Morzine Avoriaz, France Location: Rhone-Alpes Region, Part of the Portes du Soleil ski area (French Side), France Nearest city: Cluses Vertical: 2466m Skiable terrain: Pistes of 650km Runs: 288 Longest Run: Unknown Ski season: Start of and end of season snow dependant (19th December-End of April) Lift System: 212 lifts – 117 surface lifts, 81 chairlifts, 10 gondolas and 4 cable cars – 235,828 people per hour Terrain Parks: 9 snow parks 5 boarder crosses Morzine’s terrain makes it a fantastic place for beginners or those who haven’t skied in years. The laid back attitude of the locals in the restaurants and the friendly lift staff make it the perfect place to for a long weekend getaway. With the flight from London Gatwick taking an hour and 15 minutes its a short hop across the channel to Geneva airport, and then an easy hour and a half journey by car to Portes du Soleil. The resort is traditionally very popular with families because of the nature of the skiing in and around the village area. However if you need a challenge just hop up to Avoriaz a 20 minute drive or 5 minute cable car journey from the Prodain bubble car into the heart of the Avoriaz Village where you can test yourself with a selection of black and red runs including the infamous ‘THE WALL’ run (not for the faint hearted). If you get board (no pun intended) of all the slopes offered to you in Morzine and Avoriaz the Port du Soleil ski pass also incorporate the nearby village of Les Gets which has a good couple of days challenging skiing on Mont Cherry as well as some easier runs near the ski school in the centre of town. If France isn’t your cup of tea in the Port du Soleil why not pop over to Switzerland. As long as you’ve purchased the Port du Soleil lift pass the slopes are yours to roam. Just be careful not to get stuck there when the lifts close for the day! ‘THE WALL’ Ski Passes
| Duration | From 19/12/09 until 03/04/10 | Before 19/12/09 and after 03/04/10 | ||||
| Adult 16+ yrs | Child 5-15 yrs | Senior 62+ yrs | Adult 16+ yrs | Child 5-15 yrs | Senior 62+ yrs | |
| Half Day (until 1pm or from 12 noon) | 30 € | 20 € | 24 € | 26 € | 17 € | 20 € |
| From 11am onwards | 36 € | 24 € | 29 € | 31 € | 20 € | 25 € |
| Full day | 40 € | 27 € | 32 € | 34 € | 23 € | 27 € |
| 1 day and a half | 69 € | 46 € | 55 € | 59 € | 39 € | 47 € |
| 2 days | 78 € | 52 € | 62 € | 66 € | 44€ | 53 € |
| 3 days | 111 € | 74 € | 89 € | 94 € | 63 € | 76 € |
| 4 days | 143 € | 96 € | 114 € | 122 € | 82€ | 97 € |
| 5 days | 173 € | 116 € | 138 € | 147 € | 99 € | 117 € |
| 5 x 1/2 days | 150 € | 100 € | 120 € | 130 € | 85 € | 100 € |
| 5 x 1 day | 200 € | 135 € | 160 € | 170 € | 115 € | 135 € |
| 6 days | 205 € | 137 € | 164 € | 174 € | 116 € | 139 € |
| 7 days | 230 € | 154 € | 184 € | 196 € | 131 € | 156 € |
| 8 days | 254 € | 170 € | 203 € | 216 € | 145 € | 173 € |
| 8 days non-consecutive | 240 € | 160 € | 192 € | |||
| 9 days | 277 € | 186 € | 222 € | 235 € | 158 € | 189 € |
| 10 days | 297 € | 199 € | 238 € | 252 € | 169 € | 202 € |
| 11 days | 315 € | 211 € | 252 € | 268 € | 179 € | 214 € |
| 12 days | 332 € | 222 € | 266 € | 282 € | 189 € | 226 € |
| 13 days | 349 € | 234 € | 279 € | 297 € | 199 € | 237 € |
| 14 days | 364 € | 244 € | 291 € | 309 € | 207 € | 247 € |
| Season Pass | 760 € | 509 € | 608 € | 646 € | 433 € | 517 € |
| Residents Pass | 600 € | 402 € | 480 € | 510 € | 342 € | 408 € |
Resort Map Ski Hire Typical ski hire and boot is between 20 Euros a day and 60 Euros a day, obviously dependant on the quality of kit hired and the provider. Whilst boards are a little more expensive at 25 Euros a day. Ski hire shops are situated throughout the centre of Morzine Avoriaz and Les Gets, however it may be wise in peak season to pre book some equipment just in case. Accommodation Because of the relatively affluent area which it resides accommodation during peak times can be expensive however, look hard enough and you will always find a bargain. Nightlife The nightlife for a particulary family orientated resort is reasonable. There are plenty of friendly bars and clubs in the centre of morzine with more and more springing up all the time however the downside to the tourism is that drinks aren’t cheap with a cheap pint being 4 euros. In Summary What’s Great + Part of the vast Portes du Soleil lift network + Larger local piste area than other Portes du Soleil resorts + Good nightlife by French standards + Quite attractive old town – a stark contrast to Avoriaz + Few liftlines locally (but see minus points) What’s Not-So-Great – Bus-ride or long walk to lifts from much of the accommodation – Low altitude means there is an enduring risk of poor snow, though increased snowmaking has helped - Low altitude or inconvenient beginner slopes – Not a great resort for experts – Weekend crowds
– Takes a while to get to Avoriaz and main Portes du Soleil circuit
No comments:
Post a Comment