Over recent years the resort has come to the attention of holidaymakers looking for a more authentic, reasonably priced holiday experience with fantastic resort facilities for everyone, and Morzine certainly ticks all the boxes.
Located just 75km from Geneva airport and offering one of the shortest airport transfer times in the Alps, Morzine is set at the heart of the 650km Portes du Soleil ski area, which celebrates its 50th birthday in 2015 and has one of the best value big area lift pass prices per skiable km in the world.
Morzine’s increasing popularity can also be attributed to its “something for everyone” approach. You’ll find accommodation options to match all budgets, from the bunkhouse style, ski-in/ski-out rooms at the Inferno on Nyon plateau to the ultra-luxurious, interior-designed opulence of White Valley Lodge, and everything else in between.
You’d also be hard pushed to find a European ski resort with such a large year-round population as Morzine. A working village with a mélange of ex-pats, locals and season workers, this unique characteristic has a hugely positive impact on the resort’s winter facilities and infrastructure. A new indoor leisure complex opened in 2012, including spa facilities and a 50m swimming pool, creating a great après-ski family-friendly activity. Families are also well served by a range of great childcare companies run by locals who know exactly how to keep your children entertained.
Morzine often takes some stick for being at the not-so-high altitude of 1000m, but at the same time, it doesn’t usually suffer either. Its location midway between Mont Blanc and Lake Geneva creates a scientifically proven microclimate, meaning that when it snows in Morzine, it really snows. Neighbouring Avoriaz is both the highest resort in the Portes du Soleil and regularly named the snowiest spot in Europe, and with the improved lift connections via the Super Morzine and Les Prodains, finding your powder fix has never been easier.
> New this winter
It’s over 4 years since wannabe John Travolta’s last got their groove on courtesy of The Paradis’ flashing dance floor, and Morzine’s most iconic nightclub returns this winter under the supervision of the exceptionally fun team at Rude Chalets. Retro Rentals will assist the time-warp shenanigans with regular 80s themed party nights, and the best bit? The entrance fee isn’t a king’s ransom and drinks prices won’t blow your holiday budget.
Thanks to Eurostar’s new ski train route extension, it’s never been easier to access the Portes du Soleil by train. The new service leaves London St Pancras and arrives in Geneva just over six hours later, shaving a staggering amount from your journey, and arguably a staggering amount of hassle too. Many of Morzine’s excellent airport transfer companies will collect you from Geneva train station, delivering you in resort just over an hour later.
The local lift operating companies aren’t shy of investment in Morzine and this season sees the arrival of two major lift developments. The Super Morzine area and the linking lifts towards Avoriaz have been upgraded to reduce journey times and solve bottleneck problems at the beginning and end of each day. Both the Seraussaix and Proclou chairlifts have been replaced, making your ascent to the area’s highest peaks easier than ever.
The Burton Stash in the woods above Les Lindarets was the first 100% natural terrain park of its kind in Europe and during the intervening 7 years it’s become home to some of the world’s best freeriders and trick stompers, all of whom will be delighted to hear that The Stash is 20% bigger this winter and now includes a staggering 100 modules.
> Big Après
Morzine has seen its après scene change beyond all recognition in the last 4 years, and you’ll find yourself spoilt for choice on any given night of the week. Hotel Le Tremplin immediately opposite the new Pleney lift is where any après session should commence. Live DJs and bands can be heard from halfway down the homerun, especially on Wednesdays when Basscamp Sessions DJs take over from 4pm.
Those who like their après slightly calmer and more family friendly will enjoy the big terrace, table service and friendly chat at Hotel Le Cottage, just a few steps down from the Pleney base station.
Le Tibetan Café is also a Morzine après staple, especially on cold afternoons when standing outside hugging a rapidly cooling vin chaud doesn’t seem so appealing. Le Tibetan is a cosy, snug charm of an après bar with a slightly more sophisticated style and some of the best mojitos you’ll taste in the Alps.
Away from the more obvious après spots in the centre of the resort, you’ll find locals favourite Chez Roger on Rue du Bourg. Roger himself being something of a local legend, you’re more likely to find yourself in the company of Jean Pierre, the owner of the Pleney and far less likely to hear those generic après playlists.
The opening of Bec Jaune Brewery last winter brought a whole new twist to the resort’s après offering. They brew their own real ales in their microbrewery and there’s also bio wines and a delicious menu of homemade treats so tempting that they’ll make missing your chalet dinner a real possibility.
> Unmissable Events
Morzine’s neighbour Avoriaz kicks off the winter season in style each year with the Ultimate Rock On music festival and equipment demonstration on 13 and 14 December. Live DJs and bands pack the streets of the resort, and here’s an insider’s tip for you – it always snows on opening weekend in Avoriaz, which should please the two-time Olympic snowboarding supremo and flying tomato Shaun White, who’ll be in attendance with his band Bad Things for a performance on the 13th.
In recent years a night at the ice hockey has become an unmissable holiday experience. The Skoda Arena in the centre of Morzine is home to The Penguins, and they’re one of the best teams in France playing in the premier ‘Magnus’ league. Comprised of top players from around the world, a night watching The Penguins is a fantastic opportunity to soak up some (often highly charged!) local atmosphere.
Our friends at Snow-Camp return to Morzine for a sixth time for their annual Alpine Challenge mountain endurance event between 12-15 March.
Raising important funds to change the lives of kids from underprivileged backgrounds, the Alpine Challenge has become much more than just a sponsored skiathon. The challenge championship title is hotly contested and some serious ski distances will be notched up over two days – last year’s winners skied 316km!
The 2014 Rock The Pistes music festival line-up knocked everyone’s socks off, with amazing performances by British bands Babyshambles and Klaxons. Standing under the blazing springtime sun watching Lee Scratch Perry really did feel like Glasto on snow. More high-profile acts are promised for the 2015 festival, during which resorts across the Portes du Soleil will host on-piste concerts between 15 and 21 March.
Morzine’s end-of-season family-friendly street soiree in the centre of the resort takes place on Wednesday 15 April and includes performances for a huge range of local bands and DJs as well as food and drinks stands, all with the perfect springtime accompaniment – sunshine!
> Something For Everyone
Whilst it’s true that other resorts deserve their bragging rights for super-high terrain or extreme riding, Morzine’s niche is that it offers something for everyone. The Portes du Soleil piste map makes it very easy to find secure freeride zones, such as from the top of Fornet (2250m) in Avoriaz or the challenging man-high moguls of the Coupe de Monde run, accessed from the Grande Combe chairlift. The Pointe de Nyon on a powder day is the stuff ski holiday dreams are made of, while the lengthy red from the top of Nyon’s neighbour Chamoissiere (2002m) will most definitely give your ski legs their morning warm-up. If there are freshies when you wake up, head for Nyon without delay.
A huge chunk of the Portes du Soleil ski area is family friendly, including the links between Morzine and Les Gets via the Nyon sector, and the cruisey blues and tree-lined pistes of Linga in the direction of Chatel. On the snowiest of days, when there’s low light and limited visibility, head for the Lindaret forest and the fun run, which us locals call “Star Wars”, from the top of the Prolays lift all the way down to Ardent (a refreshing demi at Happy Hours Bar at the bottom is essential). An often underexplored part of the Portes du Soleil piste map is Mt Chery, which at 1826m stands proud on the other side of Les Gets and includes a progressive range of red runs, two challenging blacks, and a nice tame blue.
Beginners are best served on the Pleney’s lower runs in Morzine, where there’s a nice shallow draglift to kick things off and some very gentle slopes that don’t involve straying too far from the resort centre. Many of the resort’s ski schools have their meeting points here, making it very convenient for you to drop off the little ones then head up the Pleney lift. The Première Glisse is a dedicated debutant area in Avoriaz, connecting nicely to the more progressive slopes of the Super Morzine. It’s a mellow, wide and fun beginners’ slope with the odd picnic spot, plenty of sunshine and a mini stash for those first jumps.
Gone are the days when kids learn to ski first, before wondering whether they’d be having more fun on a snowboard. Morzine’s Mint Snowboarding offer lessons to kids from age 3 with their “Mini-Shed” courses, which use the Burton Riglet programme to teach them the basics of coordination and balance, in a fun but very safe environment.
Which brings us nicely to the area’s snow parks. Many of Europe’s top park shapers make Avoriaz their winter home, and the Avoriaz Snowzone team does a sterling job of keeping both the La Chapelle and Arare parks in perfect condition all winter long. This is the old stomping ground of Olympic snowboarder Jenny Jones, and you’re likely to see the next generation of pros cutting their teeth here. There’s also a fun park on Nyon, where the terrace of the Pointe de Nyon restaurant is the perfect spectator spot, and also on Mt Chery, where there’s some nice, quiet entry-level kickers from which to launch your own freestyle career.