Hello forum!

I've been living for 1½year in Switzerland, but moved back to Denmark in spring 2011.
Obviously, we miss the great outdoor life in Switzerland, and now is the time to do something about it!

My mother is turning 65 in late July 2012, and she want's to invite the family to a weeks vacation in the swiss countryside. I've been put in charge of finding and chosing a place for the holiday to take place.

We will be 6 adults, in good physical condition (my parents are experienced hikers), with one 1-year old child and one 1-monts old baby.

We would like to rent a chalet - but what to choose?? And where to go???

I've been in almost all of CH, but not in Graubünden! And it's supposed to be so beautiful!

Does anyone have an idea or a suggestion? Chur, Klosters, St. Moritz, Davos, Arosa or elsewhere???

We are looking for a nice and well kept chalet, but we don't need luxury. We prefer pretty easy acces by car from Zurich Airport. We would maybe like to make a daytrip to Locarno and to the Rhine Valley. But overall we value proximity to breathtaking alpine scenery and wonderful hikes

I hope someone can point me in the right direction - or maybe just say where not to go Ideas for region, town, chalet etc. will be greatly appreciated

Happy new year!

- Henrik

What sort of budget have you got?

Don't know the Grisons well for hiking- but I would recommend the Val d'Hérens in the Valais - small traditional resorts like Evolène or Les Haudères. Fabulous walks to Arolla and Ferpècle Glaciers, Mont Noble- with several great spas in the area.

Depending how many you are, if you are not on a huge budget - friends have got a lovely Chalet between the 2 villages in the hamlet of La Tour. It is a B&B - but sleeps around 12 - with one of the larger rooms for a family with its own kitchen, and if you rent the whole place you could use the main kitchen too. Surrounded by a garden, wild flower meadows, fabulous mountains all around and a lovely waterfall right at the back. Not luxury - but traditional and simple, no en-suite bathrooms but 1 on each floor.

Google 'B&B La Grande Peur dans la Montagne- Madeleine the owner (although the business is in a partner's name Patrick Rossier) speaks excellent English. Lovely restaurants in both villages- all accessible by bus from Sion train station.

Many thanks Odile!

I've already been in Val d'Hérens - skiing in Les Collons. It's a very nice place. Could be a good possibility. Thank you for the recommendation of the chalet. Not bad at all... Will look into it.

Our budget is ~2000chf for a week.

In the Grisons I've already found this possibility http://www.klosterschalet.com/

Is there anyone who know any good hikingresorts in the Grisons/Graubünden?

And a happy new year to all of you

Sorry can't help with the Grisons. Evolène/les Haudères are very different to Les Collons which is a very modern development. They are much more Heidi like and traditional.

How about looking at
www.chaletsdirect.com

Got several friends I grew up with in my area with the surname of your avatar- wondering if they are related?

Heidi-like could be very good!
But since I've never been in Graubünden, I would really like to go hiking in that region of CH. But Valais is of course also a safe choice It's a wonderful place!

Well, regarding my surname. I'm danish, and I think there are only two families in Denmark with that name. In Switzerland it's much more common, and I've asked my dad, but he thinks that our surname is from somewhere in Germany.

So probably no connection to Switzerland... But it could be fun

NomCantonCommuneBourgeoisie acquiseAncien lieu d'origine RosselBEDiessea
RosselBEPrêlesa
RosselBETramelana
RosselBSBasel1932(Enges NE) RosselBSBasel1945(Tramelan-Dessus BE) RosselGEGenève1956(Tramelan BE) RosselGEPregny-Chambésy1946(Enges NE) RosselLULuzern1940, 1941(D) RosselNEDombressonb(Hauterive NE) RosselNEEngesa
RosselNEHauterivea
RosselNELa Chaux-de-Fonds1901(Tramelan-Dessus BE) RosselNELe Locle1924(Tramelan-Dessus BE) RosselNENeuchâtel1880(Tramelan-Dessus BE) RosselSOSolothurn1866(Tramelan BE) RosselVDLausanne1956, 1961(Tramelan BE) RosselVDOrbe1938(Tramelan-Dessus BE) RosselVDVevey1956(Tramelan BE) RosselZHZürich1909, 1959(Prêles BE) RosselZHZürich1958(Solothurn SO)

Try the Engadin.
My favorite is Sils Maria. The area between La Punt and Maloja is great for hiking in summer. The Engadin valley about 1600mts high and the best time to go is from the end of May. Before this there is normaly still snow in the high valleys.
Chalet's to rent in this region is almost impossible. The chalet style of building is not allowed in almost the whole valley.
Perhaps you could find a house to rent? But normaly they are to costly.
They have very nice flats to rent with 2 and 3 bedrooms.
Here is an eg.http://interhome-travel.com/holiday/...nd/Sils__Maria
Where to look?
Maloja.
Sils Maria.
Silvaplana.
Samedan.
Bever.
La Punt.
Zuoz.
Where to hike?
Swiss National Park.
Muottas Muragl.
Corvatsch and Rosegtal.
Fextal. (from Sils)
Grevasalvas (comonly called Heidi village)
Tour of the Sils Lake.
The region of Bergel with a visit to Soglio.
And many more!!
The POST BUS have a very good sevice in the whole Engadin and Bergel.
At one end of the valley is Italy and the other end is Austria.

Have a look in Google Maps there are some very good photo's of the region.

If I can help more PM me.
Salut Zämma

I second that: Engadin is the place for you!
i.e. Samedan could be a good (and less expensive) base for you to explore Graubünden.
Here is one link
http://www.samedan-ferien.ch/

I hope you find what you are looking for!

Enjoy your vacations!

PS. I'm a big fan of Kobenhavn-just love this city!!

Thanks alot for all your replies!

The Engadine looks niiiiice

I will do some research whether Samedan is the right place for us. Could very well be. Sils Maria seems very good as well.

Thank you Big Mara for the information regarding restrictions on building chalet in Graubünden. Didn't know that. And thanks a lot for all the hiking ideas

And Odile - I've to look into if I'm of swiss origin with all those Rossel's

@FMX Good to know we danes are not the only ones who loves Copenhagen. I live right in the center - lovely town!