I am a huge fan of sunshine and sand, but when winter comes around I would much rather be at higher altitudes enjoying the snow. Having been lucky enough to ski in Val D’Isere on more than one occasion, the opportunity to explore a new piste map on another French mountain was never an opportunity that I would think about turning down.
Morzine, the alpine town nestled in the French alps just over the border from Geneva, is a resort that has acquired a very good reputation over the years. Accessible in both winter and summer, the promise of a vast ski area and a picturesque town made a December trip hosted by TG Ski even more appealing. Operational for the past thirteen years, TG Ski has a tight-knit team at it’s core, a philosophy that carries through into a very personal and thoughtful style of hosting. They champion local knowledge and expertise, delivered in a relax manner to all guest staying at their ten chalets in the resorts of Morzine and Meribel.
The itinerary was relaxed but centred around the impressive Chalet Les Pierrys, a 12-14 person chalet nestled above Morzine, just 600m from the town centre. Recently renovated to a ridiculously high standard, it was the perfect home away from home and a far cry from my own seasonnaire accommodation half a decade earlier. Owned by the Morzinois family, the interior was finished with subtle hints of slate; a nod to their slate mining past.
A living area centred around the log burning stove and a huge oak dining table which would become the centrepiece for a communal breakfast and sumptuous evenings of perfectly prepared food and wine pairings. On the balcony outside, accessible by French doors, we had panoramic views of Morzine below and, to keep warm, a four person hot tub. Meeting the staff, it was immediately clear that we were going to be well looked after. Emily and Ross were front of house, with the incredibly talented Pierre cooking up a storm in the kitchen. Day one entailed a late arrival and so, after the obligatory champagne and homemade cake on arrival, we settled into our very spacious en-suite rooms before relaxing to admire the view up to the Pleney lifts opposite.
Dinner each evening is worth it’s own write-up but I’m hoping that the pictures can do most of the talking. With a vast amount of experience under his belt already, Pierre is certainly well-positioned to be heading up the food across the TG Ski portfolio in Morzine. A few highlights to mention included the duck breast with winter veg and an orange and ginger soup which was well received after a hard day on the slopes. The expertly paired wines were, naturally, also a welcome addition.
We had a flexible itinerary each day, but we decided to spend as much time on the slopes as we could. Morzine was built up over the past few decades to be the “Savoyard Colorado” and it’s not hard to see comparisons that could be drawn with the US ski resort. Swathes of snow-covered trees bordered each run, with most slopes having quite a gentle, scenic feel to them. At some of the highest points, we could see nothing but acres upon acres of forestry down below us, and it was a truly spectacular site. One thing that was missing (in comparison to Val D’Isere at least) was a mountain-top après bar, but the warmth and comfort of our chalet more than made up for that, giving us an excuse to be back inside before nightfall.
It is always a true test of a chalet when you compare the time spent out on the snow to the time cosied up by the warmth of a fire. While I love to be on the slopes, it was actually a real pleasure to call it quits for the day and make my way back to the chalet each evening; just a short drive (or walk) across town. If you are looking for a home away from home, albeit with an affordable five-star service, I highly recommend checking out the many options that TG Ski have on their website here. You won’t be disappointed if the trip is anything like ours!
