Saas-Fee, Switzerland

One stands at the end of the world and at the same time at its origin, at its beginning and at its centre. – Carl Zuckmayer on Saas-Fee, (1938).

Known as the “Pearl of the Alps,” Saas-Fee is located near the Matterhorn of Wallis (Valais). Surrounded by thirteen mountains, it is the main village in the Saastal or the Saas Valley and a municipality in the district of Visp within the canton of Wallis (Valais) in Switzerland. Its location close to the glaciers of the Dom and the Allalinhorn, along with its neighboring mountain peaks, such as the Weissmies, the Nadelhorn, and the Lenzspitze, have made Saas-Fee an attractive destination in the Swiss Alps with recreational opportunities throughout the year including skiing, caving, snowshoe trekking, mountain climbing, canyon climbing, and ice climbing.

German playwright Carl Zuckmayer (Der fröhliche WeinbergDer Hauptmann von Köpenick Des Teufels General) lived in Saas-Fee from 1958 until his death in 1977. It has also been the home to The European Graduate School / EGS since its inception in 1994, inspiring its students and faculty who convene throughout the summer at the Steinmatte classrooms up the hill from the small village.

Saas-Fee

Accommodation

The Hotel Allalin, located in the sunny “Lomatte,” is the principal reception place for students and faculty of The European Graduate School / EGS. The hotel has been in the Zurbriggen family for three generations and is currently owned and operated by Sabrina and Eva Zurbriggen, the hotel and family are known for the quality of their services and the warm and inviting atmosphere they create. In partnership with the EGS, the Hotel Allalin provides students with exceptional rates of approximately CHF 128.00 per day either in hotel rooms or nearby apartments, which includes lodging, three meals per day, and internet access. As well, the hotel offers reduced rates for family members or friends visiting students or faculty during the summer seminar programs.

All lodgings are located in or near (no more than 600 meters) the Hotel Allalin. Both single and double rooms are available in the hotel and the apartments. Although apartment floor plans vary, all of the rooms meet high quality standards. Please note: typically the apartments are not equipped with telephones, hairdryers, alarm clocks, voltage adapters, or minibars/refrigerators. The hotel may be able to provide some of these amenities upon request, but they are limited so please be sure to pack your own adapters. Some apartments are equipped with kitchens or kitchenettes. If this is a desired option for your stay, please be sure to make your requests well in advance.

All meals for both faculty and students are served at the Hotel Allalin. The hotel provides three meals a day and can accommodate vegetarians and vegans. Additionally, the hotel provides a limited number of gluten-free options. Unfortunately, the hotel cannot accommodate individual food allergies. If you have a food allergy, please address your situation directly with the hotel. You may be able to request a kitchen/kitchenettes or inquire if a special food plan is available that meets your dietary needs.

Reservations
Students book their own room and board directly with the Hotel Allalin, which accepts cash (USD, CHF, or Euro), bank transfers, or credit cards (subject to a credit card fee of 2% of total). A down payment of USD1000.00 is required upon reservation; the remainder of the fee is to be paid upon arrival in Saas-Fee at check-in (please note there is a fee charge for early departure). Fill out the Hotel Allalin online reservation form to make reservations.  For more information please contact the hotel directly and visit their website:

Hotel Allalin Contact Information
Name: Eva & Sabrina Zurbriggen
Address: Lomattenstrasse 7, CH 3906 Saas-Fee, Switzerland.
Tel. +41 27 958 1000
Fax: +41 27 958 1001
Web: Hotel Allalin
Email: info@allalin.ch
Online Reservations: Hotel Allalin online reservation form

Hotel Bank Information
Bank:UBS AGCH-8098 Zürich, Switzerland
Clearing Number: 263
Swift Code: UBSWCHZH80A
Account Number: 263-103929.01U
IBAN (International Bank Account Number): CH75 0026 3263 1039 2901 U
Account owners: Eva & Sabrina Zurbriggen, Hotel Allalin, Lomattenstrasse 7, CH-3906 Saas-Fee, Switzerland

Travel information

Flights: Saas-Fee, Post can be reached by plane via Basel (BSL), Geneva (GVA), and Zürich (ZRH). Tickets should be booked as early as possible as ticket prices get more expensive when summer approaches.

Please note: You should not book return flights from Basel, Geneva, or Zürich for the morning. The earliest flight you can make from Saas-Fee, Post (via bus and train) would be just after 12.00 pm.

Trains: The airports in Basel (BSL), Geneva (GVA), and Zürich (ZRH) offer excellent connections to Saas-Fee, Post (via Visp) as well as other destinations within the Swiss and European rail network. The Swiss rail network, SBB (CFF, FFS), has airport railway stations with direct access to airport Check-in, Departure, and Arrival levels. Train tickets can be purchased from station counters, automated ticket machines, and from the SBB Ticket Shop (CHF, EURO, or credit cards). As well, SBB Mobile service offers a range of services accessible with mobile devices such as: door-to-door travel information, routes, itineraries, time tables, ticket counter locations, payment options for online purchase, and real-time information in the event of delays. After the train ride from Basel, Geneva, or Zürich to Visp, you then take the Postbus to Saas-Fee, Post (see below). You can purchase a single ticket from any of the Swiss train stations for the entire journey.

Basel: The distance between the Basel airport and Saas-Fee, Post (via Visp) is roughly 320km, and about 3 hours and 40 minutes by car, or 3 hours and 40 minutes with public transportation (train and bus).

For more information:
Europort / Aéroport de Bâle-Mulhouse
BP 60120, F-68304 Saint-Louis Cedex, France
Tel: +33 3 89 90 31 11

Geneva: The distance between the Geneva airport and Saas-Fee, Post (via Visp) is roughly 240km, and about 2 hours and 33 minutes by car, and 3 hours and 28 minutes with public transportation.

For more information:
Geneva International Airport
1215 Geneva, Switzerland.
Tel: +41 22 717 71 11

Zürich: The distance between the Zürich airport and Saas-Fee, Post (via Visp) is roughly 250km, and about 3 hours 18 minutes by car, and 3 hours and 15 minutes with public transportation.

For more information:
Zürich International Airport
8302 Kloten, Switzerland
Tel: +41 43 816 22 11

Bus: The Postbus to Saas-Fee is approximately 45 minutes and costs around CHF 20. If you have not purchased a complete journey ticket from your originating Swiss train station through to Saas-Fee Post, you may purchase the bus ticket at the Visp train station (cash or credit card) or upon entry on the bus (in CHF).

In Visp, buses arrive and depart directly in front of the Visp train station. Board the bus that states its final destination: “Saas-Fee, Post (Busterminal).” To date, the Bus number between Visp and Saas-Fee Post is Bus 511. >Buses do not run that late in the evening between Visp and Saas-Fee, Post, therefore be sure to confirm the bus schedule and arrive in Visp in time to catch a bus, otherwise you will have to take a rather expensive taxi journey.

For more information: Postbus

Taxi: A taxi (up to four persons) from Visp to Saas-Fee will cost approximately CHF 120.00. The taxi company can also accommodate larger groups from six persons or more with a mini-van or mini-bus, which costs approximately CHF 180.00 (reservations are required). If you use a taxi, be sure to identify yourself as an EGS student to receive special rates.

For more information:
Taxi Zerzuben
Kantonsstrasse 67
CH-3930 Visp, Switzerland
Tel: +41 27 9 480 480
Email: info@z-zerzuben.ch

Arriving in Saas-Fee: The village of Saas-Fee is a car-free zone, but there will be a small electro-car from the Allalin Hotel (our principal reception next to the EGS office) sent to the Saas-Fee bus terminal to meet every bus arriving from Visp and Brig between 11am and 9pm on the arrival day. If you arrive earlier, the Allalin Hotel is just a 10-minute walk from the station. Otherwise, you may use the courtesy phone at the tourist information office across from the bus terminal to call the Allalin Hotel.

Climate: Saas-Fee is located at 1,800 m (5,906 ft) above sea level. So, be advised that the weather can be rather cool (including occasional bouts of snow in June!). The average temperatures in June range from 7C to 18C, and rise to averages between 10C and 21C in August. Students are advised to pack warm clothes for the cooler moments. For current weather conditions, see: Saas-Fee Weather.

Health insurance information

Accidents and illnesses which require medical attention can be very expensive and we encourage all EGS students to make the appropriate arrangements for health insurance coverage from their home countries well in advance of their departure. It’s recommended that you speak to your health-care provider between four and six weeks before your time of travel so that your immunization history, personal health, and planned activities can all be taken into consideration to determine what is needed for your trip. Be sure to indicate all travel destinations to your health-care provider so that they can inform you of the necessary vaccinations and health advisories in effect. If your home health insurance policy does not cover you abroad, there are many short-term and long-term travel insurance policies available from numerous providers.

Please keep in mind that access to, and the legality of, medicine and prescription medicine varies from country to country. Therefore, make sure that you have an adequate amount of your prescription medicine(s) to last the duration of your trip. It is recommended to keep them in their original packaging, and to bring them with you in your carry-on baggage. If they include liquids, consult the security guidelines of your airline.

Saas-Fee