Morzine: The Perfect Workcation Destination

Workcations are the latest trend sweeping the tourism industry. Pack your suitcase, throw in your laptop and your headphones, and take your work with you.

No, we’re not talking about working every hour of your holiday, but rather being savvy about using remote working in conjunction with your holiday allowance.

What is a Workcation?

A workcation is exactly what it sounds like - a balance of work and vacation. “Bleisure” holidays, as they’re also known, let you mix business with leisure to extend the length of your time away without using up all of your annual holiday allowance.

With flexible and remote working now the norm, many people are realising that instead of working from home, they could be working from their holiday home!

Imagine answering your morning emails from a sunny balcony surrounded by stunning alpine scenery, while enjoying a freshly baked pain au chocolat from the local bakery.

Or, wrapping up your last Zoom call of the day, then heading to the slopes for some quick laps.

Taking a workcation can make this a reality.

By strategically mixing work days with proper days off, you can enjoy a longer break, and still have some holiday days in the bank.

Why Go On A Workcation?

A Chance to Properly Slow Down

Let's face it – most holidays can feel like a military operation at times. Trying to cram as many activities as possible into a precious week away often means you return more exhausted than when you left. And we’ve all experienced that sinking feeling when you realise you’re over halfway through your holiday and you’ve only just started to unwind.

The beauty of a workcation is that by staying for two, three, or even four weeks, you can genuinely slow down and relax. Yes, you're working some days, but when your overall stay extends to several weeks, you’ll have more downtime to enjoy your holiday destination than on a regular one-week holiday. 

Depending on your schedule, you could book half days off during the week or take a long weekend. Just remember to keep track of the days so you get back to work when you’re meant to! 

An added bonus of taking a longer holiday is that you can plan your holiday activities rather than simply ticking them off. No more hiking or biking in the rain because that’s the only time you have free. Check the weather forecast, work when it’s raining, and put your Out of Office on when the sun comes out. 

And with more time, you can make your travel part of the holiday. Consider taking the train or adding stop-overs to your drive to explore areas you never see if you’re flying.

The Family Holiday Conundrum, Solved

For parents, school holidays can be a nightmare -  how do you cover six weeks of summer holidays with four weeks of annual leave? The solution? Take the laptop along and work a few days here and there.

A workcation allows families to spend quality time together, away from home, without parents using all their holiday allowance. 

If both parents are able to work remotely, you can split the week up between you, so while one of you focuses on getting that report done, the other can go exploring with the kids.  

Multigenerational or extended family holidays also fit well alongside a workcation as grandparents or aunts and uncles can provide an extra set of hands to help look after the kids.

Or, put your kids into a week-long camp if you need some uninterrupted mornings!

Our good friends Christelle and Helen at the Alpine French School here in Morzine run French Summer Camps that are really popular with our longer-stay Summer guests.

For budding mountain bikers, Ride Ability and Season Guiding run week-long mountain biking camps in Morzine for kids and teenagers.

Of course, the best part of taking a workcation is that when you close your laptop, you can join in with the rest of the family straight away because you’re not just in holiday mode - you’re actually there! 

Why Morzine is the Perfect Workcation Destination

When considering the ideal workcation spot, Morzine ticks every box as a summer or winter destination. 

It’s also an hour ahead of the UK, so if you’re working for a UK based company, you can enjoy a family breakfast, take the kids to their mountain biking or ski lessons, and still make those early morning calls.

Those Summer Days

Summer in Morzine has a great work-play balance. It’s why we live here!

Morzine hosts a lot of events over the summer months and there are always plenty of activities on offer, so you can dip in and out around meetings and deadlines. 

At lunchtime, take a chairlift from the centre of town and join your family at a mountain restaurant, or pack a picnic and meet them in the Dereches, a woodland area alongside the river and right next to the swimming pool, skatepark and tennis courts.

Then, once you’ve closed your laptop for the day, take advantage of the warm temperatures and long summer nights to fit in a hike, road bike ride, or lake swim.

For mountain bikers, the Pleney and Super Morzine lifts stay open until 7pm on certain nights so you can hit the local trails and bike parks too.

Working in a Winter Wonderland

For skiers and snowboarders, being able to work from a ski resort is an absolute dream. Again, it’s why we live here!

Settle in beside a roaring log fire for a morning’s work while the kids are in ski school, then hit the slopes for a cheeky extended lunch break. 

Morzine has two ski lifts right in the centre of town so you can be on the snow in no time. You can even keep an eye on your inbox and reply to emails on the chairlift between runs, just don’t drop your phone, or your gloves! 

On a normal week-long ski holiday there is a feeling that you have to ski every day, whatever the weather. It’s typically your only opportunity of the year to get some snow time, and you want to get the most out of your lift pass. Well, on a workcation you have the luxury of being a bit pickier and waiting for those sunshiney bluebird days! 

Why not flip the working week and work the weekend instead? In Morzine and Avoriaz, weekend mornings are a great time to go skiing as the slopes are generally quieter due to changeovers. You can get in a full morning’s skiing and then work in the afternoon.

In Winter, Morzine town centre comes alive with various festive family-friendly activities taking place in the town square next to the Tourist Office or at the foot of the Pleney slopes. 

After a day’s work, you can wrap up warm and head out as a family to enjoy the live music, light shows and firework displays that Morzine has on offer. 

Choosing your workcation accommodation

Finding your workspace

First things first. You need WiFi. And space to work in. 

Working from the sofa is great in theory but ideally you need a proper desk or table if you’re going to be doing more than a couple of hours’ work at a time. 

More Mountain’s apartments and chalets all feature spacious living areas with tables suitable for working. If you don’t want to have to pack up around mealtimes, properties with a dedicated workspace, like Chalet La Cornette, are the perfect choice. 

Good lighting is another essential, and it doesn’t come better than natural light streaming through the windows. You might struggle to concentrate though with the stunning mountain views on display! 

For added peace and quiet, choosing a duplex apartment or multi-level chalet like Grand Central can provide a bit of separation between your work area and the rest of your family during working hours. 

Morzine also has a couple of co-working spaces and cafés that you can work from if you need a change of scenery or extra focus.

Day-to-day living 

One of the joys of extended stays is the ability to settle into a bit of a day-to-day routine, so you need to make sure your accommodation is suitable for more than just sleeping in.

Self Catered accommodation with a well-equipped kitchen, laundry facilities, and all the mod cons is a must. And never underestimate the value of a proper coffee machine when you're trying to motivate yourself for an early morning Zoom!

Properties with outdoor living spaces can transform your workcation by giving everyone a little more space to enjoy. Terraces like those at The Townhouse or Apartment Hameau Des Fes are perfect spots for a family breakfast and a rejuvenating coffee break or three throughout the day. 

In summer, having a garden is a great solution if the kids are hanging around while you need to work. La Ruche has a self-contained garden and is dog-friendly so you can bring ALL the family.

Make it easy

A successful workcation isn't about working all day in a nicer location – it's about intentionally blending work and leisure to create a more sustainable, enjoyable life experience.

All our properties are centrally located in Morzine. This means you can easily meet your family for lunch or take a quick walk by the river to stretch your legs. 

At More Mountain our in-resort concierge team is on hand to make your stay as smooth and stress free as possible. We can do your pre-arrival grocery shopping, sort out and deliver lift passes to your accommodation, and even arrange meal delivery from a local restaurant. 

We’ve been living and working in Morzine since 2006 so if you have any questions during your stay, need to find a printer, or arrange some last minute childcare for an important presentation, we’ll be able to point you in the right direction. 

Beyond the practicalities, you need to set clear boundaries between work and play. You could work for three full days, then take a four-day weekend. Or you might prefer to work mornings and explore in the afternoons. Just make sure that both your colleagues and family know your workcation schedule to avoid any issues.

So go on, pack your laptop alongside your walking boots or ski goggles, and upgrade your office view from a car park to a stunning mountain landscape. 

The mountains are calling – and yes, they have WiFi.

If you fancy a workcation in Morzine, drop us an email [email protected] or give us a call to find the best property for you. We also offer preferential rates for longer stays on all our properties.