Pistepals Holiday FAQ's
Pretty much the most common question, but hardest to answer since each group is different and we won't know till everyone is booked on! So far though, most groups are comprised of ages ranging from 30 to 50 with a few on either side.
We don't set an age limit as it's been our experience that a 28 year old can be in bed by 10pm and not much of a drinker and the 50 year old can be up till 2am drinking vodka and chatting with the other guests. Age is not a determinate factor on their ability to let their hair down and it would be unfair to assume otherwise.
We don't, however attract the "party" crowd who want to drink till 4am every night then try to ski the next day. In our chalets, plenty of wine and banter is enjoyed over dinner - some stay up to continue the merriment, others head for bed so they can make the most of the skiing the next day. On chalet night off we get everyone out in town for dinner and there's usually plenty drinks enjoyed during and afterwards - perhaps at the Cavern watching an excellent live band or in the Tibetan enjoying some classic rock. There's also DJ and garage/D&B nights in Le Tremplin and Cafe Chaud if that's your kind of scene.
So don't worry about fitting in - age is never an issue here, it's more about getting to know people, being open minded and willing to exchange banter and debate with the other guests. If you want a party holiday - this isn't the choice for you. If you want a sleepy, quiet holiday you can have this - nice dinner then bed, just bearing in mind not all the guests may have that mindset.
Both main chalets sleep 14/15 people in a variety of twin/triple and occasional large quad room - split 55/44% male female. 99% of Pistepalers are relaxed, easy going, good company, not out to get battered every night but enjoy a knees up at least once in the week, love a nice glass of wine with dinner and good food.
They are great banter on the chairlifts, over a vin chaud and in the apres ski bars! Some are very go getting and will get you to try more challenging runs or new pistes, others are quite happy to follow on behind, even through the off-piste in the trees in low visibility!
Snowboarders and skiers get on well in these groups, the divide varies from week to week, but everyone welcomes each other with open arms and occassionally there are bladers and even a telemarker one trip! Friendships form easily and sometimes more, a couple met on my first Pistepals Xmas trip and are now married as well as several existing long term relationships! I am still friends with many of the people from my trips and enjoy seeing them come back year after year, bringing friends with them too!
Although Pistepals isn't just for singles skiing, we had a couple meet and marry from this trip! How exciting for you single skiers and boarders!
The beauty of the trips is that there's a wide range of skiers and boarders on the trip - means you are not stuck skiing with the same people all day and having to talk to them all night over dinner! There's a good variety - some people you may not see all day if they are in lessons.
Beginners. Our trips are suitable for people of any age wishing to learn to ski. The French ski school ESF is extremely good value - a total beginner with no experience on snow can get 15 hours of lessons and a lift pass for 246€
Improvers. Keen to progress from blues onto reds? Worried about keeping up with a faster group? For improvers who are looking for a holiday, this is a great option as you can head out to ski with several others of around the same level from the chalet. Often this is a good time to get top up or refresher intermittent lessons - BASS do a Mon/Wed/Friday 9 hour course which can be ideal for skiers and boarders of this level.
Intermediate or "get out and ski" level is the most common type of guest. Have progressed beyond lessons, can do most types of slopes but a little phased by conditions (slush/ice) or bumps and off-piste. You will find many companions at this level - both skiers and boarders
Advanced. Keen to explore off piste, wants to do Swiss Wall and blacks regularly. There's always at least a couple at this level too - as well as plenty intermediates you can "corrupt" into following you down crazy pistes/off piste.
Pistepals trips are always DIY flights to Geneva (try www.skyscanner.net for flight info) or get to Morzine any way you see fit. Some have taken the bus, driven or taken the snow train. It is entirely up to you.
If you do decide to fly to Geneva, all we need are your flight details in order to organise your return transfers. These are 70e return - payable in resort. There's no specific times to match certain buses - you can get any flight of your choice.
We will be in touch about the transfer pick up times - due to the fact you are picked up one at a time - there's an element of fluidity regarding the transfer arrangements until a few weeks before. It allows the transfer company to have the best visibility of incoming flights to ensure you are picked up with minimum delay at the airport.
Although check-in time is after 4pm and check out is 10am, on the day of arrival you will be able to leave your cases and go out to ski if you have arrived in time and on departure day - there will be a place to leave your cases and you will be able to use the communal areas to have a cup of tea before your transfer bus arrives. You can leave your hire skis at the chalet and they will be picked up.
The chalets offer 6 nights catering out of 7 - this is standard "chalet board". There's an example menu within the "Our Chalets" pages but you can look forward to tasty starters, wholesome and balanced main courses and something yummy for dessert. This is followed by a cheeseboard and port and during your meal you are provided with free flowing red and white wine.
Your breakfasts are provided each morning - lots of tasty patisserie, crusty breads and jams and plenty of cereal, fruit, yoghurts and juice, tea and coffee. This is complimented by a hot option, something like scrambled or poached eggs (rather than a full English as we'd be struggling to get your into your salopettes in the morning)
In the chalet, we can cater for any dietary needs, from vegetarian, lactose intolerant, gluten and nut allergies to specialist diets. Halal meat is a little hard to source in the Alps but other than that we can get soy milk, gluten free biccies and flour as well as plenty veggies and meat substitutes. If there's something you really love to use you are more than welcome to bring your own supplies too.
For the one night, mid week that the chalet staff have off - we usually hit one of the local restaurants. There a good number of excellent local Savoyard restaurants in the town so it seems a shame to sit in every night when there is amazing local wine and cuisine to be trying! Some of the favourites are Raclette (served dripping with local meats and salad), Tartiflette (like a Potato Gratin but much better!) Fondue, Creme Brulee.
I use Morzine as a base for most of my chalet holidays for a number of reasons;
Pistes and facilites
From Morzine, you have access to 650km of pistes, stretching across two countries (France/Switzerland) There are an outstanding selection of blues and reds, as well as some challenging blacks and off-pisting if you know where to look. One of the top hardest runs in the world is on your doorstep (The Swiss Wall) as well as the world famous Burton Stash (snowboarder heaven) If jumps are your thing, there are 4 boarder cross parks within easy reach.
Proximity to Geneva
On a good day, a straight transfer from Geneva should only take 50 minutes. Although picking up and dropping other people off can make it a little longer. There are a multitude of low cost and premium airlines flying to Geneva, as well as the option of taking the snow train or driving from the UK. Transfer from Geneva can be as low as 25e each way, versus the hell that is the 3 Valleys or Tignes, 3-4 hours and about 80e each way.
In the chalet, we can cater for any dietary needs, from vegetarian, lactose intolerant, gluten and nut allergies to specialist diets. Halal meat is a little hard to source in the Alps but other than that we can get soy milk, gluten free biccies and flour as well as plenty veggies and meat substitutes. If there's something you really love to use you are more than welcome to bring your own supplies too.
On the mountain, it can be a little expensive to eat and the portions are huge! Sometimes it is worth asking if someone will share! Either that or we roll you down the mountain on the way home!
Some of the best places are Le Grande Ourse (Big Bear) on Mont Chery (run by a Cornish family and has the most epic views!), Pointe de Nyon (has a lovely large terrace for sunny days) and Petit Lindarets in the little goat village south of Avoriaz central. Very quaint. The restaurant at the top of the Swiss Wall is also worth a visit, even if only to gawp down the wall and surrender to a hot chocolate instead. The scenery is amazing, on sunny days they have sun loungers with duvets and the cutest family of boxer dogs who are really friendly and love a game.
Added to that, the practically infinite number of Vin Chaud and Hot Chocolate stops available, as well as more snacky-type food, you are spoilt for choice!
Morzine is situated in an area called the Portes Du Soleil (Doors to the Sun) This is a pretty apt name, as the sun shines quite a lot here and temperatures are never really lower than -10 in Jan and can get up to 6°C in March/April. The scenery is visually stunning as you have the omni-present Mont Blanc in the far distance, ringed by the mountains leading over to Switzerland. From the 3 highest peaks of Nyon, Chamoissiere and Ranfolly, you can gawp for ages at the majesty of the Alps.
Morzine/Les Gets benefits from many tree lined runs, so when it is cold you can shelter a bit! They are also very pretty to ski through, you feel quite connected to nature! Up in Avoriaz and into Switzerland you are much more closely connected with the sheer rock faces and steep mountainous inclines. An excellent cross section.
The booking process is as follows;
Please check the dates and availability page. Is your chosen week available?
http://www.pistepals.com/solo-ski-holiday-prices-and-availability
If so - please send us a booking request, telling us you would like to hold a place on your selected week
http://www.pistepals.com/booking-form
We will respond to you advising that your place is on hold and to go ahead and book flights.
Once you have booked flights, we will send you the holiday info form to fill in.
When you submit the holiday info form - another page will appear with bank details on it - for the deposit or full balance. We prefer the free BACS transfer system but can accept Paypal if you are outwith the UK banking system - charged at 3.4%
Once we receive your payment and processed your holiday info form - you will receive an email confirming your booking
Then it's time to sit back and wait for your holiday. You might want to check out some travel insurance at this stage.
Once the week is full, we will send out an introductory email - allowing you to break the ice with your fellow chalet mates. Info regarding transfers will also be on this introductory email.
Contacting us;
Since we spend much of the winter in France ensuring you are having a great time it's sometimes hard to get a hold of us by phone - we could be out skiing! Email is the best option but we do have a French landline or can use Skype.
Skype - SarahofSaunders
French landline - 0033 450 37 42 59
UK Mobile - 07834 366 131
There are many things to do in Morzine when not skiing or boarding. I have included a small list below but there are plenty more if you can find the time!
Shopping - Cheese Factory, Chocolate, Cow Bells, Ski Gear, souveneirs
Bars/Restaurants, including the famous Buddha Bar!
Sports Centre, Gym, sauna etc, Ice Hockey on Saturday and Wednesday nights - local team
Tourist Office Organised Activities eg Grand Odessey Husky Racing, Horse and Cart around town
Relaxation - massage, spa, jacuzzi, sauna, facials, manicure and coiffure!
Unlike some of the more purpose built resorts, Morzine is a real thriving town and as a result, is extremely pretty.
It benefits from a high number of owner run independent chalets. These are often of a high standard and made from the local wood, with very pretty "Savoyard" style furnishings. You can see the current chalets we are using through Host Savoie Ltd by clicking on "Our Chalets"
Underfloor heating, warm boot/ski storage and lots of hot running water and cosy full sized beds are all essentials in your chalets but you will also find Chalet Perrier has a sauna. There's always plenty of tea, coffee and tasty fresh cake available.
I regularly get asked - how much is a pass and hire? Well it's not that simple as there are many variants, much of which depend on your level and the flights you book. I've given a few rough estimates here with the links to the more detailed costings.
Most guests go for the full Portes Du Soleil pass, as they liked to be able to ski over into Switzerland and back all in the one day!
Prices of passes depend on how many days you want to ski - for this you will need to know what flights you are getting. As a guide - a 6 day Portes Du Soleil pass is 228e and a 6 day local pass is 167€
Equipment;
There are four levels of skis to choose from as well as just hiring skis if you have your own boots. Skiers of different abilities want different kinds of skis. As a rough guide it's between 96 and 110€ for skis or snowboard and boots/bindings
Lessons - I've done a large write-up of lessons here
Generally if you book ESF lessons you can pay me via bank transfer before you leave on holiday for these. BASS needs paid for upon confirming the lessons and Easy2ride you can pay for in the shop.
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