Saas Fee is a wonderful place to go when looking to enjoy some world-class skiing or snowboarding in Switzerland's canton of Valais. As is true of nearby Zermatt, this charming ski resort is set high in the Alps, which helps to ensure good snow on average. In fact, you can even ski or snowboard at Saas Fee in the summer. Winter is definitely the preferred season when it comes to hitting the slopes, and as is true at most European ski resorts, other winter activity options help to keep the fun going. Once summer rolls around, the tourists return, many coming to climb the regional peaks and to hike the miles of hiking paths. If this isn't enough to make you consider a visit, the fact that the area gets around 300 sunny days a year on average just might.

The village of Saas Fee is a car-free retreat that calls the Saas Valley home. This valley is found in the southern part of Switzerland and borders Italy. Numerous peaks that top out at more than 13,000 feet above sea level rise up around the shelf of pasture that the village rests on, and this only adds to the alpine allure. It is possible to ski up to an altitude of 11,800 feet when indulging in some Saas Fee skiing, and if you prefer staying close to the village, there are plenty of blue runs that are served by lifts. In total, Saas Fee offers more than twenty lifts. Three cable cars are among the lifts that get skiers and snowboarders up the mountain, and you might be interested to know that the resort features the world's highest underground funicular system. The underground funicular will take you to the top of the Mittelallalin, and from there, you can access a few long runs that lead down to the village.

The Saas Fee ski resort boasts a vertical drop of almost 6,000 feet, which is very impressive. Of the approximately 60 miles of total trails, nearly 20 miles are for beginners. The remaining trails cater to intermediate and advanced-level skiers and snowboarders. When you're not enjoying the fine mix of slopes at Sass Fee, other activities that you might look to add to the itinerary are snowshoeing, paragliding, and hang gliding. Back up on the mountain, dipping into the snow park (terrain park) and taking on the halfpipe can add some extra excitement to the mix.

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On a Saas Fee ski vacation, skiers and snowboarders can look to add some rewarding side adventures to the agenda. High altitude ski tours cater to a variety of tastes and levels, and these tours can include accessing isolated runs by way of helicopter, venturing off the main trails for some off-piste fun, and enjoying some ski touring. Closer to sea level, cross-country ski trails provide just one more activity option for winter sports enthusiasts.

The Saas Fee hotels are numerous, and this only lends to the village's popularity as a year round vacation destination. There are more than 50 hotels to choose from, and should you prefer a holiday apartment, you can go that route as well. As for the Saas Fee hotels, the Ferienart Resort & Spa can be a great place to stay, as long as your budget supports it. Guests can enjoy a number of fun activities onsite at this upscale hotel, and the day spa provides an ideal place to soothe tired muscles and minds.

There are Saas Fee hotels to fit a range of budgets and tastes. If you can't get a room at the Ferienart Resort & Spa, the Schweizerhof Saas-Fee is good alternative, while more affordable hotels such as the Hotel du Glacier are among the best mid-range options. For those who are trying to plan cheap Saas Fee ski vacations, good hotels that figure among the top overall values include the Hotel Elite Saas-Fee, the Hotel Bristol, and the Hotel Waldesruh. Most of the hotels in this lovely village include breakfast in their rates, and you will also have the option to pay extra for a half board plan. That way, you won't have to worry about where you're going to get dinner after a fun day on the slopes.

When trying to plan cheap Saas Fee ski vacations, avoiding the peak of the Christmas season is a good place to start. Getting some good deals by booking a holiday package is another option. Also worth considering when it comes to cheap Saas Fee ski vacations are the transportation options. For those who are driving into the area, there are parking lots on the outside of town. These are relatively expensive lots, in which those who are trying to save some money might prefer the parking lots in nearby Visp. Traveling by train is the other option, and you'll be happy to know that it is a relatively affordable one. Trains from larger cities such as Geneva arrive at the stations in both Visp and Brig. From there, travelers can hop on the post buses to complete the journey to Saas Fee.