Dear Helen
I hope all is well in France and Switzerland. We had the best ski holiday of all time in Arosa last year, and would be interested in doing the same again!
Can you price us for the week beginning Saturday 27 March? We are four: Sarah, myself, Sophia and Tom. The children will be 6 and 3 by then. Sophia will be at ski school, but Tom will not. The childcare you offered last year was excellent; would you be prepared to do the same again?
Sarah and I would be interested in some "ski accompanying" with Mike and we in particular fancy the idea of the Rundtur Arosa, if that is what it is called!
Best wishes to Mike
Marcus Gore , October 2009.
The Magic of Arosa
by Ted Heck
The journey to the well-known Swiss resort of Arosa can have as much magic as following Finian’s Rainbow. Let me tell you about my first trip to this fashionable resort with my fiancée Connie.
We drove to the medieval city of Chur, capital of Graübünden, eastern-most canton of Switzerland. We stayed in the romantic Hotel Stern, after strolling through cobblestone streets and imagining life of centuries ago. The next morning we spent an hour driving up through a stunning landscape of alpine meadows, forests and gorges—with so many switchbacks I thought I would suffer from gear shift wrist. When we made a final turn Arosa rose from the snow, like a German-speaking Glocca Morra.
How were things in this remote health resort? Well, for starters, we saw the frozen lake on which you can skate, when they are not racing horses or greyhounds. Hotels and apartments appeared to spread out in different sections of the village. Well-dressed shoppers stepped aside for horse drawn sleighs.
It was a classic scene straight out of a brochure, especially when we looked up at the skiing terrain. High above was the Weisshorn, a south-facing mountain nearly 9,000 feet high. Arosa’s base elevation is 5,900 feet, so the vertical drop is less than 2,800, modest when compared with many other resorts in the Alps but ideal for cruising. Nearly 60 miles of prepared runs are serviced with 13 lifts.
Across from the Weisshorn is slightly lower Hörnli area. Between them are billowing snowfields on which intermediates can have a ball. Experts don’t have as many choices on piste; only 15 percent of the area is considered advanced, however off-piste is boundless. Connie and I enjoyed the wide, groomed trails, nearly always above the treeline. We did not get bored.
Advanced skiers can be content with miles and miles of off-piste, and if they are truly adventurous they can make a backcountry adventure over to Lenzerheide, another popular resort in the region..
Maybe experts should be philosophical and believe they have made a sacrifice for their families. This is a place for parents to be with their leprechauns.
Sixteen miles of cross country loops and 37 miles of winter walking paths make this a popular resort for folks who do not have the compulsion to rush downhill on skis or snowboards. Some of these paths cut through groomed pistes, but skiers can look far enough ahead to avoid strollers.
Other winter activities include parasailing and hang gliding, ballooning, curling. Fitness center, swimming and tennis are indoor pastimes. Although Arosa draws a quiet, affluent crowd, the tourist office is helpful in finding suitable accommodations for every pocketbook.
Connie and I felt we had successfully chased our own rainbow.
August 2008: What a fantastic holiday. Love from benjamin, lotwina, jemima, david, pru, lee, gabriella, and emilyxxxxx
2008/9
August 2008: Arosa has lots to offer in Summertime - we enjoyed the activities at the two lakes. Special mention to Austin and Sophie - wonderful playmates for Safia. Two terrific kids!! Best wishes from the Al Sayed Family, Qatar.
Aug 2008: Had a really lovely holiday here. There is something for everyone - we really enjoyed the cable cars, boating lake, swimming and ice skating. We also had fantastic sunshine. We saw red deer and marmots. The chalet was lovely, love all the traditional wood everywhere and Helen was very welcoming and helpful.
Aug 22nd 2008: The Voorhoee family felt very much at home in this cosy apartment. It immediately felt like home. It was nice to meet the friendly English atmosphere that surrounds Helen and her children. And is it not wonderful that you can sit in the garden and catch the very last sunshine ray of Arosa?
20.12.08: thank you very much. it's been fantastis.ross
26.12.08: We have had a most enjoyable week, a delightful chef and delicious food. Altogether a delightful experience. Many thanks to you all. Families Van Zyl and Hamilton
3.1.09: what a fabulous New Year - the carden and Neumann family.
10.1.09: great week in Arosa - this is now our favourite place to stay in Arosa. The food was amazing, chalet a home from home, girls are great hosts and made the week really special. Ashley and Gary
12.1.09: thanks ever so much for a great week. i loved the food, apple cider, skiing, sledding and heaps more - ben j-f.
thanks so much helen and mike for providing us with a brilliant chalet. I've had a great time, and Emma and Janine, thank you for the great food you have given us. I have had a great time at Chalet Runca. Charlie JF.
I have enjoyed my stay at Chalet Runca so much I can't wait to hopefully return. The food was fantastic - thank you Emma and Janine. Thank you Mike for the skis and boots. Rosie J-F.
many thanks best skiing holiday ever. Fab conditions everyday, massive relax and treat, would love to repeat it! Happy 2009, liz and tom J-F.
17.1.09: thanks for looking after us so well, hope to be back soon, roger.
23.1.09: yey i can ski! thanks for a top holiday, nik and ems
ruth and dave brown: what a beautiful place - thank you so much for such a warm welcome. And the food was so good
2007/8 guests feedback, 17 weeks of guests.
What does Arosa offer that you feel you would want to return for?
Sun! Good weather. Reliable snow, snow conditions, snow conditions, good snow, good skiing, no queues at ski lifts, spectacular scenery, ambiance.
Effective “car-free” resort. We really enjoyed the set-up with the free buses and lack of need to drive.
Excellent bus service. The ski school was also very organised and professional.
Good slopes, well organised, with the benefit of a bowl shape resort fanning out from Arosa.
Compact resort with good transport system.
Child friendly, pleasant people. Perfect for all our needs. Favourably compares to France, Austria and Italy.
Good family resort, easy runs. Good for beginners.
Non-skiing activities, brilliant walking, plenty to do for non-skiers, good après-ski for non-skiers.
What does Snowy Pockets offer that you feel you would want to return for?
Beautiful chalet. Good facilities. Roomy chalet.
Nice, homely ambiance. Personal service with Hotel facilities. Very friendly and welcoming.
Excellent hospitality and food. Fantastic catering. Having a high quality chef and a large place to stay were both very appealing.
Friendly relaxed atmosphere.
Easy-going, relaxed and friendly staff and set-up – great for kids.
High quality catering and housekeeping.
Quality and cleanliness of chalet.
Good food and advice.
In-house ski and boot hire, In-house ski and boot hire.
Wi-fi access was a real plus.
Very convenient position for the bus-stop, excellent chalet, good food, friendly welcome, ski hire, child care.
Very handy for the bus service. Good location of chalet, friendly and relaxed atmosphere.
Excellent Snow Bar
Betty’s Massages
Sarah Walker, 1st March 2008: Thank you so much for a truly wonderful stay at Chalet Runca - food absolutely fantastic, matched by the warmest welcome - you really made sure we had a great time. As group leader I'm now expert apres-skier, but skiing lagging behind!!
Alex Dinsmore, 22nd Feb 2008: Thanks for a fab time. The food was delicious, I enjoyed the sauna and steam room and I loved the shower.
Julia and Chris Eskdale, 16th Feb 2008: We had a great time, weather was just perfect and the skiing great. The chalet is lovely and spacious and the cooking was excellent.
Leonnie and Ian Thompson, 16th Feb 2008: We were all skiing virgins but are now addicted and ca't wait to get back to the slopes - a really fabulous holiday - thanks.
Barry Butler, 19th Jan 2008:
All home safely and only Bobby`s skis lost by BA this time !
Many thanks to you all for looking after us so well.
I`ll sort out the photos and send some in due course but have included the parting group for now.
Stephen and Pam, 6th April, 2007 and New Year 2007/8: the same old magic!!
Family de Lavatier, 31st March 2007: A warm English welcome in a wonderful white Arosa - what a nice place in the sun! Perfect for a holiday with the kids. We liked your hospitality very much and would like to thank you. Wie dersehn mit einan der! Hubert.
Robin and Judy, 24th March 2007: What a splendid chalet! Food and company both excellent. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay.
Lionel Thain et al, 17th March, 2007: Great food, fantastic time, brilliant snow.
Constance and Frank, 17th March, 2007: We loiked our stay here, many thanks to all from Stuttgart.
O'Flanagan family, 10th March, 2007: Thanks for a great week. You catered brilliantly to our diverse needs. Sian and Hatties enthusiasm really added to our holiday.
Wilkins family, 3rd March, 2007: We love the new chalet and resort and can see this really suiting the Onions family. Thank you both and Hattie and Sian for looking after us so well.
