Looking for some laid back luxury on your next skiing or snowboarding trip? Then check out this review of More Mountain ski holidays in Morzine as it could be just what you are looking for.
I stayed in More Mountain’s Chalet Robin for a week in January. It was during their Snowparking snowboarding camp which is a little different to their typical week. But it showcased their stunning accommodation, excellent service and attention to detail.
Having been operating in Morzine since 2006, it’s safe to say More Mountain know a thing or two about this great ski town. The owners Jon and Sam are passionate snowboarders and are keen to ensure everyone enjoys the mountains as much as they do.
They run six all inclusive, luxury catered chalets. Plus 28 luxurious self catered apartments. All properties are located near the town centre to ensure you are close to the action.
Their philosophy is to provide laid back luxury in contemporary accommodation with alpine authenticity. Expect an informal but very relaxed atmosphere. There are high standards with everything from the staff to the many extra home comforts they provide.
The following are included in all the laid back luxury catered chalets run by More Mountain:
Charges apply for these additional services in the catered chalets. However, they are not just useful additions but could save you a fortune:
Both on and off the slopes my week with More Mountain was one of the best I have had anywhere. On the slopes the Snowparking snowboard camp was great fun and I learnt loads.
Off the slopes I don’t think I have ever experienced a friendlier, better organised and more laid back ski week. Aileen and Kyle, the hosts at Chalet Robin, did a fabulous job of accommodating the group, serving up tasty but filling food and ferrying us to and from the lifts.
My introduction to Chalet Robin was through the spacious boot room when I arrived after a day on the slopes. Kyle whisked my bags up to my room while I hung stuff to dry on the boot dryers. There’s also a ski and snowboard servicing area with all the tools you need.
Upstairs and I came to the kitchen and dining room. It has a laid back luxurious feel to it with a huge table that seats up to 16 people. Aileen was on hand to offer cake and drinks and then showed me to my room.
I was in a small twin room with two comfortable single beds. There was a large chest of drawers and a couple of hooks for hanging things. With just myself in the room there was plenty of storage space, but for two it was a little cramped. Other rooms were larger with more storage.
Just outside my room was a bathroom which I shared with guests from one other room. There’s a large walk in shower that is both powerful and has plenty of hot water. As alpine bathrooms go it was fairly spacious with plenty of storage.
On the top floor is a lovely huge lounge with comfy sofas and armchairs. There is a large log burner in the centre that gives off plenty of heat and a TV linked up to Netflix, British TV, a PS4 and Wii. In the corner is a seating area idea that’s ideal for playing the board games provided.
On the ground floor there’s an outdoor hot tub. It is a nice secluded spot and lovely to relax aching muscles. A nice touch was when Kyle popped out with some beers!
One of the highlights of this review of More Mountain ski holiday in Morzine was the delicious food. The evening meals were all delicious and I understand it is the same menu in all the chalets.
Rather than really fancy food, More Mountain have developed a menu that is hearty, full of flavour but not ridiculously complex. After all, the chalet hosts want to get out on the mountain rather than slaving over complex fancy dishes.
Meals included tasty spinach herb and feta tartlets, delicious duck breast with beetroot puree and scrummy sticky toffee pudding. The vegetarian in the group was very well catered for. Throughout dinner beer and wine flowed freely, usually with enough left to keep you going until you’re ready for bed.
Breakfast included cooked bacon and eggs every morning. Plus a selection of breads and freshly cooked croissants. There was also plenty of fruit, yoghurts and cereals. More than enough to fill you before hitting the slopes.
When we got back from the slopes afternoon tea was waiting. This consists of freshly baked cake, cookies or flapjacks all of which were lovely. Served up with a cup of tea, coffee or fruit juice it makes a lovely snack to keep you going until dinner.
Jon and Sam, the More Mountain owners, said they want every customer to feel relaxed and at home. They do this by picking the right staff and training them well. All hosts are couples who’ve previously worked together as hosts.
They also ensure that the staff accommodation is nice and that they get plenty of time to hit the slopes. Afterall happy hosts lead to a happy guests.
During my visit I met six different members of the team. All were friendly and seemed genuinely happy. In contrast to some other places I have stayed where the staff are overworked, in crappy diggs and have little time off it felt palpably different.
If you are considering snowboard or ski holidays in Morzine I couldn’t recommend More Mountain highly enough. Their attention to detail is exceptional and they deliver on their goal of providing laid back luxury.
A review of More Mountain would not be complete without talking about the slopes. As part of the massive Portes Du Soleil you can access a whopping 650 km of slopes.
Locally Morzine is connected to Les Gets with 120 km of slopes. This is a nice ski area and particularly good for families. It’s simple to get around with plenty of easy slopes. Mostly below the treeline it’s very good when visibility is poor.
Although you cannot ski from Avoriaz to Morzine it is still very easy to reach. You can either hop on the Super Morzine gondola in the centre of town or head up to Prodains. More Morzine will pick you up and drop you off at your lift of choice.
Avoriaz has a further 130 km of pistes including excellent terrain parks. The Stash was voted the best ski run in the world by CNN. It’s a range of freestyle routes through the trees with many natural obstacles for all levels.
There is also a Super pipe, two other snowparks and a mini stash in the Avoriaz area. In total there are seven terrain parks in Portes Du Soleil to keep freestylers happy.
The pistes aren’t bad either! Rising from 1100m to 2466m there is plenty of altitude and lots of variety. From Avoriaz you can also head into Chatel or over into Switzerland for more slopes including the infamous Swiss Wall.
But for me the best thing about snowboard and ski holidays in Morzine is the incredible off-piste. It is not seriously high or steep like Chamonix or places renowned for their freeride.
But there are vast amounts of accessible off-piste and backcountry that is fun without being overly dangerous. And unlike more famous destinations it doesn’t get tracked out as quickly. Even a few days after snow a short hike will get you fresh lines.
Of course when heading away from the marked pistes you should have the appropriate avalanche gear and know how to use it. If you want more detail about the off-piste check out this article about Morzine freeride snowboarding holidays in Portes du Soleil.
As a travel writer I’ve been lucky to stay in some amazing accommodation. So while the luxury level in Chalet Robin did not compare to five star hotels, I would not expect it to.
What More Mountain deliver is a level of luxury that is a step above most chalets companies. But luxury is about far more than the fixtures, fittings and fine dining.
Yes you can get plusher chalets, five star service and gastronomic delights but that won’t be in such a relaxed and friendly environment. With More Mountains laid back luxury you get the best of both worlds, high quality throughout and great service, but casual and informal.
To conclude this review of More Mountain ski holidays in Morzine I thoroughly recommend staying with them. In fact I liked it so much I have already booked a visit for a summer family trip to Morzine.
I hope you found this review of More Mountain useful. If you are looking for laid back luxury snowboard and ski holidays in Morzine then visit: www.moremountain.com
Getting there: I flew British Airways from Gatwick to Geneva, because they don’t charge more for a snowboard bag it was cheaper than low cost airlines. From Geneva I took a Skiidy Gonzales transfer that took just over an hour.