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.

We had been selected to feature in an article about cool and funky chalets in the Alps. Nice to see us up there with the £17,000 a week places where the likes of Robbie Williams have stayed – we are obviously doing something right and our prices are definitely a LOT more affordable!

This is what travel writer Tom Chesshyre had to say…

This season’s coolest places to stay have private pools, high-tech entertainment and seriously stylish interiors

France

No 1. The Loft, Morzine

“The look here is that of a slick Manhattan loft with exposed beams and lots of leather sofas. Covering two floors of a farmhouse, The Loft is a short walk from popular après-ski bars. There’s an open-plan kitchen as well as wireless internet, Sky television and iPod docking stations. A free shuttle bus to the main high-speed gondolas stops outside the property every 20 minutes. It sleeps eight and the price includes transfers from the airport.
Details The Loft (0033 686 02 1 805, www.moremountain.com) is from £4,792 a week (£599pp); dinner and B&B with afternoon tea included, flights excluded.”

If you subscribe to The Times, you can read more here.

Jonathan exceeded the Nation Legal Speed Limit, clocking a mighty 75.1mph ( 120.9 kph ) on his skis last winter.

Jonathan says…
” I was lucky enough to get freshies down a usually mogulled Black piste in Les Gets. I just pointed my skis down and tried to resist putting a turn in. I knew it was fast, when my ski tips started to flap, my helmet was whistling and my eyes started to water, but I didn’t realise it was over 120kph!! ”

Will More Mountain hail any winners again this year?
We are already top of the league table with a speed of 100.2 kph!

As all of our chalets are Garmin Test Centres you too can enter the Garmin Snowclub Alpine Challenge and be in with a chance of winning.
Just take out one of the fantastic Garmin Oregon 450 GPS devices (complete with Mountain Dynamics Snowranger Resort Mapping) out for the day, then upload your stats onto the Garmin Snowclub website via Garmin Connect.

Fastest – The top prize of your stay for the following year, plus Dakoto 20 with choice of mapping
Furthest – Garmin Foretrex 310XT and Dakota 20 with choice of mapping
Highest – Garmin Dakota 20 with choice of mapping
Prize Draw – Garmin Forerunner 310XT – to encourage the non-competitive.

Journalist Jon Secret came to Morzine to experience the delights of the Portes Du Soleil Ski area and experienced first hand the excellent service from our lovely chalet hosts, Sarah and Andy, great food, fun times and attention to detail at our luxury catered chalet in Central Morzine, The Loft.

Have a read here….

The Independent Snow Traveller does More Mountain

Jon says…

“I’d never been to Morzine, so it could hardly be my favourite place to ski, but a luxury fully catered chalet? I decided it was time to try something new.

Morzine is one of the more northerly resorts in the French Alps, and within easy reach of Europe’s winter-sports hub, Geneva. Just 80 minutes after leaving the airport, the transfer bus was pulling up outside The Loft, my home for the week. It’s run by the husband-and-wife team Jon and Sam Dredge of More Mountain, an independent chalet company specialising in what they call “non pretentious” luxury chalet holidays in Morzine.

The Loft occupies the top two floors of a traditional Savoyard farmhouse, now transformed into a place of slick luxury. There’s a games and a chill-out area on one level with a large flat-screen television, DVD and satellite, heated floors throughout, an iMac computer and WiFi running the sound system. The views from the balcony over the pretty town and soaring mountains are stunning.

My chalet hosts, Andy and Sarah, wasted no time inviting me to relax on the sumptuous leather sofas, where I drank champagne and ate canapés. Then it was on to the first gourmet meal of the week, washed down with wine and homemade toffee vodka.

It didn’t take long before I was mentally redrafting my list of favourite ski resorts. The task became easier as I learned how splendidly connected everything is, thanks to an extensive network of lifts. The Super Morzine and Pleney ski lifts are just a short walk in snowboard boots from the chalet or an even shorter ride in the complimentary chalet pick-up and drop-off service. A fuzzy head dictated the latter option, using the chalet’s private shuttle: an ex-military go anywhere and do anything Land Rover Defender called “The Baron”.

Happy Days!

As well as being part of the Love Inc. Alliance we will also be working very closely together with ltd. edition prints, merchandise and art work in our Chalets.

To check out Love Inc.’s brand new web site and new threads click here

"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!

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.

We have just added a load of new photos to the site so you can see the apartment in its full glory! Central Morzine just got stylish… to see more images please click here for more info Apartment Central Photos

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

Anyway, what an epic start to Feb. It has now been snowing solidly for over 2 days all the way down to village level.

Woke up this morning to a fresh dump of 30+cm and the good news is that there is a sack full more to drop this week and temps are dropping to superminus figures.

Anyone out for the school hols is in for some truly brilliant conditions…