im sure there's plenty of skiing experience on ef.

i cant ski but i'm going on a few day holiday for a bit of cross country skiing (trying to do this) and general bliss in the mountains. but, the choice is between vaud region and engadin region . don't ask, that's just how it is.

maybe anyone with advice can advise.

I'd go where the snow is.

However, if it were my choice, I'd go to the Engadin for its natural beauty and excellent cross country skiing trails.

yeh that's something else ... where the snow is good point, thanks.

contrary to how i felt five minutes ago, i've decided that i will go cross country skiiing not just in either vaud or engadine, but to anywhere in switz that is the best.

so perhaps anyone can suggest where is the best for ccs (as i now call it).

leading the race so far is engadine, based on olygirl's recommendation in another thread.

Obergoms

In Vaud, one of the best places, and great for beginners, is Les Rasses to Les Cluds (and beyond, all the way to the Creux-du-Van). This is above St Croix, which is above Yverdon. Ski and boot, sticks hire is available near the car park, and restaurants both there and at Les Cluds. the best bit is that you have fabulous views of the plains and on a good day can see all the Alps, including Mont Blanc.

ooh lovely, i'll have a right look at all the above

+1 for Engadin. My favourite resort in "Switz" is Pontresina but I don't know what the snow is like there at the moment.

Good luck!

If you want to stay overnight, have a look at the Grand Hôtel des Rasses, about 500m from the pistes. It is an old 19C Victorian style hôtel with fabulous views. It got quite run down in the past 30 years, but has been refurbished recently, with a new indoor swimming pool (again with great views)- but keeping the 19C features and wrought iron balconies- etc.

There is also the Hôtel de France in St Croix itself, which is fine. And don't forget to visit the musical box factory and Museum there too. There is a little mountains train that goes from Yverdon station to St Croix- and then a bus up to Les Rasses, or a taxi. I think the Grand Hôtel also can arrange pick up from station.

Sadly, there was only enough snow a few days after Chrismas. Warm weather and rain means pistes are not practicable at the moment. Forgot to say the piste between between Les Rasses and Les Cluds (great fondue!) is lit at night.

+1

http://www.obergoms.ch/cross-country...ntrypistes.php

http://snow.myswitzerland.com/snow_r...msObergoms-272

Have a look at Davos as they host a world cup cross country skiing event and have some amazing routes though the woods which are meant to be stunning

Yes, Davos. A super choice for all needs. And all tracks with plenty of restaurants. We went there twelve years on the trot. Once you are away from the town it's lovely.

thanks. i've been to davos as it happens and yes it was really beautiful: looking down on the valley of towns it's within is pretty splendid. i stayed at this posh old hotel that, it's time to face facts, REVERES ITSELF: pictures of itself along all the corridors, in the rooms, even in the bathroom! basically, bonkers.

btw i asked most waiters and waitresses and barstaff and etc about the annual fest when all the politicians grind-show the plutocrats, or whatever happens when the helicopters land, and they were pretty unanimous: SHIT TIPPERS.

I vote for the Engadin in general as the best place to langlauf as it has the most variety.... also, if you are up for the challenge there is the Engadin Ski Marathon in early March.

For right now, the conditions in the Engadin are not great - SNOW IS NEEDED! This weekend looks like there might be some.... but for the first time in quite a long time, there is limited snow and thus limited trail openings.

Here is the full list for the Engadin.

http://www.engadin.stmoritz.ch/winte...ountry-skiing/

If we get a decent amount of snow, then you can not go wrong staying in Pontresina, Celerina or St. Moritz (Samedan also would provide good access too)

Fingers crossed for snow!

ENJOY!

-D

They don't need to tip, service charge is included in Switzerland - maybe they know that.

I was also going to say the area around Ste Croix because I was just there on Saturday and the landscape and snow was just beautiful! We did a snow shoe hike (guided, from a hotel in Couvet, totally recommended) but I know the area is mostly known for it's cross country skiing!

Well it was a lot of snow and quite sunny yesterday in Einsiedeln (if you only want a bit of cross country skiing). I'm usually not looking too far away from home.

Wow you stayed at the Hôtel de l'Aigle then? Yes, this week-end was absolutely gorgeous in the area. If you have a car, you can also stay at the Hôtel des Cernets, right on the pistes, or of course Le Grand Hôtel des Rasses. We live locally if ever you come back, happy to meet for coffee, hot chocolate, a meal, fondue- or our local speciality 'absinthe'. There is a great Museum about absinthe in Môtiers next to Couvet 'La Maison de l'Absinthe' - happy to give you a private guided visit if ever you come back. Gently snowing again.

www.hotel-lescernets.ch

excellent food, and right on the Franco-Swiss xcountry pistes, in the middle of the GTJ (Grande Traversée du Jura)- and so peaceful. Karine and Pierre-Eric are great hosts- shame they are not good actors, lol as in the video) - he an ex Swiss x country champion- and they do their own in house ski and boot hire. Do get in touch if you go there- as it is our local ski area.

They have small dorms too, great value for family and friends, as well as comfortable double-rooms.

Hey Odile, we stayed in a little BnB in Travers because that was more our price range, but we met at the Hotel de l'Aigle for the hiking.
Was an amazing weekend, we are definitely coming back! I wanted to go to the Creux du Van but we didn't have time, so we have to come back at some point to do that again. And we had an amazing fondue up on the Mont des Cerfs and even had some absinthe parfait there too.

Ah, yes, I know that B&B- it's quite popular. Do get in touch if you come again, and if you need advice about other accom. The hôtel in our village is simple but excellent food and decent rooms and very cheap (from top of head 80CHF for the room).