The new undercover Morzine swimming pool is open!

All three of the pools are open for business; the kids play pool, the beginner’s pool and the 25m, six-lane main pool. As yet the saunas and the hammams are not open to the public but the saunas are finished and the hammam rooms are not far behind.

The changing area is similar to the one used in the summer with key coded doors, so there is no need for change to lock away your clothes or an uncomfortable and annoying key on your wrist whilst you swim.

The restaurant, A La Piscine, is also open and offers Continental and full English breakfasts from 9.30am as well as a lunch menu and the option of an evening meal on Wednesdays, when the complex is open late, or by reservation.

The centre is open every week day from 12:30 until 19:45 with a late close on Wednesdays and from 14:00 ‘til 19:45 on Saturdays and Sundays and can be found next to the outdoor pool under the Super Morzine bridge.

Hot-pants and budgie smugglers only. No board shorts allowed.

1 In Evian, on the shores of Lake Geneva, you may be tempted to buy a bottle of the world-famous water. Save yourself a few euros and do as the locals do; take empty bottles to the drinking fountains where the same mineral water gushes out and you can fill up free of charge. There are two fountains close to each other on Avenue des Sources.

2 In Chamonix, don’t miss the Aiguille du Midi cable car, which whisks you up to a viewing platform just below the peak of Mont Blanc. The view is stunning, but don’t forget a jacket. It may be 30C-plus at ground level but at 3,842m it will be below freezing. At €42 (£37) return, it’s not cheap, but you will remember the experience for the rest of your life.

3 Savoie’s slopes are normally associated with ski runs, but in summer, 2,000 hectares produce the local white wines such as Apremont and Crépy. Taste your way around these vineyards by renting an electric bike at Chambéry station and following the waymarked Route des Vins.

4 The Portes du Soleil domain is made up of 12 resorts. They include the Savoyard villages of Morzine, Les Gets and Châtel, as well as purpose-built resorts such as Avoriaz. In summer, most chairlifts remain open, and for just €1 a day you can get a Multipass, which allows unlimited use of them. The pass will also get you into the pools, ice rinks, museums, tourist trains and more. Bus transport between the villages is also free.

5 The Savoie Mont Blanc area has 29 Michelin-starred restaurants. Some open their kitchen to share their secrets. For example, in Courchevel , the renowned Chabichou (chabichou-courchevel.com), with two Michelin stars, invites people to spend some quality time with chef Michel Rochedy.

6 Fancy a swim with a difference? Head for Combloux, where you will find the Biotope swimming lake. The water is filtered naturally, using nothing but reed beds and plants that grow in special areas in the margins. This produces water purity claimed to be higher than “normal” swimming pools. And there are fabulous views of Mont Blanc, too.

7 Try downhill cycling from Arc 1950 to the village of Villaroger. The route passes along forest tracks and there are lots of hamlets to explore. On the way back, take the easy route and hop on the funicular train and then catch one of the inter-resort buses.

8 The wonderful Jardin des Cinq Sens in the pretty village of Yvoire on the shore of Lake Geneva stimulates the senses because you can smell, touch and taste your way along the carefully laid out pathways.

9 Lac du Bourget is France’s largest inland lake, perfect for swimming, boating and fishing.

10 The spa town of Aix-les-Bains was once a favoured retreat of Queen Victoria. She had such an affinity for the town that they put up a statue of her. Feeling peckish? The nearby village of Bourget du Lac has four restaurants with five Michelin stars between them.

"The Baron"

The time has come to replace our trusty Mazda Bongo and our not so t’rusty Mitsubishi Shogun!

We had been looking at various 4X4 vehicles that could comfortably transport 8 guests around Morzine, and to and from the ski lifts.

The decision was made. A classless yet quality vehicle, The Landrover Defender is an iconic and Uber Cool vehicle to ferry our guests about town and as their slogan says they are…

” The Best 4 X 4 by Far “

For those guests staying at The Loft “The Baron” – an ex RAF Landrover Defender 110, will play a big part in your winter holiday with us, transporting you to and from the lifts each day.

"Junior"

“Junior” – an ex “Cheshire Set” Landrover Defender 90, will be used as an additional vehicle to the 2 minibuses that we have at our larger chalets, Chalet Robin and La Cabine

Here’s hoping for plenty of snow this year, to put the 2 newbies to the test!

If you fancy your own Defender, contact Marple Road Garage in Stockport for some great advice and help. Ask for Pam!

BREAKING NEWS…
Passportes du Soleil 2011 will be taking place over THREE days meaning that there will be more entrance tickets available for next year

Come and stay with us at More Mountain for that weekend as we guarantee entrance into the event for all our guests.
Click here for more details and watch this space for dates, prices and more info…

Garmin^® celebrates a successful winter season and rewards the fastest, highest and furthest travelled in the Alps. More Mountain Morzine, one of Garmins hand selected Alpine test centres for the new Garmin Foretrex GPS, are thrilled to announce two of the three winners as their own!

Garmin^® the global leader in satellite navigation celebrated its first and successful winter season in snowsports by announcing the 3 champion skiers and snowboarders from the Alpine Garmin Test Centres that travelled the fastest, highest and furthest. It turns out that 2 of the 3 winners stayed with us here at More Mountain in our luxury chalets in Morzine this winter.

Throughout the Winter 09/10 season, over 5,000 guests swooshed through the doors of Garmin Test Centre Chalets across the Alps and snapped at the opportunity to trial the Foretrex 401 GPS devices, as sported last season by BBC Ski Sunday’s Graham Bell.

The practical wrist-worn device provided thousands of trialists with immediate speed, height and distance feedback, as well as extensive navigational capacity. More than simply enhancing the users’ slope-time, at the end of the day trialists uploaded their daily tracklogs to Garmin Snow Club for automatic entry into the season’s league table and chance to win a week’s winter holiday and Garmin devices. After 5 months, and well over 10,000 tracked miles, Garmin can reveal the Test Centre Champions for Winter 09/10:

How Fast? – Jonathan Brothers, 75.1mph – More Mountain Chalets, Morzine

*A week’s winter holiday for two at More Mountain, plus a Foretrex 401 device*

How High? – Andy Fisher, 10,585m (vertical descent) – Pleisure Holidays, Courchevel

*A Foretrex 401 and Dakota 20 device*

How Far? – Ben Lakin, 45.07miles – More Mountain Chalets, Morzine

*A Foretrex 401 device*

“In our first year of presenting the brand to the snowsports market, we have been overwhelmed with the response” said Chris Merrell, Garmin’s Marketing Manager. “We knew that the Foretrex 401 filled a gap in the market, but for demand to increase 10-fold on last year has taken even us by surprise. We now intend to push on into Winter 10/11 taking the learning’s gained from our excellent Test Centres and ambassadors Graham Bell and Ed Leigh to further increase the benefits that Garmin brings to snowsports.”

Both Garmin devices are available at all Snow + Rock and Ellis Brigham stores nationwide.

Foretrex^® 401 – SRP £199.99

Dakota^TM 20 – SRP £279.99

For a chance to win a FREE HOLIDAY or Garmin GPS next season, book your stay at More Mountain and join the winning team from this year!

This winter we are offering a pre christmas special for you early birds that fancy a snow fix or pre Christmas shred prior to the season kicking off!

From Sunday 13th December until Sunday 20th December 2009

Stay at one of our luxury chalets for £449 for the week including your food, wine and transfer….it doesn’t get much better than that!

Click here for MORE details!

Sam and Jon have designed a luxury city style 2 bedroom pad within staggering distance of Bar Robinson, Dixie Bar and new top quality take away “Mamas” aswell as the local supermarket. Its perfect for those of you in smaller groups wanting to be in the centre of town close to all the action. Prices start from just €1300 Euros for the week for up to 6 people sharing.

Apartment Central Morzine

We believe if you choose self catering, it doesn’t mean you have to compromise on home comforts. Apartment Central features 2 luxury bedrooms with modern bathrooms, large balconies, spacious lounge area, fully equipped kitchen diner and loads of mod cons.

The stylish and sexy modern interior comes with all the usual More Mountain extras like flatscreen TV, Free WifI, SkyTV, DVD Player, Bose iPod Dock, luxury Egyptian cotton bed linen and L’Occitane Toiletries.

The Apartment features a large lounge area with squidgy velvet corner sofa, which converts into a good quality sofa bed, 2 armchairs, plenty of space for 6 people, loads of storage and underfloor heating throughout to keep you cosy and warm on those winter evenings.

You can kick back and watch your favourite TV channels as we have SkyTV or listen to your iPod on the Bose sound system. Large floor to ceiling windows slide open onto wrap around balconies which lead to a huge terrace, great for enjoying a glass of vino whilst you watch the sun set!

The kitchen diner comes fully equipped with seating for 6 people around a sociable oak dining table. Appliances include dishwasher, integrated fridge freezer and oven with gas hob, kettle and toaster and plenty of workspace.

Click Here for more details Apartment Central Morzine

Swiss International Air Lines will repeat its winter service from Manchester to Geneva, which is targeted at skiers and snowboarders in the north-west.

Swiss will fly twice a week until April 11. A Sunday service leaving at 10.00 will start on December 20, while a Saturday service departing at 17.15 will resume on Boxing Day.

The flights are targeted at those heading for Geneva and surrounding ski resorts such as Les Gets, Morzine, Megeve, Chatel, Avoriaz, Chamonix, Villars and Verbier.

Return fares will start at £76.80, with one piece of ski or snowboard equipment allowed for free. Absolute bargain!

So get yourself over to Morzine and stay at www.moremountain.com as cheaply as you can!

Light snow on Tuesday – Yeah Right!!!

It’s been snowing all day. About 60cm has fallen and it’s getting heavier.

More heavier snow at the week end. This season just gets better and better

Jon

It has now been snowing off and on since Sunday and it looks like there is a load more to come tonight and tomorrow…

Blue skies from Wednesday and a trip to Chamonix is on the cards for our day off.

Watch this space for the pics.

Cheers

Jon