Zinal holiday ski apartment rental with walking, log fire, balcony/terrace, internet access, rural retreat, TV, DVD

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Apartment Aiglon (apartment)

Home description

Undiscovered Zinal is a charming village, well away from the crowds, nestled high in the French-speaking region of Switzerland, between Verbier and Zermatt. The pistes here are quiet and there are no lift queues. 90% of the piste skiing lies above 2000m and is north-east facing, so good snow is guaranteed. There are 120kms of pistes including those at nearby Grimentz, which is connected by a black run or by a 10 minute free bus ride. There are excellent beginner slopes and huge amounts of off-piste for the experts. Three other resorts are covered by the lift pass – St Luc, Chandolin and Vercorin - doubling the pisted runs to 225kms.

The apartment is on the third (top) floor of the building with a large south-facing balcony and offers high quality accommodation for 8 people. It comprises two bathrooms and four bedrooms, three of which can be either double or twin, with the fourth containing bunk-beds. A sofa bed in the second lounge area can accommodate two additional guests. The kitchen area is new and fully equipped. There is an open fire, broadband internet access, a large flatscreen TV and DVD/video player.

As the apartment is being refurbished at the moment, interior photos will not be available until January 15th 2007, but all furniture, carpets, equipment and furnishings will be new and the decor will be very cosy, neutral and coordinated.

Apartment is top right in nearest building	One of the double bedrooms
Apartment Aiglon on the top floor, nearest	Christmas day paragliding in front of the Zinal Rothorn

To see more photos please visit http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/17880

The Swiss Alps / Valais/Swiss Alps region

Zinal is a charming village in an idyllic setting, well away from the crowds, nestled high in the the southern Valais mountains in the French-speaking region of Switzerland. Zinal is the gateway to the ‘Imperial Crown’: four permanently snow covered 4000m peaks with the Matterhorn sitting just behind them.

Zinal offers everything you could want from an alpine resort, without the crowds and expensive shops and restaurants of larger resorts such as neighbouring Zermatt and Verbier.

Zinal area

Zinal is the perfect alpine village for a mountain holiday. It is small enough that everything is within a short walk, but nonetheless has plenty of facilities. Here is a map of the village and an aerial photo. There are at least six restaurants and three bars, along with two supermarkets, a bakery, two mountain gear / ski / snowboard hire shops, post office, newsagent, cash machine and a tourist information and mountain guide office. There is also a regular bus service throughout the valley.

Zinal is a beautiful place to simply relax, but for non-flyers, non-skiers, or those wishing to try something else, there are plenty of activities available on the doorstep or within the valley.

SUMMER ACTIVITIES
In summer, Zinal is also a perfect base for Mountain Biking, Rock Climbing, Mountaineering and Walking. There are many mountain huts in the area where you can stay overnight, allowing extended trips into the high mountains. In Zinal there are also picnic/bbq sites, a wildlife observation point, tennis courts, an indoor swimming pool, mini golf, a Tyrollean zip wire, and tandem paragliding or hang gliding flights. In the valley there is also an outdoor swimming pool, bungee jumping, canyoning, via ferrata, fishing and day trips to alpine lakes and glaciers. A gym, sauna, massage and beauty treatments are also available.

WINTER ACTIVITIES
The winter scenery here is spectacular. Zinal is surrounded by four 4000m peaks and behind them lies the Matterhorn. Ninety percent of the piste skiing lies between 2000m and 3000m and is mostly north-east facing, so good snow is guaranteed. There are 120 kms of pistes including those at nearby Grimentz, which is connected by a black run or by a 10 minute free bus ride. There are excellent beginner slopes, an extensive free ride area and huge amounts of off-piste for the experts. Have a look at the piste map.
The cable car takes you up 800 metres to 2440 metres in under 10 minutes, so you can be skiing 20 minutes after leaving the apartment.

The are three other resorts in the valley covered by the same lift pass and accessible by bus from Zinal – St Luc, Chandolin and Vercorin - offering a variety of skiing and snowboarding conditions and doubling the pisted runs to 225 kms. St Luc and Chandolin are more south-west facing so are a sunnier alternative in December and January.

In winter there is also cross country skiing, sledging, and snow shoeing, including a snow shoeing trip to the glacier. There is ice skating on a natural ice rink, introductory ice climbing courses, and tandem paragliding or hang gliding flights. There is also the indoor swimming pool and a gym, sauna, massage and beauty treatments are available.

How to get there

WHERE IS IT?
Zinal is at the very end of the Val d’Anniviers, which sits between Zermatt and Verbier in the southern Swiss Alps of Valais. The nearest main town is Sierre, which is down in the main Rhone valley approximately 40 mins away by car.

GETTING THERE
Zinal is easy to get to. It is two hours’ drive from Geneva airport, or three hours by train and bus. Flights are £80 return in advance with Easyjet and the train and bus journey is £60 return. Flights are also available to Sion from London’s City Airport or from Gatwick on Saturdays during the winter. Cars can be hired in Sion or Sierre and there is parking available directly outside the apartment. It is approximately 570 miles from Calais.

DRIVING FROM GENEVA AIRPORT
This is a simple drive, if there is no fresh snow. It is 120 miles, most of which is on motorway. From the airport follow the signs for Lausanne and then Simplon. When you get to Sierre (after about 110 miles) the motorway ends and you should go in the direction of Brig. After about 200 metres take a right turn into the Val d’Anniviers. Zinal is at the end of this valley, 14 miles away. This is a serious mountain road and if there is any fresh snow, you will need snow chains or 4 wheel drive with winter tyres. If you do not have winter tyres on your car and are involved in an accident any where in Switzerland, you will be held responsible, even if it wasn’t really your fault. Drivers with little experience of winter alpine conditions may be advised to book a taxi transfer or get the bus. When you get to Zinal fork right in front of the cable car. Fork left after the tree on the left and you have arrived. There is one allotted parking space in the car park directly outside the apartment building.

Hiring a compact car like a VW Golf costs about £280 excluding fuel(Dec 2006) for the week from Easyjet at Geneva airport.

TRAIN AND BUS FROM GENEVA AIRPORT
This is also straightforward. Tickets can be bought on-line at rail.ch. Type in from ‘Geneva airport’ and to ‘Zinal, poste’ (the post office). The ticket covers the train and bus journey. It is advisable to reserve a seat which can also be done on the web site. The 15.01 from Geneva airport arrives in Zinal at 18.03. The last connection leaves at 16.27 and arrives in Zinal at 19.47.

You will have to get off the train at Sierre station and from there take the bus to Zinal via Vissoie, where you have to change. From the bus stop in Zinal it is a 100m walk to the apartment. Have a look at the village map.


TAXI FROM GENEVA
Taxi transfer to from Geneva airport or Sion airport can be arranged on request. A minibus for up to 8 people from Geneva Airport costs £480 for the return trip.

Activities near Zinal

Facilities

Further details indoors:
For the winter there is an open fire place in the living room and a good supply of logs. The apartment is centrally heated. It is very warm and there is always plenty of hot water for baths and showers.

It is bright and sunny apartment with the living area having large windows on the south and east sides, with external shutters operated from inside the apartment.

The kitchen area is brand new and fully equipped with oven, ceramic hob, microwave, fridge/freezer, kettle, toaster and dishwasher.

There is broadband internet access, a large flatscreen TV and DVD/ video player along with a selection of videos, DVDs, books and games.

Books, magazines and all the necessary local skiing and paragliding information are also provided to ensure you get the most from your holiday.

A separate lockable storage area for your equipment is available on the ground floor. This can be used to store luggage on handover days for those wanting to ski or fly on Saturdays.

Bedroom dimensions are as follows
Bedroom 1 Twin or double 3.5m x 3m excluding built in wardrobe
Bedroom 2 Bunk beds 2.4m x 1.7m excluding built in wardrobe
Bedroom 3 Twin 3.0m x 2.9m + sleeping gallery 2.5m x 2.0m
Bedroom 4 Twin or double 3.5m x 3.2m into eaves
Upstairs lounge Double sofa bed 3.0m x 3.0m

Further details outdoors:
The balcony is on the south and east side of the building. It is 1.5 metres deep and there is room for 4 people to sit comfortably in the sun on the south side.

Rental rates

Period	From	To	Weekly	Nightly rate		Minimum  stay
				Weekday	Weekend
April 09 to June 09	24 Apr 09	27 Jun 09	400£ 400	0-	0-	1 Week
June 09 to Jul 09	27 Jun 09	18 Jul 09	500£ 500	0-	0-	1 Week
Jul 09 to Aug 09	18 Jul 09	5 Sep 09	600£ 600	0-	0-	1 Week
Sep 09 to Oct 09	5 Sep 09	3 Oct 09	400£ 400	0-	0-	1 Week
Oct to Dec 09	3 Oct 09	19 Dec 09	400£ 400	0-	0-	1 Week
Christmas New Year 09	19 Dec 09	2 Jan 10	1200£ 1,200	0-	0-	1 Week
Jan to Feb 10	2 Jan 10	13 Feb 10	700£ 700	0-	0-	1 Week
Feb Half term 10	13 Feb 10	27 Feb 10	1200£ 1,200	0-	0-	1 Week
Mar to April 10	27 Feb 10	3 Apr 10	800£ 800	0-	0-	1 Week
Easter 10	3 Apr 10	24 Apr 10	1200£ 1,200	0-	0-	1 Week
April to Jun 10	24 Apr 10	19 Jun 10	400£ 400	0-	0-	1 Week

NB: Prices may be subject to change at the advertiser's discretion.

The price includes bed linen, hand towels, bath towels, logs for the fire and broadband internet access.

A deposit of £250 is required to reserve the apartment. The full amount plus a security deposit of £250 is payable two months before the start of the holiday. The security deposit will be returned after your holiday if everything is in order.

Availability

See below for next 9 months' availability - to see the next 24 months click here

Send Enquiry

To contact this advertiser please visit: http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/17880

Contact details for the advertiser of home 17880
Name:	Michael Hood
Tel:	+44 (0)1737 821186
Mobile:	+44 (0)7756 910684
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Advertiser joined: Nov 2006