Located above the town of Visp in a north-facing valley, Zermatt is a highly chic resort and not famous for being the hangout of the rich and famous for nothing. Visitors of more modest means should not despair however – there are plenty of of self-catering apartments and guesthouse options. However much you’re planning to spend, if you are skiing in high season you should book as early as possible. For those on a tight budget, the more flexible you are and the later you book, the more likely you are to get a bargain (particularly at the beginning and end of the season). The tourist office is a particularly good source of accommodation listings and often has good special offers to make your money stretch that little bit further.
As you’d expect, Zermatt’s mainstay of accommodation options consists of luxurious hotels and top-end chalets. That said, visitors’ expectations are high here, so 2, 3 and 4-star chalets tend to provide more value for money than in other ski resorts. Most hotels in Zermatt are not for the faint hearted in terms of the bill, but you can find half-board packages if you need to save some cash. Self-catering may be best for those on a budget and there are plenty of apartments available in Zermatt with several agencies offering a good range of options. Alternatively, it is cheaper to stay down the valley in Tasch but the nightlife is nowhere near as good and the daily train journey definitely gets tedious.
