Luxury Ski Chalet Holidays in Morzine

Morzine is a classic, traditional French ski village that is linked to the huge Portes du Soleil ski area, a vast region that straddles the French-Swiss border, inter-connecting the skiing above a dozen villages in north countries with 650km of runs. So it’s perfectly possible to ski over to Switzerland for a spot of lunch then back to France for dinner.

The village’s nearest neighbours in the Portes du Soleil are the futuristic, car-free Avoriaz,  directly above the village, which offers the highest skiing in the whole region up to at 2,466m, and Les Gets, another traditional resort with which Morzine shares a rather private sector of the vast ski area. The whole area benefits from a snowy microclimate thanks to its proximity to both Mont Blanc and Lake Geneva which means that on average snowfall is greater than usual for its altitude.

As you’d expect for such a large resort with a high proportion of British guests, there are wide-ranging facilities for children. This includes private babysitting and nanny services with a large number of agencies active in the resort.  Some individual chalets also offer their own in-house provision. The resort itself has a village nursery complete with a playroom, feeding changing room and beds, based in the purpose-designed L’Outa chalet in the centre of the village, which accepts babies from three months old up to children aged five years.  Ski school is available from age three and older at Piou Piou (part of ESF) at the foot of the Pleney slopes, right in town. Another option is private tutoring in British school subjects available for children aged seven and up.

In terms of ski school for older children and adults, the various schools offer private and group lessons, usually from age three. The village nursery slopes are accessed via the Pleney gondola at a location that’s high enough to normally ensure the snow quality throughout the season. The gentle beginner slopes here are ideally located for progression on to slightly more challenging but still easy runs as you or your child progresses.

Chez Nannon run by the Baud family up at Nyon is a small traditional French mountain restaurant that’s almost universally loved by Morzine regulars, primarily as it gets the basics spot-on: good food, good service and fair pricing.

Les Lhottys Restaurant (+33 4 50 34 92 09) (Better known to regulars as ‘Lhotty’s Hut’) is located at the top of the Nauchets chair lift, 1670m up.  It’s a great choice for regional specialities including tartiflette or onion soup and has a good vegetarian range too. There’s a great sheltered terrace if the weather is good.

Le Vaffieu (+33 4 50 79 09 43) is an eternally popular (booking a table for lunch highly recommended) choice. Located at the top of the Folliets chair there’s a great atmosphere and of course, very good food.

Le Clin D’Oeil (63 route du Plan; restaurant-leclin.com) has risen to the hallowed TripAdvisor top spot of the 150 or so choices in Morzine. It offers superb food including vegetarian and vegan options, reasonable prices, great service – simple.

Le Samaoyede (hotel-lesamoyede.com) restaurant in the large four-star hotel of the same name has long been regarded as one of Morzine’s best with a wide-ranging menu of French and international cuisine.

If you’re after a French fromage feast, or indeed any other traditional French meal in a convivial atmosphere and location you can’t go far wrong at La Grange (lagrangemorzine.com), one of the best in town.

British run New Generation (www.skinewgen.com) have more than 20 years experience operating the full range of ski instruction options including private lessons and off piste guiding.

Progression Ski and Snowboard school (progressionski.com) have built a reputation as one of the best in the French Alps over the past decade or so. Great for private lessons, off piste guiding and everything else.

Ski Beyond (skibeyond.co.uk) is a British run ski school with more than 10 years’ experience in the region and lots of local knowledge. They take a holistic approach to teaching mind and body.

A group of independent British instructors work together as The Snow Institute (TSI) (thesnowinstitute.com), they offer all types of private and group lessons subject to your requirements.

PDS Ski School (https://pds-academy.co.uk) have been booking lessons for our clients since our conception. Their friendly can do approach means nothing is too much trouble and they will always fit lessons and children’s ski groups around your needs. All of their instructors hold their BASI ISTD level 4 qualification and French equivalent which helps clients reach their goals.