Skiing in French Alps

Hi everyone, we're back from our amazing trip to Morzine, France, where we enjoyed four days of skiing in the beautiful Alps. We want to share with you some of the highlights of our adventure, as well as some tips and recommendations for anyone who wants to visit this charming ski resort.

We flew from Newark to Geneva on Wednesday, January 10th, and took a shuttle service from the airport to Morzine. The shuttle was very convenient and comfortable, and it took about an hour and a half to get to the hotel. We booked our stay at Hôtel La Bergerie, a cozy and family-friendly 4-star hotel located near the ski lifts and the town center. The hotel has a heated outdoor pool, a sauna, a hammam, a lounge bar, and a play room for kids. The staff was very welcoming and helpful, and the breakfast buffet was delicious. We highly recommend this hotel for anyone looking for a relaxing and authentic experience in Morzine. You can check their website here: https://www.hotel-bergerie.com/

On Thursday, we rented our ski equipment at Star-Ski Sports Shop, which was right next to the hotel. They had a wide selection of skis and boots, and the staff was very friendly and professional. We also bought a 4-day lift ticket for 228 €, which gave us access to the whole Portes du Soleil ski area, one of the largest in the world. We skied in Morzine and Les Gets, two of the 12 resorts that make up the Portes du Soleil. The slopes were varied and well-groomed, and the views were stunning. We used Strava and Fatmap apps to track our routes and find the best spots to ski. You can see some of our tracks here:

https://www.strava.com/activities/10537856427

https://fatmap.com/adventureid/101488200/lunch-alpine-ski?fmid=cp

For lunch, we stopped at a mountain restaurant called La Chaudanne, where we had a tasty tartiflette, a traditional dish made with potatoes, cheese, bacon, and cream. It was very filling and satisfying after a morning of skiing. For dinner, we went to Restaurant La Chamade, which specializes in cheese fondue and raclette. It was a great place to enjoy some local specialties and wine.

On Friday, we decided to hire a ski instructor to improve our skills and explore new areas. We contacted Nathalie Baud from B Ski School Morzine, who was recommended by the hotel staff. She was an excellent teacher and guide, who showed us some hidden gems and gave us some useful tips. We skied on the Swiss side of the Portes du Soleil, which had some challenging and scenic runs. Here are some of our tracks from that day:

https://www.strava.com/activities/10544288189

https://fatmap.com/adventureid/101664827/morning-alpine-ski?fmid=cp

For lunch, we stopped at Gîte Alpage La Chaux, a cozy chalet with a fireplace and a terrace. We had a delicious soup with cheese and bread, which warmed us up nicely. For dinner, we treated ourselves to L’Atelier/Hotel Samoyède, a gourmet restaurant with a Michelin star. The food was exquisite and creative, and the service was impeccable.

On Saturday, we continued our ski lessons with Nathalie Baud from B Ski School Morzine. We skied on the French side of the Portes du Soleil, which had some more gentle and sunny slopes. Here are some of our tracks from that day:

https://fatmap.com/adventureid/101906556/morning-alpine-ski?fmid=cp

https://www.strava.com/activities/10551853112

For lunch and apres-ski, we went to La Folie Douce Avoriaz, a famous party spot with live music, DJs, dancers, and performers. It was a lot of fun to dance and mingle with other skiers in a festive atmosphere. For dinner, we went to Le Clin D’Oeil, a cozy restaurant with a fireplace and a rustic decor. We had a succulent duck confit with potatoes and salad.

On Sunday, we decided to challenge ourselves and ski the Portes du Soleil Circuit, which is a loop that covers all 12 resorts in one day. It was an epic adventure that took us about 6 hours to complete. We saw some amazing scenery along the way, and we felt very proud of ourselves for accomplishing this feat. Here are some of our tracks from that day:

https://www.strava.com/activities/10558021170

https://fatmap.com/adventureid/102119794/morning-alpine-ski?fmid=cp

For lunch, we stopped at Restaurant et Alpage des Bochasses, a charming alpine hut with a panoramic view. We had a hearty omelette with cheese and ham, which gave us some energy for the rest of the circuit. For dinner, we went to La Grange, a traditional restaurant with a wood-fired oven. We had a mouthwatering pizza with mushrooms and cheese, which was a nice change from the usual ski fare.

On Monday, we took the shuttle back to Geneva and flew back to New York. We had an amazing time in Morzine, and we can't wait to go back someday. It was a perfect ski vacation, with great snow, great food, great people, and great memories. We hope you enjoyed reading about our trip, and we hope you will visit Morzine too. You won't regret it!