Just back from our short first visit, which coincided with the opening of the new cable car over to Zinal. The village is very pretty. Yes, it is quiet, but that suits us. We rented an apartment in the middle of the old village, a short walk from the lifts. We were lucky as about a foot of fresh snow had fallen up the mountain on the day of our arrival. The first thing we noticed was how quiet it was. Yes, there are slow drag lifts, but it helps keep the numbers down.
The great new snow continued into the Saturday when we spent a day playing in the powder over in Zinal. Still making fresh tracks at 3.30pm! The wind then blew it all away overnight, and that's when the more interesting topography of the pistes over in Grimentz proved more attractive.
We ate at the Hotel de Moiry twice and were very impressed by the food. We also thought that the prices compared very favourably with the big French resorts-5Chf for vin chaud, for example. Not as extortionate as some places in Switzerland. We will be back. Having said all that, I wouldn't recommend either Grimentz or Zinal as the best places for beginners or early intermediates, The red runs are proper reds, and there are few easy slopes. The runs to the bottom on the mountain are steep. If you're an aspiring off-piste enthusiast then this is a great place. Next time I think we will book a guide and really explore.