Morzine, France

Morzine is a picturesque Savoyard town, nestling in the French Alps with access to the fabulous Portes du Soleil ski area.

Nearest airports

Geneva (approx 58 miles, 1 hour 20 minutes)
Chambery (approx 82 miles, 1 hour 45 minutes)
Lyon (approx 134 miles, 2.5 hours)

Arriving by car from Geneva

You can choose to pick up a rental car from either the French side or the Swiss side of Geneva airport.  Most visitors find it easier to access the Swiss side but cars here are highly sought after and suppliers may run short at peak times of year.

From Geneva, most motorists choose to follow the Autoroute Blanche (A40) in the direction of Chamonix and St Gervais.  Drivers are warned that this motorway becomes particularly busy during February and March.  The last three weekends in February (8th, 15th, 22nd Feb 2009) are highlighted as being extremely congested.  To find out more about traffic and road conditions, it is worth consulting http://www.bison-fute.equipement.gouv.fr/diri/Accueil.do

Motorists should leave the motorway at the Cluses exit, following the twists and turns of the D902 through Taninges and Les Gets, before turning onto the D338 which leads into Morzine and, further on, Avoriaz.

Car hire Geneva

Morzine

Weather in Geneva

Car hire for Morzine

Get a quote for car hire in France
During the winter months, hire cars must legally carry additional equipment to cope with adverse weather conditions.  To cover this, many suppliers charge a “winterisation fee” which is payable locally – if this supplement applies to you, it will be indicated during the booking process. 
To accommodate the needs of skiers, Carhire3000 enables drivers to pre-book a special package which includes an additional driver, snow chains and a ski rack.  This is available with a wide range of vehicles from mini to estate cars, Citroen Picassos and, new this year, the Berlingo Multispace.  For more details, please speak to our reservations team on 0800 358 7706

Driving in France

• Drive on the right
• Don’t drink and drive – France has strict drink driving laws
• Seatbelts must be worn, front and rear
• The minimum age for driving in France is 18 but to hire a car in France you must be at least 21 years old and have held a driving license for a year.
• Children under 10 years old are not allowed to ride in the front.  Children should always be restrained by an appropriate car seat.  Children over 15kg may use a booster seat with an adult seatbelt.  If you are not taking your own, please remember to request your child seats when you reserve your hire car.
• Always carry your driving license and, if you do not have a photocard license, ensure you carry your passport as well to confirm your identity.  It is also advisable to carry your rental agreement as proof of insurance.
• Give way to the traffic coming from the right (Priorité à droite) unless a yellow diamond sign is present to indicate you have right of way.  Roundabouts are generally exempt from this and priority is given to the traffic already on the roundabout
• Come to a complete halt at “Stop” signs
• Headlights should be used during the day if there is poor visibility
• Speed and radar traps are commonplace in France and there can be heavy on-the-spot fines
• Be aware that speed limits can change due to poor visibility and wet weather conditions
• Parking restrictions are strongly enforced, particularly in towns.  Keep a look out for areas where you need a “Zone Bleu” sticker to park (usually available at newsagents or the local tourist office).  Parking meters and pay and display machines are also commonplace.
• Park in the same direction as the traffic.
• France has an extensive network of motorways or “autoroutes”. These can sometimes be free, particularly in and around large cities.  However, where there is an alternative route, they usually incur a fee depending on the distance travelled.  These are “autoroutes à péage” and are denoted with a blue sign. Credit cards are accepted but it is always worth having some change at the ready to pay for short distances. If you are travelling long distances, “autoroutes à péage” can be pricey but are an extremely efficient way of getting around.  For an alternative, more scenic route follow the “itinéraire Bis” signs
• Snow chains must be fitted to vehicles using snow-covered roads in compliance with the relevant road signs

Morzine - Village facilities
Morzine is a charming small town with a distinctly Savoyard flavour.  Development here is mostly wooden chalet style accommodation with carved balconies and slate roofs, nestling beneath snow covered slopes and pine trees. The centre has plenty of character with a good selection of restaurants which cater for all budgets from pizzerias to fine dining.  And the après-ski is fairly lively with plenty of bars to choose from.

The Palais des Sports is open to the public and home to an ice skating rink which also hosts regular ice hockey matches on Wednesdays and Sundays.  You’ll also find a sauna, gym and indoor climbing wall. 

If you fancy some time away from the slopes there is also a bowling alley and 2 cinemas.

Local activities
The surrounding area is bursting with outdoor activities winter and summer. 

During the winter months visitors can follow the 90 km of cross-country ski and snowshoe trails.  For the more adventurous there is paragliding, ice climbing and even ice diving in Lac de Montriond.  But for those who want to give their legs a rest, how about a stunning tour of the peaks by helicopter, snowmobiling or even husky sledding? And families (and the young-at-heart) should head to the dedicated toboggan run at the foot of the Crusaz chairlift.

If you are looking for some indoor fun, head to the Palais des Sports where you will find a gym, video arcade, ice rink and indoor climbing wall.  Morzine also boasts 2 cinemas showing a variety of both French and international films.

There is a good choice of shops too, with small delicatessens selling local wines and liquors as well as Tomme, Abondance and Reblochon cheeses.

Ski-ing
Morzine is centrally located in the Portes du Soleil ski area, offering 650kms of high altitude slopes across France and Switzerland.  The resort pistes of Le Pleney connect up with the larger ski area of Les Gets or, for more variety, head in the opposite direction to the snowparks and more challenging runs in Avoriaz.

This is an ideal resort for beginners and anyone learning to ski will enjoy Morzine’s gentle nursery slopes at Le Pleney – from here there is also a good choice of blue runs back into the resort.  Nearby Avoriaz also has good nursery slopes close to the resort.  And, once you’ve gained in confidence, you can advance your skills by heading for the slightly more challenging blue runs at Bleue du Lac and Stade d’Arare.

The Portes du Soleil is also a fantastic choice for intermediate skiers – the Pleney telecabine will give you access to a good selection of blue and red runs, some with the opportunity to ski directly back into the resort.  And, for those hoping to advance their skills there are a number of wide red routes just above town.  Or you may choose to venture further afield to the vast range of runs in Avoriaz, where the snow tends to be more sure and last longer.  Here there are plentiful blue and red runs to challenge your skills.

For more advanced skiers, the Portes du Soleil has some of the most challenging pistes in France with over 20 steep black runs and long mogul runs.  Head for Hauts Forts and the challenging World Cup downhill course or the moguls of the Aigle Noir.  Those looking for a less hair-raising ride should make their way to the leisurely Bleue d’Arare.

Snowboarding
Avoriaz was one of the first resorts to welcome snowboarders and there are two freestyle parks in the resort – Snowpark de la Chappelle and Snowpark Arare.  The former is probably more suited to beginners but is, nevertheless, a good place to practice jumps which range from easy greens to advanced blues.  The Snowpark Arare, on the other hand, is more advanced.  Morzine itself offers plenty of wide and gentle runs for beginners as well as some fantastic off-piste opportunities.

Tips: If the weather is against you in the valley and it is raining in Morzine, try taking the Super Morzine cable car up to Avoriaz in search of better conditions.  Due to its higher altitude, the snow here tends to last longer. 

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