Villa Solaire

There is garaging for three cars, and the ski bus stops 50m away, giving you access to all the Portes du Soleil resorts in France and Switzerland. There’s a huge range of activities in the area, all year round, but you might find it hard to tear yourself away from the swimming pool, billiard room, home cinema and bars offered by this fabulous property!

About the property

The traditional exterior of this beautiful old barn gives no hint of the ultra-modern accommodation waiting for you inside. The open plan living space with its vaulted ceiling and stunning central fireplace has an urban loft living feel, in contrast to the welcoming bedroom suites, with their cosy alcove beds and private bathrooms. There’s a self-contained studio on the ground floor which sleeps 4, and has its own bathroom and kitchen. There are almost too many features to list, but the star attraction has to be the stunning indoor swimming pool, which, like the rest of the house, has a Bose sound system. It also has an entry code, to prevent small children finding their way in alone. A lift means the first floor is accessible to those with limited mobility. There are seven sleeping areas in total (the studio, three bedrooms and three mezzanine alcoves), spread over all three floors, and the top floor mezzanine also has its own living area with a flat screen television - a great place for teenagers to hang out in the evenings. The kitchen is equipped to a professional level, and meals can be taken altogether in the open plan living area which opens on to a spacious balcony. After dinner, why not have a game of pool in the games room, which has its own bar, or book a massage - there are two massage beds on the ground floor too!

About the area

Morzine is in the centre of the Portes du Soleil, making the neighbouring resorts of Les Gets and Avoriaz easily accessible. You can also ski in to Switzerland, but be warned, only the most accomplished skiers should tackle the Swiss Wall - a huge mogul field which is classified as an orange route - too hazardous for a black! But with 650km of pistes, there is plenty of scope for skiers and boarders of all ages and abilities.

The ski bus stops just 50m from Villa Solaire, making this luxurious chalet the perfect base to discover the area. If you’re not a skier, Morzine also offers indoor and outdoor ice skating rinks, which are often host to ice hockey matches, and the local cinema often shows films in English. The more adventurous might like to try snowmobiling or ice-climbing on some of the area’s frozen waterfalls, or discover the area in a more sedate manner on a sleigh ride. Other ways to have fun include snowshoeing and sledging, while the Indiana adventure park offers a variety of activities for all ages. The large flat garden is perfect for making snow angels and snow men at the end of the day!

When the snow melts, the lush green slopes around Morzine become a haven for walkers, mountain bikers and thrill-seekers. The lifts will transport you and your bike up the mountains, leaving you to come back down at your leisure. Take a picnic, and make a day of it! Morzine has earned Famille Plus status for its excellent childcare and entertainment, so it’s the perfect choice for young families. There are superb water parks in the town and in neighbouring Avoriaz, as well as two summer sledges, while the Indiana adventure park has a range of assault courses to suit all ages. Golfers will find excellent courses in Les Gets and Avoriaz. Other activities include climbing, rafting, via ferrata, canyoning, mini-golf, quad bikes, fishing and kayaking. You can also take advantage of the Portes du Soleil Multi Pass, offering unrestricted access to the full range of family activities, at an exclusive rate of 2€. There is a large flat garden with designer furniture for the grown ups and lots of space for children to play in.

The traditional town of Morzine and the neighbouring resort of Avoriaz offer plenty of variety for a holiday, whatever the time of year, but if you venture a little further, there’s plenty more to discover. The Portes du Soleil resorts cross the border into Switzerland, giving you two countries and two cultures to experience. It’s just over half an hour’s drive to Lake Geneva, where you can explore lakeside resorts the pretty spa town of Evian-les-Bains, or the beautiful medieval village of Yvoire. You can take also cruise to other lakeside towns such as Lausanne and Montreux. In Chamonix, just an hour’s drive away, you can take a ride on the second-largest cable car in the world, and take in the spectacular views from Mont Blanc. Geneva airport is just an hour away from Villa Solaire, so if you don’t manage to see everything this time, you’ll just have to come back again next year!