WHO’S WHO IN PARTY TOWN
While you’ll find an abundance of species visiting this mountainous habitat,
there are three particular breeds worth looking out for
Verbier
need to know
(
35,000
)
Number of residents during winter
months, compared to 3,000 in summer
(
412
)
number of downhill pistes in the area
measured in km
(
3,300
m
)
highest altitude you can get
to by chairlift
easyJet
flies to Geneva from 52 destinations. See
our insider guide on page 151. Book online
at easyJet.com
(
Top fact
)
There’s a chairlift in the resort named
after British singer James Blunt
La Cordée des Alpes
At this chic Swiss establishment there’s
an indoor pool and spa with mountain
views. Book at hotels.easyJet.com
THE SEASONAIRE
Even by Alpine standards, Verbier’s
seasonaire boys and girls are a loud
bunch. They can be found on the mountain
around lunchtime, charging off hangovers
with whoops and bright clothing.
Due to their chalet duties, they are
rarely seen on early-morning lifts, but
can be spotted from late afternoon in
their natural habitat at the Loft Bar (
Rue
de Poste
),
stomping around in ski boots,
unzipped outerwear and sometimes
fancy dress. This is turned up to 11 on
Wednesdays, their day off. In spring, they
migrate to the deck of the Pub Mont Fort
(
pubmontfort.com
)
and terrace of the
Central Hotel (
verbiercentralhotel.com
),
often stripped to bikinis and shorts.
THE MILLIONAIRE PLAYBOY
Frequently heard before seen: keep an ear
out for the telltale buzz of a mobile phone
and a loud barked answer on the Médran
gondola at 9am. With pressed Norrøna or
Prada outerwear, polished Carradan skis,
and Gucci goggles, they barely have a hair
out of place. If a snowboarding sub-type,
you’ll notice their €1,000 Burton Method,
acquired by marching into a store and
asking for “the most expensive board”.
Fur-wrapped blond on one arm, they
sip Cristal Champagne at the Farm Club
of the Hotel Nevai (
hotelnevai.com
)
or the
VIP section of the Casbah (
hotelfarinet.
com
),
before dining at La Table
d’Adrien (
chalet-adrien.com
),
Verbier’s
only Michelin-starred restaurant.
THE GRIZZLED MOUNTAINEER
Usually a solitary being, you’ll recognise
this particular group by their weathered
face, rich yet unkempt beard, panda-
esque tan lines around the eyes and a
honed disdain for hapless tourists.
On a fine, sunny day following a
plentiful snowfall, find them wearing
snowshoes and crampons at the outer
reaches of Les 4 Vallées area. Once mere
skiers themselves, they have, in their
heads anyway, now attained a Zen-like
communion with nature. At least, until
they go back to the day job.
Come lunch, see them in La Marmotte
mountain restaurant (
lamarmotte-verbier.
com
),
where they recount tales of bravery
while trying to cadge drinks.
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A P R È S - S K I
V E R B I E R
