Zermatt is one of the swankiest ski resorts in Europe. Drawing an international, well-dressed crowd, it has grown in recent years. It is now more town than village, popular year round. It's car-free but not traffic-free - electric buggies whip along the streets - but one thing is timeless and that is the view of the majestic Matterhorn that dominates the views from the slopes.
Zermatt is a mix of old chalets and barns, grand old hotels and modern edifices, high-end boutiques and fancy restaurants. The slopes are high and extensive and snowfall is reliable. There is summer skiing in the glacier area.
Pack some patience on your cheap flights to Switzerland as the queues for the lifts can be long. Save your pennies too as Zermatt has one of the Europe's most expensive lift passes. However, for a Swiss ski holiday with the possibility of a dash of Italian (Zermatt is linked to Cervinia, which means more than 300km of excellent skiing), it's hard to beat Zermatt.
Use the superfast lift up to Gornergrat for skiing that suits most abilities. The Riffelalp area is the easiest. The Matterhorn is the mountain that dominates Zermatt and the off-piste skiing is excellent.
Walk in the middle of the road as no cars are allowed. In fact electric cars and the skibus do go along, as well as horses pulling people in carriages, but the lack of traffic gives the resort a special secluded feel.
Make the most of the cheese. Fondue has become known the world over as traditional Swiss dish. If you lose your piece of bread from your fork and it disappears into the bubbling pot of cheese you have to pay a forfeit.