Half Term Skiing Without The Stress

February is one of the best times to go skiing - the snow’s good, the days are getting lighter and warmer. There’s just one problem: the school holidays.

There’s no getting away from the fact that February is one of the busiest times of year on the slopes. While UK schools tend to take two weeks in the middle of February, European countries usually have rolling holidays across the whole month. This means there will always be a couple of peak weeks within the month but if you can go either side of the main half term weeks you may just strike gold!

Here are our three top tips to make your February ski trip as smooth and stress free as possible.

1. Book In Advance

Whatever resort you go to, it will be busy. We cannot stress enough the importance of pre-booking as much as possible, from the essentials down to those little extras.

The Essentials

These often book up months in advance so as soon as you’ve booked your flights and your accommodation, get these three ski holiday essentials booked in:

Airport transfers

You do not want to turn up at Geneva Airport to find out you have no way of getting to Morzine! Transfers get booked really quickly, especially in peak season so put these top of your list. We recommend getting in touch with Skiidy Gonzales to arrange a shared or private transfer to take you directly from the airport to your chalet.

If you'd prefer to travel by train and bus to Morzine, Geneva Airport has direct transport links to Geneva Cornavin (Geneva's main train station) where you can pick up the final steps of Options 3 and 4 in our blog How to Travel to Morzine by Train.

Ski and snowboard lessons

Here’s our list of recommended ski and snowboard schools in Morzine who will take great care of you whether you’re a complete beginner or looking for some tips on riding park, steeps or powder.

Just make sure you are 100% clear on when and where to meet on the first morning! Whoever you book your lessons with will be able to give you instructions on how to get there.

Equipment hire

All More Mountain guests receive priority treatment and discount when booking with Doorstep Skis who will come to your accommodation to fit you for your boots, skis or snowboards.

The Make Your Life Easiers

In addition to the essentials, you can make your trip a whole lot smoother by pre-arranging other vital items for your ski holiday:

Lift passes

Speak to us, we can have your lift passes ready and waiting in your accommodation for your arrival so you don’t have to spend the first morning in lift office queues

Food

If you’re staying self-catered, we can deliver you a basic shopping pack to cover your first night and morning in your apartment. If you want a private chef (for the week or a one off special meal) you also need to get these booked in now!

In resort slope transfers

Morzine has a great free shuttle bus service running from the centre of town to the slopes however it can get incredibly busy at peak times and if the bus is full you’ll be left waiting at the bus stop until the next one.

If you want to guarantee getting to the slopes on time, without crowding on a bus then booking in resort slope transfers is a no brainer. This is especially useful if you have to get kids to ski school in the mornings! Rather than walking to the bus stop in ski boots and trying to carry poles and skis for everyone, just get picked up from your accommodation and dropped at the lifts. It couldn’t be easier!

To make life even better, we’re offering a free weekly slope transfer package for any 7-night stays at The Petit Farmhouse over Winter 2024/25 which is perfect for families. Just book before 30th November 2024 and we’ll get you sorted!

The Little Extras

Ski holidays aren't just about about the skiing! The following things can all be booked once you arrive in resort, but to secure days and times that you want it's best to book at least a couple of weeks before your holiday.

Non-skiing activities

Morzine has plenty to offer non-skiers. As much as it’s fun to make plans on-the-fly, if you know that you fancy a snowshoe walk, night sledging, going to a hockey match or having a traditional Savoyard fondue in a mountain refuge these also get booked up quickly.

Meals out

If you have a favourite restaurant that you want to visit during your holiday we strongly recommend booking it before you arrive, especially if you're part of a big group.

Remember to ask about an early sitting if you have little ones. Le Colibri, l’Étale and La Rotonde are some of our favourites for family friendly options so you can get the kids fed early!

For restaurant dining in the comfort of your apartment or chalet, our Meals on Wheels service offers an exclusive menu from local restaurant La Grange. Think Less Granny, MORE Gourmet! It's the perfect solution if the restaurants are booked up, or if you just want to enjoy quality food at your own pace.

Massage and spa treatments

Don't wait until you're part way through the week to realise your aching muscles could benefit from some attention! Pre-book your pamper session for a couple of days into your holiday with one of our favourite massage and beauty treatment providers. Most of them will even come to you accommodation for the ultimate luxury!

2. Get Up To Date

Take a few minutes to brush up on your slope safety before hitting the slopes. The Piste X Code is a brilliant slope safety initiative designed to teach kids about safety on the mountains. There’s a fun video and a quick quiz that is great for adults too!

Even if you’re going back to a resort that you know and love, double check the latest piste maps and bus timetables just so you don’t get a shock on the first day when you’re refamiliarising yourself!

In Morzine, there are a few changes to the transport for Winter 2024/25. The big one is that the Petit Train (a free link between the Super Morzine and Pleney lifts) is back!!

It will be running daily from 23 December 2024 to 08 April 2025 during the day between 8:45am - 5:30pm and is a fun way to get little ones across town. The Petit Train will also be used for cultural tours around Morzine on Wednesday and Thursday nights - ask in the Tourist Office for details.

Another big change is an extra route for the A bus. This bus runs between Pleney and Prodains (for access to Avoriaz), and for Winter 2024/25 there will be an additional A bus running between the Palais des Sports (near the swimming pool) and Prodains. 

3. Plan Your Days

Being part of the huge Portes du Soleil area means that Morzine is perfect for busy holiday periods as there’s plenty of space to get away from the crowds.

In the morning

Take a look at the piste map and head for the lifts and slopes away from ski school meeting points and beginner areas.

If members of your group are in ski lessons, make sure you know when and where to drop them off in the morning, meet at lunch, and drop off then pick up in the afternoon. Factor in some time for queuing and sitting on lifts to make sure you arrive on time!

Lunchtime

Lunchtimes on the mountain can feel hectic, especially in the pinch points around where the ski schools meet. Our top tip is to have a slightly earlier lunch then get out and enjoy the slopes while everyone else is eating!

Or take lunch with you instead. Look for the Salle Hors Sac areas on the piste map - these are indoor picnic areas that usually have a sink and microwave, along with toilets.

If you’re around Avoriaz, you can also pick something up from the bakery or pop into the supermarket for a quick bite.

The end of the day

Lastly, make sure you know how you are getting home at the end of the day…

The slopes, lifts and buses heading back to Morzine will be busiest around the time that ski schools finish up. Hang back and let the crowds go first - just make sure you’re down in time to catch the last bus. 

If you’re venturing further afield triple check the lift closing times and leave yourself enough time to get back. If you miss the last lift, Les Gets is a surprisingly expensive taxi ride back to Morzine, and you don’t even want to think about getting back from Chatel!

Ski trips during February don’t have to be stressful. Following our tips above will help you have as smooth a holiday as possible. Of course, staying in gorgeous accommodation surrounded by home comforts helps too! Take a look at our remaining availability for February weeks here and get in touch to discuss the best option for your group.