Perhaps belatedly, the Swiss also have decided to give a more generous welcome to families. The glacier resort of Saas Fee in the Valais Alps is offering free lift passes to children accompanied by an adult. In nearby Zermatt, children under the age of nine go free. Research shows that children who visit somewhere with their families usually return as an adult. De Vito says the central tourist authority is trying to motivate hoteliers to offer more facilities and activities for families.
Swiss accommodation is normally good quality.
The food and wine, although slightly more expensive than in neighboring France, Italy or Austria, also is reliable. Foreigners can take advantage of special rail passes and family cards to speed them on their way. If you're lucky and there's no cloud, it's simply unforgettable. Once they arrive at the slopes, visitors will find that traditional skiing and snowboarding are now supplemented with a whole new range of activities. Invented by two New Zealanders, the sport consists of rolling down the slope in a huge rubber ball.