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