Jetaway in-flight Magazine features More Mountain Luxury Chalets Morzine
OVER THE FENCE
Mancunians, Sam Thomas and Jon Dredge, swapped grey skies for white slopes with a chalet business in France. Neighbour Christophe and his English wife Jody are happy to help out
The New Guys Childhood sweethearts Sam Thomas and Jon Dredge are seeing two dreams come true in their new home in France – not only are they living in one of the world’s most beautiful locations but they have also achieved the ambition of running their own business.
“We were part of the rat race in Manchester for well over 10 years, often working 60-hour weeks. So we decided to re-mortgage, take a sabbatical and snow board around the world for a year,” explains Sam, 35.
After spending 12 months in Canada, New Zealand, Australia and Asia, the couple realised they couldn’t return to their old lives. So they ploughed the rest of their money into More Mountain, a luxury ski and snowboarding chalet business at Morzine in the Haute-Savoie département of France.
“It’s only 70 minutes from Geneva – full of life yet still very French. Couple that with stunning mountain vistas, lakes, amazing food and local hospitality… well, it’s perfect,” says Sam.
“There’s something about Morzine. They even have T-shirts printed to say that. We love it – not only because it’s part of the Portes du Soleil ski area but also because it retains its character as an old French town while having a cool vibe with younger British ski and snowboarders,” she says.
“It was really hard at first convincing the local French that our modern approach to chalets would work. They were used to a traditional ‘Alpine’ theme with love hearts and gingham curtains,” he says. “We realised there was a gap in the market for a more contemporary chalet operation for the up-and-coming young professionals. We’ve tried to create the sort of holiday that we always strived to find – sexy chalets, nothing too flash but still modern, stylish and luxurious.”
The couple have now bought their own home to restore and neighbours have been volunteering to help out with the work – it’s the sense of community which is keeping them here, they say.
“Would we go back? No way! Running a business is really hard work and the pay is very different to what we were used to, but I love my view of the River Dranse and the mountains of the Portes Du Soleil,” says Sam.
She adds: “I do miss Marks & Spencer, cheddar cheese, Lincolnshire sausages and the cinema. But being so close to Geneva makes it easy to get back and have a shopping spree. Manchester is only three hours door-to-door so we see friends and family a lot – plus they get free holidays with us.”
Jet2 Jetaway feature More Mountain Luxury Chalets, October 2008