Hotel Derby
Features
The award-winning Derby is a comfortable, attractively furnished, family-run hotel that boasts spectacular views of the Eiger and surrounding mountains. Highly praised by guests who return year after year, the hotel is also very conveniently located.
Accommodation
Rooms for 2 people sharing a north facing twin room with shower, wc and balcony. North facing twin rooms with bath, wc and balcony, superior rooms (south facing larger rooms that sleep up to three with bath, shower, wc and balcony) and single rooms with shower and wc are available at a supplement. Single rooms can take an extra bed suitable for a child. Family option with 2 children sharing a single room and a twin oppostite is also available. All rooms have satellite TV, safe, hairdryer and minibar.
Facilities
à la carte restaurant
Lounge and bar
Cava bar with live music weekly
Fitness room, sauna and solarium
WiFi access
Facts
In resort centre (next to railway station)
10 minutes' walk to Firstbahn gondola and ski school meeting place
1 minute's walk to ski bus stop (to access nursery slopes and Firstbahn)
Grindelwald Resort Info
Accessible from Berne (75km) and Zurich (2/3 hours), Grindelwald is the oldest yet least- known of the 3 Jungfrau resorts (which combine to offer 188km of piste). Most will have heard of Wengen and Murren. All 3 sit around the magnificent Eiger, with Grindelwald at the base. This does lead to a lack of sun in the winter. A mountaineering Mecca, the setting and scenery are fantastic and the resort is picturesque in the extreme, although Murren possesses the best views. Grindelwald has its own domain, linked with Wengen, while a slight trek can get you to Murren. In particular, the cog railway and the gondola to most of the skiing can get clogged, especially at weekends. The lift system is rather antiquated, but should be receiving attention soon.
Grindelwald has Europe's longest sledge run - it is 15 km long!
The skiing favours intermediates, while advanced skiers may miss out if they aren't prepared to travel. The resort is hugely popular with families. The ski school also has a reasonable reputation, with many English-speaking instructors. Grindelwald's biggest problem is a lack of guaranteed snow, with most of the skiing between 1000m and 2000m.
There is plenty to do off the snow, with the train helping you to get around. Après-ski is pretty laid-back, while hotel restaurants are the focus for good grub. There are a few reasonable bars and 2 clubs, so it's slightly livelier than the other Jungfrau resorts. Access is provided by train from Interlaken.
Overall, a beautiful family ski resort, with a great selection of skiing and non-skiing options available. Grindelwald, funnily enough, only really comes into its own when there is ample snow.
The World Snow Festival takes place in Grindelwald each year. Thousands of sculpturers present their creations on this event. It is worth watching them how they make their creations.
More Grindelwald resort information