As a ski writer, you often find there are three types of resorts one writes about – resorts that everyone knows about, resorts that you wouldn’t send your worst enemy to and resorts that just by reading about them, you want to book your next holiday to. Flims falls into the last category.
There are 220 kilometres of slopes around the hilariously named “Crap Sogn Gion” which constitute the villages of Flims, Laax and Falera. The numbers are certainly impressive – 28 slopes, 4 snow parks, and 2 half pipes all with a vertical drop of nearly 2000 metres in what is claimed to be one of Europe’s most sun and snow rich areas. The runs cover everything from wide cruising mountain slopes to challenging blacks that plunge down into the valley. Understandably the area has become a Mecca for free riders and off-piste specialists and there are is also consequently a lively après-ski culture in the villages.
For non-skiers there is paragliding, tobogganing, cross country skiing and curling to try your hand at; along with a wide range of restaurants to suit all tastes and budgets. There is also a wide range of accommodation choices ranging from five-star hotels, through budget hostels, to self catering chalets. The resort is best reached by flying to Zurich and then taking the train to the local station.
