Visitor reviews for Crans Montana Ski Resort
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(NOTE: Reviews may be edited by our content team for the purposes of ensuring accurate and relevant information)
(NOTE: Reviews may be edited by our content team for the purposes of ensuring accurate and relevant information)
Latest
February 05, 2016
D H from
Luxembourg
D H from
Luxembourg
Just back from a marvellous week in Crans Montana in the Swiss mountains. I have been there 8 times in 7 years. Previously I was not always satisfied by the conditions on the ski runs but this winter every ski run was perfectly prepared.
Some older cable cars have been replaced by new ones, transporting more people in a shorter time. So, even if there may be fewer cable cars than in the past, this is a perfect place for people who like good ski runs and lovely mountain landscapes. (OK, those who are looking for après-ski will be disappointed).
I truly hope I will be able to come back next year. DH
January 18, 2016
dave liddle from
United Kingdom
dave liddle from
United Kingdom
We have owned an apartment here for the past 6 years and been coming a few times every year since. My son learned to ski here and is now 12 and very proficient. The resort has everything; great runs, great restaurants and cool bars like Amadeus and Zero Dix. That said the apres-ski and night life is not like some of the Austrian resorts and is much more reserved. The views and a beer at Amadeus overlooking the valley is something to look forward to every year. We enjoy this resort and it is improving each year with new faster lifts and restaurants. There are also no queues like France and most of the other more popular resorts. It is a great place!
January 23, 2015
Mark Betteridge from
United Kingdom
Mark Betteridge from
United Kingdom
Some mixed reviews on this resort.
I confess I have not actually been there myself but I am planning to go with my family at the end of February 2015 with Simon Butler Skiing. If any of you skied with Simon in Megeve you will know the high level of his professional standards for everything including accommodation, food and ski tuition. Frankly, he would not chose to offer another option in Crans-Montana if he didn't think it would tick all the boxes for his loyal clientele.
I personally can't wait to go but I will post another review on my actual findings when I return.
November 08, 2014
L.Foden from
United Kingdom
L.Foden from
United Kingdom
The rationalization/reduction continues: This year Aminona cabin disappears and 2 chair lifts are replaced by one.
Over the years many cabins and lifts have been closed, sometimes replaced by chair lifts sometimes not. The net is a smaller domain with only 1 tiny north facing lift (out of 3) left: All the rest are south facing and as personnel and snow grooming equipment have also been reduced, openings after snowfalls are delayed by days by which time snow is transformed.
March 05, 2014
Blanchard from
France
Blanchard from
France
I come every year in Crans Montana for more than 20 years. I love this place for many reasons; it has the most beautiful panorama of all alpine resorts, you can enjoy the sun, much more than in Zermatt, for example, which in the shadow most of the time during the winter days. It is not overcrowded, like Verbier or Courchevel; there are many good restaurants and terraces. It is true that the pistes suffer from the south orientation, but in the recent years, artificial snow has been generalized and it is possible to ski during the whole season. A great resort!
January 05, 2014
tim oates from
United Kingdom
tim oates from
United Kingdom
I write and research professionally and despair at the inaccuracy of crude posts. There were never 220 kms of piste in Crans Montana, this is being confused with the historical figure of 120 kms which was the quantity for the past decade or so, until the new pistes at Toula and this year's new Female World Cup piste were installed. The use of artificial was exemplary in this snow-lean year, and many more snow cannons have been installed. Yet, with due environmental consideration, I'd far rather resorts rely on natural and augment with artificial than over-use artificial. In 2012 and 2013 (good snow years) the skiing was spectacular at Crans Montana, including guided sessions in the off-piste wilderness of the Fauverges, with local guide Bixio Galera. The lifts have been substantially upgraded on a year by year basis, carefully planned and the resort is clearly considered good enough to host a load of international events. Each year we discover more stashes of powder in the interlinking terrain between the pistes, and have no complaints about piste preparation. I spent an evening on the piste machines last year, from 4pm to past 10pm (thanks Jerome) and they do the same high quality job you find in the $ Valleys and the Val D'Anniviers.
The idea that the 'small town atmosphere has gone' (another reviewer) could mean a distorted childhood memory, since the place just hasn't changed that much in three decades. There are still the local shops: the fantastic Taillen bakery and teashop, Mabiallard, the tool shop and so on. But now there's a Patagonia and Oakley store, and the great new bar in Montana - Senso. It still has a small town feel and the locals are great.
The idea of the traffic being disorganised is tosh, It can be busy for 30-60 minutes at 4.30 when the lifts close and that's it. Ever tried to park in Meribel or Courcheval? That's a genuine challenge compared with Crans Montana. In Crans Montana, just park at Aminona; free parking adjacent to the main lift!
So, I've skied in 5 countries, in dozens of resorts. I could ski in the 3 Valleys, in Verbier and where do I choose? Crans Montana. My kids love it there, I get well-groomed pistes over 140km and loads of challenging off-piste, and food on the hill which is cheaper than most of France.
And I will be on the plane going straight back there at the end of this week.
[note from the editor : text edited slightly to remove the names of other reviewers]
January 01, 2013
Mark Rohner from
United States
Mark Rohner from
United States
I used to come to CM (Crans Montana) when I was a kid, in the winter, while my mother recovered in one of the clinics. The place has changed a lot (negatively). The small town atmosphere is gone, the traffic is overwhelming and totally disorganized. Parking for one-day skiers is extremely limited, to the point that if you do not stay there you have to get there very early to find a parking spot. The day we came, the fences in both parking structures at the bottom of the lifts were broken. Attendants were trying to fix them while traffic was building up. The free parking structure was full with no sign that said that. It took us an hour to go from Crans to Montana.
I would not recommend this place to anybody. That same week we skied in Verbier, Leysin, Les Crosets and Villars. These are much better organized places to ski.
November 07, 2012
claude bereny from
Australia
claude bereny from
Australia
I have skied in Crans Montana since the 1980s and still go there every year. It is true that the resort is very snow sure and there is a heap of untracked if you know where and when to go. The only thing that we noticed last year and a lot of the regulars are talking about is that the lift management has reduced staffing and it takes the resort much longer to open the mountain after a fresh snow fall, than in previous years, particulary when it is a big snowfall. Sometimes you have to wait several days. This never used to be the case and is a big disappointment if you want to get out there into the fresh stuff. It would be great if they recognised this and did something about it, as everyone is aware of it and it is a big negative from a ski tourism perspective. At least they do the right thing and reduce ticket prices when the mountain is not fully open, which never happens in Australia. Go the honest Swissies.
April 13, 2011
Teun from
Netherlands
Teun from
Netherlands
We have visited Crans Montana for the last ten years now, and unfortunately the quality of the resort has gone downhill during the last three years. Especially the quality of the pistes, which is really awful compared to neighbouring places like Grimentz, Zinal, Zermatt, Verbier. The fact that pistes are situated on the south side is not a valid excuse, since the artificial snow is simply added too late in the year. Other villages do this better and cost less.
Number of pistes have also reduced from 220 kms ten years ago to 140 kms now.
Prices have increased each year, and are now way too high for the quality offered.
February 24, 2011
Robert from
United Kingdom
Robert from
United Kingdom
With all runs groomed and avalanche risk at a minimum Crans Montana and Aminona makes for an intermediate skiers paradise, on and off the piste. Restaurants are plentiful on the slopes and the nightlife and entertainment are legendary. Ladies can shop till they drop at the best choice of designer shops in the Alps, leave some spare space in the luggage. A very chic resort with seldom a queue.