !

Weekend rate is £70/night, with entrance to a spa in a sister hotel in the same town. (Or £100 with breakfast and no spa. Tough call!)

It doesn't sound like there's snow anywhere. I've given up hope of snow, tbh. Main point of the weekend is: no kids. I don't often get a day off - last time was my weekend in Amsterdam in September!

Nothing with webpages in English has anything cheaper in Baden, I don't think. Hotels there look expensive, although the one I was considering, originally, in Unterageri was £45 (I think?). But no spa really, and Unterageri didn't look that nice a village. Good lake, maybe.

There is a tourist office at the main station - they'll find you somewhere if you fancy chancing it

Oh, I've given CC details, I think I'll go with this lot.

Twitchy question - but if I go to spas, is it going to be mixed gender and naked? I'm not that North American any more, but I worry I may still be too North American for that.

Oh, and I'm thinking of taking only hiking boots, no other shoes (carry on only). Will I regret this? They're comfortable, and look ok, and I'm only taking jeans, so dressing up isn't an option anyway. Or will everything be dry enough that trainers will be wiser? (I'm hoping, maybe, to go for a walk or something.)

Would n't chance it tbh . Some places are snooty about outdoor footwear indoors and that one looks a bit swish ! Take something softer soled too in case. Roads and pavements likely to be cleared but walks less so , could be muddy . Spas may well be mixed and saunas nakey - you've been warned !!

btw You really need Ernest , she's in that sort of direction iirc.

Ok, I have some plain black shoes that I'll take, too, I guess.

I guess this is a problem with wearning sensible shoes ... oh ... and having size 9 feet! They take up a lot of packing room.

I guess I'll take my glasses off for the sauna, nakedness bugs me a lot less.

The hotel is fine. There was no mixed-gender nakedness at the sauna (and it was lovely, really nice baths, cold room, etc etc).

The hotel is more 'modern, clean lines' than stuffy.

Today I'm off to the town market, then hiking, then baths, then (maybe, but probably not) a club.

The food sucks, though - I can't find anything I want to eat. I ended up at a department store restaurant, which at least meant I had a buffet to choose from.

Glad it is to your liking ! Food can be variable in CH, though it seemed to look lovely on the website. There is normally a Fitness Teller on offer in restaurants which might appeal.