Winter
Verbier
Valais, Switzerland
Verbier is the Swiss resort serious skiers and serious partiers share, freeride terrain off Mont-Fort above, and the loudest terraces in the Alps below. IYKYK secures chalets with ski-room access, guides for the off-piste that made the resort's name, and tables where the day ends.
Hotels
W Verbier
Médran base, true ski-in, ski-out, Arola dining
Hôtel Chalet d'Adrien
Savoleyres side, Relais & Châteaux, quieter
Experimental Chalet
Village centre, 39 rooms, the best bar in town
Dining
La Vache
Village, the James Blunt-backed fondue room
Le Carrefour
Above Médran, long lunch on the sun terrace
Le Namasté
Savoleyres piste, mountain restaurant, valley views
Après
Le Rouge Restaurant & Club
Médran piste, Après at Le Rouge, daily from 3pm
Farinet Après-Ski
Place Centrale, live bands on the terrace since the 1980s
Pub Mont Fort
Médran, the ski-bum institution, still the best pint
Events
Verbier Xtreme
Late March, Freeride World Tour finale on the Bec des Rosses
Verbier High Five
April, Didier Cuche's end-of-season race weekend
Polaris Festival
December, three days of electronic music across the resort
Farm Club nights
In season, the late room since 1970
Travel
Flights
Geneva (GVA) or Sion (SIR) for private
Transfers
Helicopter Geneva-Verbier, chauffeur via Le Châble
Ski
4 Vallées passes, off-piste guides, heli-drops