Wellness Hotel Chasa Montana

The Lift Station....

by Greggor58

The Cable car station is located on the main road between Samnaun Dorf....and Samnaun Compatsch....you really cant miss it....

There is ample parking if you might be driving to the lift....or there are buses that service the entire community and the lift.

The cost for a day pass will run you about 45 Euros a day with various combination passes available.

On top of The World....

by Greggor58

"Memories for a Lifetime..."

This was the HIGHLIGHT of my experience in Switzerland....My friends Andy and Andrea booked us a room here at a marvelous hotel in the Village for three nights.We stayed at the Hotel Mutler...and enjoyed three days and nights visiting with friends and family and exploring a little,and eating far too much very good food!

Samnaun shares a border with Austria and is a WONDERFUL ski destination and in fact is a tax free zone.

Samnaun consists of four different hamlets (Compatsch, Laret, Ravaisch and Dorf) which can only be reached via road [ or I guess skis ] from Austria. The resort is accessed from the Inn valley road between Landeck and the Reschen Pass

Because I injured my knee before I left Canada there was to be no skiing...but it didnt stop us from using the lifts to get to the top of the ski area and seeing for our own eyes the beauty of this region from the top!

The shared ski region of Samnaun and the Austrian resort of Ischgl – the Silvretta Arena between Arlberg and the Silvretta Group – is the biggest joint ski region in the Eastern Alps.

The cable car pictured above is in fact the World's FIRST double-decker cable car and has a total capacity of 180 persons a load...It was a realy interesting trip up the mountain in this ultra modern piece of techology!
Some interesting FACTS.....the altitude at the base station is 1'778 m....the altitude at the mountain station is 2'500 m...the travel time is only 6 minutes...It took only five months to construct and was opened for the 95/96 ski season...

While you are visiting this page....dont forget to check out the "Travelouge" pages also....for more photos of the scenery and some of my friends that I spent time there with!

"Mountains...mountains....and MORE Mountains...."

As I've mentioned in other pages here at VT....for a time I've lived in British Columbia and I've experienced life amidst snow capped mountains.This was in a sense like going back home for me...I LOVE mountains...and with the combination of great weather and gorgeous scenery like this...I was feeling truly like I was "home' again.

What a treat to be able to see this...it was an incredible experience!

In spite of my not speaking German...I never felt out of place amongst the friends and family of Andrea and Andy.

I might add here that Andrea lived and worked here in Samnaun for a number of years and still has many friends and family that live here.Sabrina joined us most evenings..Andrea's daughter.. and is a fluent English speaker.

I cant say enough good things about my time here.I would highly recommend this as a vacation or ski destination!

"On top of The World..."

We used three different lifts to get to this altitude...and the view was incredible....It was simply a SURREAL experience with snow capped mountains as far as the eye could see in EVERY direction....I only wished that I was able to ski it...I have made a commitment to return to ski and visit again with my old friends and new ones that I made during my visit here.

I got to the top in the chair lift ahead of Andrea and Andy...I walked to get out of the way of the following lift....and apparently I crossed a line in the snow somewhere that meant I had entered Austria....in a heartbeat I was approached by an undercover Austrian Customs person and asked to provide papers...as soon as I produced my passport she kind of went away satisfied that I was legal I guess...it all happened so fast that I'm not even sure what it was all about...she disappeared as quickly as she materialized!

So we hung out at the top for a little while...and took some pictures and then went for refreshment!

I suppose if I was able to ski it would have been so much more exhilarating but just to be here and share this setting with my friends...it was amazing...and like I said...just more reason to return so that I can ski it!

Making New Friendships...And Revisiting Others...

by Greggor58

"Andy and Andrea at the TOP...."

Just a few steps inside Austria....Andrea and Andy....my gracious hosts...a SUPER couple that I had met in the Spring of 07 while lazing about the beaches of Cuba.

"Andrea and I ...."

At the Top......she takes a farrrrrr better picture than I do.....Id rather be BEHIND the camera please....

"Mother and Daughter...."

Andrea....and Andrea's daughter...sharing a laugh in one of the pubs on the top of the Mountain....

Sabrina was such a GREAT help....patient and funny...providing translation when the need arose....spelling relief for Andy Im sure!She is fluent in English and lives and works in the resort.

Photo by Andy...

"Pub at the Top...."

Someone got cut off.....Andrea...Sabrina...a friend of Sabrina's [I cant remember her name ...Im SO BAD ] and myself....

Photo by Andy...

"Im LAUGHING...."

I really dont like having my picture taken....This is likely one of the few pictures of Andy and I together.....and Im doing WHATTTTT????

Nevertheless....this is another at the Top....

Photo by Andrea...

"Erika and Husband...."

The last night that we were in Samnaun...dinner out for the six of us...a great meal....and lots of laughs!

Erika and Rene.....

Photo by Andy or Andrea...