There are three main kinds of ski-breakers. There are those who come purely for the snow, champing at the bit to throw themselves down the piste. There are those who like the ski, but prefer the après – rogues who can be found making their way back from the slopes at 2pm for a quick power nap before they are back out for the night session. There are those who dive into a bit of both, but whose overarching ambition from the time spent away is to take a load off, and enjoy a little bit of everything that ski-resort life has to offer.
This is where Morzine comes in, a town positioned right on the Swiss border in the Portes du Soleil region in the French Alps, has room for all three. The town, and the surrounding villages, are a short drive from the bustling Avoriaz resort – close enough that barely any slope time is wasted in transit, but far enough that it’s peaceful and serene in the daytime – and its natural beauty is striking even by Alpine standards, with chalets set high and low across an expansive river gorge.
Whatever the type of holidayer you are, you’ll want a luxury chalet to rest and recover in – to sleep off the aches and pains (ski-related or otherwise) and at least try and fit in a bit of what you came out for: relaxation.
The Boutique Chalet Company has three very different but equally luxurious chalets to choose from in Morzine and the surrounding area. Each comes fully exclusive and with a team of dedicated staff to make your stay as comfortable as possible, as well as to make sure you eat and drink like a king.
There’s no better way to relax and get away from the hectic pace of the slopes than in a hot tub, and Chalet M’s boasts one of the best views in the whole of Morzine. It’ll fit four comfortably, or a whole lot more if you don’t mind sacrificing some leg room.
CHALET M
Sitting high up on Morzine’s sunny side, this expansive, opulent chalet is in possibly the best location the town has to offer, with breathtaking views across the resort to nearby Pleney and Nyon – none better than from an enormous panoramic window in the lounge.
It sleeps up to 14 comfortably over three floors – perfect for a large group; probably a bit roomy for a small family. With a huge, locally crafted walnut table at which the group can come together at the beginning and end of a hard day on the piste to be served meals by its team of talented chefs and waiting staff.
As well as a host of spa facilities, it has an outdoor terrace that boasts a bubbling hot tub, out of which you can enjoy the views across town or, for a different kind of relaxation, there’s a wine vault that sits proudly at the entrance. Talk about setting the tone…
THE IGLOO
Fancy something a little more compact? The iGloo is a mixture of the old and the new: a classic Alpine cabin-style chalet that locks in that that cozy, homely feeling of mountain living, but with a host of contemporary furnishings and features. It has its own bar, where its personal bartender will serve you your favourite cocktail made just the way you like it, a roaring log fire and an outdoor terrace.
Each of its four master bedrooms features a different view out across the neighbouring mountain ranges, and despite its size compared to the Boutique Chalet Company’s larger offerings, it still manages to pack in a gym and sauna, as well as a cinema room.
Based in the hamlet of Les Nantes, it’s quieter than a chalet in the heart of Morzine, but don’t fret: it’s a quick walk from the town’s shops, restaurants, bars and clubs, and you can even ski there from the end of the private road via the Retour des Nants piste.
TWENTY26
Size-wise, Twenty26 is somewhere between the two. With five double bedrooms across three floors – each with its own en-suite bathroom – it feels cosier than Chalet M, but sleeps up to ten people very comfortably.
That’s not to say it’s lacking in space, mind: sliding glass doors in the lounge open out to a balcony that wraps its way around the outside of the chalet, and the fully-equipped terrace comes with a hot tub and a traditional, outdoor, wood-fired sauna.
It’s a technophile’s dream, too: as well the same, innovative networked audio system also shared by the Chalet M and the iGloo, the ‘Digital Chalet’ boasts a cinema room with an HD projector and enormous screen, a PlayStation 3 and an impossibly large shelf full of movies and games to choose from. There’s also Apple AirPlay technology, meaning you can play your own music across the chalet.
Situated at Vallée de la Manche, it’s a fair walk to the centre of Morzine – then again, the personalised chauffeur service will mean you can forget walking and save the energy for the hard work on the piste. Or for the après – whichever suits you best.