Mad Dog Ski: Ski Resort guidebooks for Austria, France, Italy and Switzerland

Planning your trip - Morzine - France

How to get to Morzine as well as some other things that are best to arrange before you leave home.

Airport transfer times


Airport Distance in Morzine Approx. transfer time by road
Geneva 76km 1 hour 30 minutes

Top tips for

Flying

Morzine is easily accessible by air, with three airports within a couple of hours' drive. Geneva airport, just one hour away, is great for ski weekends. You will find transport easier from Geneva than any other airport due to the high number of transfer firms and shared transfer operations on this route.

One of the things to look out for is that quite often, the cheaper the airline, the more complicated and expensive their baggage policy is. This can make carrying skis or snowboards to your destination costly if you are not prepared.

Trains

Eurostar runs a direct train from London on Friday and Saturday to the Alps. The Snowtrain, run by Rail Europe, means a change in Paris but you can party all night in their legendary ‘disco carriage' - the ruin of many people's first day skiing!

Cluses and Thonon are the closest main stations to Morzine.  Whilst you will easily find a transfer to resort from either station (approximately 30 minutes by road) it can take a long time to get there by train and this is not the easiest way to access Morzine.

Remember to make sure that you have organised a transfer to get from the train station to the resort as some of these trains can arrive very early in the morning.

Transfers

If going by bus, try to book your tickets well in advance – they can get very busy and some companies act on a reservation-only basis. However, hiring a car is the most flexible option of travelling to Morzine and means you can travel around to see other resorts in the Portes du Soleil area. 

Winter tyres, snow chains and ski racks are normally available at additional costs - make sure you request them when booking.  You are required by law to carry snow chains and the police set up checkpoints during bad weather to enforce this.

Most independent chalet companies run 8-seater minibuses and a very effective mailing list to share transfers ensures that your accommodation owner will usually be able to arrange a transfer for you. Expect to pay about €35 per seat.

For door-to-door, taxis are a good option, although not the cheapest.

Self-drive

Morzine is one of the easiest ski resorts to reach by car - under 600 miles from Calais. The motorways are the quickest route but you will have to pay around €50-60 in toll charges each way.  Allow about 8 hours driving time from Calais.

To help with driving routes, check out www.rac.co.uk or www.drivingabroad.co.uk for directions and tips. Before you go, check with your car insurers that you will be covered for your time in Europe. Also remember to carry a warning triangle, spare light bulbs, flash light and a first aid box. And don't forget the snow chains!

If passing through Switzerland on the motorway you will be expected to purchase a ‘Vignette’ ticket that is valid for 12 months at a cost of approximately £20. There is no cheaper option and no point arguing with the border police! Either be prepared to pay or plan a route that keeps you off Swiss motorways.