Sixty-seven people from 20 travelled to Zermatt by bus and train before arriving at the
four-star Hotel Alex which was located within short walking distance of the train station. Our
group quickly checked into our spacious hotel rooms before joining together for a welcome
reception with wine and appetizers in the lounge area next to the hotel bar. A general
informational meeting conducted during the welcome reception provided a nice preview of the
upcoming week at the resort.
Dinner was served promptly after the welcome reception in the hotel’s ornate dining room. The
quality of the food and service were excellent each night. Many people took advantage of the
many amenities at the hotel including a pool, hot tub, Finnish sauna, steam bath, fitness room,
badminton, table tennis, squash, and an indoor tennis court. Others spent their evenings
visiting the many nightclubs in town or enjoying the hotel bar and lounge.
The next day offered opportunities for our group to visit the four different ski areas of
Rothorn–Sunnegga, Gornergrat, Matterhorn Glacier Paradise at Klein Matterhorn, and Cervinia,
Italy. The ski areas were easily accessed by bus, train, or funicular to begin the day. All the
terrain appeared to be open during our trip although no recent snowfall resulted in some
hard-pack and icy conditions on the trails. Charming on-mountain huts provided nice breaks for
lunch and refreshments during the ski days. The best snow was experienced in our runs to the
base areas of Valtournenche and Cervinia. Many group members traveled to the capital city of
Bern, Switzerland on Wednesday to visit the many historical sites and attractions.
Pre-dinner cocktail parties were offered on two nights to allow our group members to socialize
with members from other clubs. The dinners offered nightly buffets with either salad and
appetizers or local food specialties that were enjoyed by all. The multi-course dinners were
always anticipated each night with a wide selection of entrees and wines.
The group gathered early on Saturday morning for the short walk to the Zermatt Shuttle Train
leading to our bus stop at the Täsch train station. Our luggage was transported by van to Täsch,
but it still arrived shortly after our train arrived at the station. A 3-hour bus ride to Milan
provided a scenic trip before arriving in the heart of Milan. Our four-star hotel, StarHotels
Ritz, was located on a narrow side street which provided difficult access for our bus driver who
finally decided to park about one block from the hotel.
The next day we were treated to a walking Milan city tour that featured many highlights
including the Duomo and the famous La Scala Opera House. On Monday, an optional day tour to Lake
Como was enjoyed by most group members with a city tour followed by a scenic boat ride on Lake
Como. Tuesday morning provided another optional day tour to the Upper City of Bergamo to view
the historic Venetian walls built in the 16th century and walk the narrow medieval streets with
historical buildings including a citadel, palazzos, a basilica, a cathedral, and many museums.
Join us in 2025 at Andermatt / Lucerne, Switzerland! Steve Patzer