Morzine

Morzine is a genuine Savoyard market town rather than a purpose-built resort, with wooden chalets, a river running through it and life all year round. It sits in the Portes du Soleil, a huge cross-border ski area spanning France and Switzerland, with Avoriaz just above and Les Gets next door.

Its big advantages are access and atmosphere: it is only about an hour and a quarter from Geneva, making it ideal for short breaks, and the town has a friendly, lived-in feel with plenty of bars and restaurants. Tree-lined runs make it a good choice in bad weather when higher resorts are battered.

The catch is altitude. At around 1,000m, the village can struggle for snow early and late in the season, so many skiers head up to Avoriaz for the most reliable conditions. In summer Morzine reinvents itself as one of Europe's great mountain-biking towns, with lift-served trails across the Portes du Soleil.

For skiing, January to mid-March is the safest window, as the low village altitude can mean thin snow at the start and end of the season. Summer (late June to early September) is just as busy, with world-class mountain biking, hiking and lake swimming nearby.

Geneva airport is about 1 hour 15 minutes away by road, making Morzine one of the quickest Alpine resorts to reach. The nearest railway station is Cluses or Thonon, around 30–45 minutes away by bus or taxi.