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Visitor reviews for Flims Laax Falera Ski Resort

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• January 27, 2012
  RB from Switzerland
  

  Hi. This is my 5th season living here in Switzerland and have to agree with some of the recent comments. This though in fairness is due to the late winter which really did not start until mid December, ever since then I reckon we had average 75cm a week. It's been a strange winter with very high winds which has hampered the development of the resort. Right now it's amazing, last weekend - 70% of the lifts open due to the heavy snow fall and 70cm of fresh powder. Anyone who knows Laax will tell you means you're in for a whole lotta fun. Snowboarding here is fantastic.

• Flims Laax Falera Ratings

  Based on 8 votes. Vote

  Access: 4.0 (1) At least one overnight stop, (2) requires a whole day, (3) requires more than half a day – you may have time for a few turns (4) arrive by lunchtime and ski all afternoon, (5) there is a main airport within an hour of Flims Laax Falera.	Public Transport: 4.6 (1) There are no buses or taxis to Flims Laax Falera, (3) there are slow or infrequent buses / trains available, (5) getting to the resort is easy with frequent bus / train connections.
  Scenery: 3.8 (1) An ugly resort in a bland setting, (3) average mountain views and resort, (5) a spectacular setting and a beautiful / historic resort town.	Accommodation: 4.2 (1) No places to stay in/near Flims Laax Falera, (3) a few places to stay in the resort, (5) a wide variety of accommodation suitable to suit all budgets.
  Cheap Rooms: 3.2 (1) No budget accommodation available, (3) just one or two hostels so book ahead, (5) several cheap hostels and pensions available.	Luxury Hotels: 4.2 (1) No luxury accommodation available, (3) just one or two luxury hotels so book ahead, (5) several up-market hotels in Flims Laax Falera.
  Ski in/Ski out: 4.0 (1) The ski area is located far from any accommodation, (3) a free ski bus takes you to the ski area in a short trip, (5) Ski-in ski-out accommodation is available.	Childcare: 4.3 (1) There are no child care facilities at Flims Laax Falera, (5) the resort has excellent child-care facilities including at least one reasonably priced creche.
  Snowsure: 4.3 (1) Occasionally gets enough snow for skiing, (2) is often closed due to a lack of snow, (3) occasionally suffers from a lack of snow, (4) rarely suffers from a lack of snow, (5) Flims Laax Falera is snowsure even in the poorest seasons.	Snowmaking: 4.0 (1) Flims Laax Falera relies entirely on natural snow, (3) there are just a few snow cannons, (5) there are snowmaking facilities on all pistes.
  Snow Grooming: 3.4 (1) There are no snow groomers at Flims Laax Falera, (3) occasionally some pistes are left ungroomed and in a poor state, (5) all the runs at Flims Laax Falera are groomed daily.	Shelter: 3.4 (1) there is nowhere to ski when it is windy or visibility is bad and lifts often shut, (3) there are some trees for poor visibility but main lifts sometimes close, (5) Flims Laax Falera is mostly in forest where you can ski in flat-light and windy days, lifts rarely close.
  Nearby options: 3.0 (1) If snow conditions are poor at Flims Laax Falera, it will be poor everywhere nearby, (3) there are good alternatives within an hours drive, (5) other locations on the same lift pass provide a rich variety of snowsure ski conditions.	Regional rating: 4.0 (1) Flims Laax Falera usually has poor snow conditions compared to other resorts in region, (3) has average conditions for the region, (5) usually has the best snow conditions in the region.
  Lift Staff: 3.6 (1) The staff at Flims Laax Falera are rude or unhelpful, (5) lift staff at Flims Laax Falera are pleasant, cheerful and eager to help.	Crowds/Queues: 3.4 (1) the resort is always busy and there are usually long lift queues, (3) it is quiet apart from occasional weekends and school holidays, (5) it is uncrowded and lift queues are very rare.
  Ski Schools: 4.6 (1) No ski schools available, (2) one or two ski schools but local language only, (3) a few ski schools but book early for multi-lingual instructors, (4) plenty of ski schools and multi-lingual instructors available, (5) excellent ski schools with friendly multi-lingual ski instructors.	Hire and Repairs: 4.6 (1) Nothing can be sourced, not even ski-wax or ptex. (3) there are some ski shops but rentals need to be booked in advance, (5) good quality ski equipment can be purchased or hired and overnight repairs are possible.
  Variety of pistes: 4.2 (1) The ski runs are featureless and unvaried, (3) the ski runs are varied but not extensive enough for a week, (5) Flims Laax Falera has diverse and interesting pistes including forests and high alpine terrain.	Beginners: 4.0 (1) Beginners can only watch others ski and snowboard, (3) a few gentle slopes but beginners will get bored in less than a week, (3) Vast areas of gentle terrain.
  Intermediates: 4.4 (1) No intermediate terrain at Flims Laax Falera, (3) intermediate skiers will get bored after a few days, (5) vast areas of cruising runs.	Advanced: 4.3 (1) Nothing for advanced skiers and snowboarders, (3) enough steep terrain for a few days with some good offpiste, (5) Enough steep terrain and offpiste areas to entertain advanced skiers for at least a week.
  Snow Park: 4.5 (1) Not even a kicker at Flims Laax Falera, (3) average sized park quite well looked after, (5) huge park area and expertly crafted pipes, jumps and boardercross trails.	Off-piste: 4.1 (1) No off-piste worth mentioning, (2) off piste is out-of-bounds, (3) some varied offpiste that stays fresh for one or two days, (5) a vast array of off-piste routes that can stay untracked for several days.
  Cross-country: 3.3 (1) There is nowhere to go for cross-country skiing around Flims Laax Falera, (3) there are some cross country trails available, (5) the area features many spectacular and well maintained cross-country trails.	Luge/Toboggan: 3.5 (1) No designated luge or toboggan runs, (3) there are toboggan runs that open quite often, (5) Flims Laax Falera has long and well maintained luge / toboggan facilities suitable for all ages.
  Mountain Dining: 4.0 (1) Nowhere to buy food by the pistes, (3) some places to eat up on the mountain but they are often busy and expensive, (5) there is a variety of excellent mountain eateries right next to the slopes to suit all budgets.	Eating: 3.9 (1) Bring your own food, there isn't even a shop. (5) A wide variety of places to eat and drink in the resort, from fast food to fancy restaurants.
  Apres-Ski: 3.8 (1) Nothing to do, not even a bar, (3) there are a few bars in the resort but nothing special, (5) clubs and bars stay open until very late and have a friendly atmosphere.	Other Sports: 4.3 (1) No sports facilities at all apart from ski lifts, (3) resort has just a small public swimming pool, (5) resort has all kinds of sports facilities, including a full-size swimming pool.
  Entertainment: 3.4 (1) Besides the snow and walking there is nothing to do here, (3) the non-skier will find things to do for few days but may become bored after a week, (5) the resort area is a fascinating place to visit, regardless of winter sports.	Winter Walks: 3.8 (1) Very limited walking and no snowshoe trails, (3) a couple of designated scenic walking/snowshoe trails, (5) extensive and diverse winter walking trails for all abilities.
  Ski Pass Value: 2.9 (1) A 1 week ski pass is overpriced compared to the number of lifts available, (3) the ski pass is averagely priced and covers a reasonable number of lifts, (5) ski passes are excellent value for money and cover a lot of lifts spanning a big area.	Value (National): 3.2 (1) Overall, Flims Laax Falera is one of the most expensive ski resorts in the country and not worth the money, (3) overall represents average value for money, (5) overall offers the best value resort in the country.
  Value (Global): 2.9 (1) Overall, Flims Laax Falera is one of the most expensive ski resorts in the world, (3) overall it offers pretty average value for money compared to resorts from other countries, (5) internationally the resort offers excellent value for money.

  Based on 8 votes. Vote

• January 27, 2012
  Chris A from United Kingdom
  

  I went to Flims last year, with the same experience as the others. Sunday was great no new snow, pistes in great condition lots of lifts open. Then it all changed, some new snow came, the weekend crowds left and they closed 70% of the mountain....and kept it shut ALL week.

  I couldn't understand it, until I met a local restaurant owner. He told me that the lift company did it to save money while volumes were low!

  Worse, the piste were left totally unabashed in what should have been amazing conditions. The one saving grace was that the off-piste was awesome. But we could not get to the majority of it due to lift closures!

  I will never go back because of this, gutted.

• January 05, 2012
  JB from United Kingdom
  

  Been in Laax for almost a week. What the other reviews say (at least the more recent ones) is true. It has been snowing for the past 2 days, but more than half the lifts have been closed today (around 80% closed yesterday).

  Me and husband are snowboarders - low to average intermediates (depending on fitness!). We chose Laax because it is heavily marketed as a boarders resort. Which it is if you are a teenager who wants to play in the park and on the half pipe all day. There are also some designated off-piste runs which I'm sure are fun (if the lifts are open to get you up there!)

  But the pistes have been in a horrible state all week. There had been loads of fresh snow for several days before we arrived but I guess they don't bother grooming them here, because any of the decent reds were full of huge piles of snow, with attendant icy patches and even some bits of grass showing through - which put paid to my carving practice! Also - pretty much all the "easier" runs are in actual fact cat tracks - narrow, flat - yuk! Fine if you are on skis I suppose.

  I guess we were expecting the quality of places like Saalbach in Austria with those lovely wide motorways down the mountain, or any of the places we've been to in France or Italy - but the pistes instead are badly kept and often very narrow.

  And the final kicker is how eye wateringly expensive it is here. A day pass is around 60 euros, 6 days around 300e (in Italy it's usually around 45 to 50 for a day, 200 to 250 for a week). We wanted to have a couple of lessons so we could exploit the off-piste but no way at around 180euros a time! (for 2 hours, 2 people. In Cervinia, Italy for eg this same lesson would cost around 80 euros.) For lunch a sausage and a bit of bread will set you back around 10 euros - anything more filling and you are looking at 18e and up. All the restaurants in town are the same. Dinner was routinely upwards of 75e for two, just the cheapest mains and a drink.
  To sum up. We've made the most of being here - the amount of snow has been amazing, we've also been hiking and toboganning, and we resorted to apres-ski bought at the supermarket and drunk in our hotel room! But there are hundreds of other resorts around Europe that offer massively better value for money, better variety of pistes (especially for beginners and the less confident snowboarder) and much better kept pistes too.

  I hope this review proves helpful for someone!

• December 17, 2011
  Luis G from Portugal
  

  Maybe the worst ski holidays I had in the past 20 years.
  We stayed from 12 to 15 December 2011.
  Snow height was only 75cm, but surely we could have more than 2 chairlifts and 2 pistes open. Even the small gondola from Laax base station was closed; only the big one worked and we had to wait 30 minutes between each climb. Packed like sardines in a can, standing and smashed against the windows.
  I went to the internet and all other surrounding resorts had 30% to 80% of pistes and lifts open. With similar snow height.
  We complained but nothing happened.
  I believe this is an aggressive profit oriented management decision. I will stay out of there and strongly advise to do the same. Then the lift system management will go home.

• December 23, 2010
  Maciek from Poland
  

  We got back from Laax (Flims Laax Falera) a few days ago and we spent one week there. Regarding the skiing conditions it was very disappointing. When we had decided to go to Switzerland for the first time we had expected to reach the heaven for skiers. Unfortunately, we experienced the worst slope service ever in Alps (this was my 10th trip). First of all, although the snow cover was decent, most of the slopes were closed – only around 30% open. I understand this is a low season time so did not expect to have them all in service, but during my pre-season trips to Italy and France the situation was different: 70% open 30% closed.
  But the more important thing is that the slopes which were opened were very poorly prepared. I can even say that threatening with injury. Such things like making the piles of artificial snow in the middle of track during poor visibility without any protection or warning as well as opening red/blue tracks without any preparation is unacceptable and not met in any other resorts. Besides the slopes which seemed to be prepared was also a joke. Already bumpy at 10:30 in the morning although there were rather few skiers during the week, besides the side parts of the tracks were left unprepared. Furthermore the resort is very popular weekend destination probably due to the easy access from the motorway so we expected that more tracks will be open at the weekend but nothing like that – only one more track was open so the slopes were totally packed.
  So I totally agree with other comments, that the idea of the management of this resort is not to provide as good skiing conditions as possible but save as much as possible on fuel for the equipment. To summarize, although the accommodation conditions were absolutely brilliant we strongly recommend not to go there. Skiing conditions were disappointing.

• February 01, 2010
  Chris A from United Kingdom
  

  First day on slopes at Flims Laax Falera (late January off-season). Sunday was awsome, was busy with locals but not too bad and all was good, some awsome pistes, really long, and well groomed. They had not had much snow recently, but pistes in excellent condition. Even found some untouched powder off-piste.

  Now it gets strange.....

  2nd day much like first with good weather, but now a bit icy even though we had a cm or so of snow overnight. A bit strange but hey.

  It snows on 3rd day.... slopes in terrible condition more ice, hardly bashed at all, and 50% of mountain closed. I am confused, temps are all really low, why the ice, why closed?!

  4th Day: snows more - 75% of mountain closed. No high winds, not a high avalanche risk. But "Adverse weather" cited as reason. This is getting irritating I have been a lot of places, this seems like saftey gone crazy!

  5th Day: snows some more, lots this time now less than 30% open. The slopes should be quiet but now everyone is compressed into a small part of mountain. Pistes are awful, icy despite the snow, seem to be unbashed in places, doesn't look like any work has been done on them at all!

  Last day: the answer. They finally open a section of mountain and we meet a bar owner from the village and he explains.....

  During the off season at Flims Laax Falera, the lift company will close as much of the mountain as possible, this will save them pistebashing costs and lift running costs! During weekends and peak season all the mountain is open.

  What a joke. We had a great holiday as were able to get off-piste in the designated zones which were awsome. But I dread to think if we had not had snow what we would have been forced to ride?!

  Dissapointing attitude from the cable company, and the reason I would not go back.

• December 30, 2009
  Benjamin Steib from United Kingdom
  

  Hi! I am currently in Flims (Flims Laax Falera) and am not impressed. This is my first time in LAAX (Flims Laax Falera). It is heavily raining. All the lifts are closed and you can't ski! Personally I would go to Grindelwalt (a nearby town).
  Let's see the weather later!
  PS: to be honest the resort is good but not the weather!

• September 15, 2008
  scott from United Kingdom
  

  Been going to Flims for 33 years (since I was 7). Read all the reports, and they're all wrong. Flims / Laax is rubbish. AVOID IT AT ALL COSTS.
  (the off piste is all mine!)

• February 26, 2007
  Erla Leifsdottir from Iceland
  

  Hi!
  Spent the first 10 days of Feb in this glorious resort !
  Great skiing and unlimited off-piste options.
  Did them all - Blue,Red,Black and yellow.
  Don't know where all the people were - at least they were not on the slopes.
  Been to many resorts in Austria, France and Italy and never seen so few people.
  Had the slopes to myself sometimes. Felt strange !
  The food was great. A kind of a mix of France and Italy.
  But try to avoid the mass self service restaurants they are horrible.
  Not at all pricey - same price as Ischgl (Austria) or Meribel (France).
  Great snow and lots of fun especially in Laax, in the yellow tent by the main lift.
  Great snowboarding with half-pipes and lots of young people.
  Saw some great " skikindergarten " so probably great also for families.
  German and English speaking so no problem in that area.
  Regards
  Erla from Iceland

• February 27, 2006
  Joep from Netherlands
  

  I think that this is a good resort and I've seen a lot (3 valleys, Tignes, 4 valleys, Portes du Soleil, Samnaun/Ischgl, Adelboden). Most of the lifts are modern and fast; there hardly is any queueing. I was there 2nd week of February and prices were in my opinion not higher than other likewise resorts. Beginners have limited options though.

• February 11, 2006
  david sandford from United Kingdom
  

  Have been going to Flimms/Laxx for the past 5 year. It's one of the best off-piste areas I have boarded. Am going again tomorrow for the day. Hoping for another powder day.

• February 10, 2006
  phil sellick from United Kingdom
  

  Agreed - we have been going for about 8 years - just 3 day weekends, and it is always great. If it is cloudy at the base - go to Crap Sion G, if cloudy there, go to Falera through the trees. It is ideal for a weekend as only 90 mins from Zurich (which is always quiet anyway) and no crowds (except certain German holiday weekends). Have done some great 'nearly' off -piste, but yet to do Coussins !!

• December 20, 2005
  Sandy McPherson from Netherlands
  

  Who said Laax was Crap? I would like to keep quiet about Flims/Laax, but then again the pace derves a bit of promotion! We've been going to Flims for 5 years now. We've never been disappointed, super appartments at reasonable prices, reliable snow, minimal queuing and easy access. If you have kids the place is perfect. The ski school is excellent - full days - no more winging brats in the afternoon. The Alpenarena doesn't compare to the mega resorts in piste area, after 3 days on my first visit I had seen and done just about everything, but the off-piste is awesome when its available and it usually is!

• December 11, 2005
  Alex from United Kingdom
  

  I have been going to Flims twice a year for the past 15 years, and the place has never ever become boring. The Alpenarena is situated in a snow assured area with large snow falls accumulating each year, son one can always ski/board down into the three villages. There is a good variety of runs, so everyone is accomodated for and many runs still remain open even in the worst of weather. The Alpenarena really is incredible, and, if you want to try something new and away from the vast hoardes of people in other ski resorts, this is the place for you.

• November 25, 2005
  Al from United Kingdom
  

  Flims is the hidden gem of the Swiss Alps and caters well for every type of skier. Extensive ski area spread over 4 mountains with some great vertical drops - 5 or 6 runs have more than 1000m vertical. Make sure you end your day with the 14km run from La Siala down to town, 1700m vertical with lots of bars on the way. There is plenty of off piste (one mountain is ungroomed), much of it easily accessible from the lifts and some below the tree line (useful when the weather is bad). The nursery slopes are high (2200m) and therefore snow-sure. Good mountain restaurants. Queues are rare (except Xmas week). I have skiied most of Europe and some of Canada and Flims is in my Top 5 resorts.

• January 19, 2005
  eric from Switzerland
  

  laax is one of my favorite spot. its a huge area with plenty of slopes, lifts, pipes, downhill-runs and everything else snowboarders and skiiers are dreaming of! yesterday (18.1.05) 1m snow was falling! jeepee! because as with every spot its only half the fun if you cant go off the slopes, and for that pleasure laax has huge areas unprepaired and ready for fun!
  greetz from switzerland!