Saas Fee or Obergurgl for first ever ski holiday?

[SunnyLiving]

Hi, looking at booking our first ski hol for end of March. DH & DS (12) have done a few dry ski slope snowboarding lessons here in the UK but none of us have tried skiing. We’re planning to have a few lessons before we go away at Easter but haven’t done any yet!

I’m looking for a resort with the following -

Snow in resort not just on the slopes
Great for beginners
Non-skiing snow activities as know we won’t spend the whole week skiing as beginners
Other activities (ice skating/bowling etc)
Ideally a pretty resort

I’ve been researching for days and still can’t make a decision 🤦‍♀️ I think Saas Fee & Obergurgl fit my requirements but don’t know which to go for. I’m worried about making an expensive mistake.

Which one would be better suited for total beginners? We will want a good ski school and accommodation close to this. Looking at hotels as want the pool/spa for the afternoons when I think we’ll be tired and sore from ski lessons.

Also open to any other suggestions that fit my criteria!

Thanks so much for any advice / suggestions.

I’ve not been to either, but they are both high end resorts with more skiing than you’ll need. If money is no object, crack on. But it’s an expensive holiday and make sure you’ve factored it all in… passes, lessons, kit, hire, lunches and drinks on the piste. Some of the lesser known places can be quieter and better for beginners.

Your 12 year old is VERY likely to want to spend the whole week skiing as a beginner Our 11 yr old DS certainly did last year on his first ever week. Once they are in their group with their instructor they have so much fun! When they are tiny they get tired and cold quickly - not so much at 12!

now the kids are 12 and 9 our second trip is going to be Obergurgl. Like you, I think (hope) it will fit the bill 🤞🤞

Saas Fee. There is mountain dedicated to non ski activities, great pool complex, traffic free and nursery slopes are snowsure.

Never been to Obergurgl but been to Saas Fee lots of times and love it. The only downside is it’s a long way, although straightforward on the train from Geneva. The revolving restaurant is a must and the village is car free.
Switzerland is super pricey though so you’ll need to be prepared to pay silly money for everything.

I’d go for Saas Fee which ticks most of your boxes although you can’t guarantee snow on the ground anywhere at 1800m that late in the season. You might, or might not. Last year was great late season. Others have not been.

Thanks so much for all replies!

What lesser known/smaller resorts would anyone recommend please?

I was leaning more towards Saas Fee for all the reasons other posters have said. I also posted on snowheads forum & on there have been told to avoid Saas Fee as not good for beginners because once you make it off the nursery slopes the runs are not beginner friendly. Would you say this is right?

We will all be having lessons in resort and was looking at doing private family lessons for the 3 of us, would you say this is a good idea or better off doing the group lessons where DS will go off into the kids group?

Again, thanks for replies, really appreciate it!

He’ll have way, way more fun in the kids group. Kids learn differently to adults and he will make much faster progress than you. No offence, but you would probably hold him back if you are a new skiier 😆. I’ll have a think on resorts.

La Rosiere? My friend and her kids were all 1st weekers there and had a very successful week in March. Think there are plenty of blues to progress to, but someone else on here might be able to specifically advise.

I think Saas Fee is fine for beginners. There is an area of blue runs part way up and the run down is wide and open, or you can take a gondola down. . The runs in the village are straightforward and some pop in and out of the trees,

Not been to Saas Fee but loved Obergurgl when my DC were younger. Lots of easy-ish skiing with enough to keep better skiers interested (and possibility of bus to solden for more runs (one of the James Bond opening sequences was filmed there). Fun night skiing one evening. Nederhut for gentle apres ski. Lots of ski in ski out places which make it easier with all the gear. Cant remember about other activities, but i am pretty sure there is tobogganing at least

We've been to Obergurgl several times, most recently last year. Would definitely recommend as a family resort with plenty of beginners ski-ing. Not too busy.
Good ski school. Ice rink, tobogganing in neighbouring Hochgurgl - can get there by ski or bus.
It's quite a quiet resort in the evening - I'm usually too tired for apres ski!
The people are lovely and we found the prices on the slopes very reasonable for lunch etc and there's a lovely bakery in town for a budget option.
We have been with Crystal and stayed in Hotel Sportiv which is a good 3 star and you have access to spa facilities at luxury Hotel Crystal next door. (Connects internally).
Agree with previous poster about apres ski at Nederhutte and going to Solden for a day out (same ski pass.)
I've never been to Saas Fee but costs in Switzerland of food etc can be prohibitive.
You'll love it wherever you go.

Thanks so much everyone for your replies. Think we are going to go with Obergurgl, from all replies and looking at short transfer from Innsbruck and flights from our local airport make it an easy option!

Now I have another question as a total newbie... in resort, do you walk from your hotel to the ski school / nursery slopes with ski boots on, or wear other shoes and change once there? Some hotels are a 2 min walk from ski school so ski boots not really a problem but some are over 10 mins walk and I can't imagine that being too easy in ski boots?

Thanks again :)

There is normally a boot room in the accommodation or occasionally lockers for hire near the lift where you change into skiboots . You get used to walking around in them and just tighten the buckles when you are ready to put skis on.