An Alpine home for an active family: the Savills search

“My family has been going to the same ski resort for years, but now the children are older we’d like to try somewhere different. We need slopes for varying abilities, good restaurants and après-ski, not too far from an airport. Where should we go?”

1 MORZINE, FRANCE

GUY MURDOCH, FRENCH ALPS MANAGER, SAVILLS SKI
gmurdoch@savills.com +33 (0) 6 29 38 26 68

“Morzine is a firm family favourite thanks to its charming Alpine village centre, good-value property, access to the enormous Portes du Soleil ski area and proximity to Geneva airport – a little more than an hour away by car. There’s a wide range of pistes, and active teenagers will relish testing their skills at snow parks such as the Burton Stash in Avoriaz.”

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One of 12 linked resorts in the Portes du Soleil ski area, which covers France and Switzerland, Morzine offers year-round village life and access to more than 600km of slopes and 30 snow parks – there’s something for everyone here, from beginners to off-piste daredevils. There’s a good choice of mountain restaurants – pulsating fun at La Folie Douce in Avoriaz or Swiss chalet charm at Le Vaffieu, close to the top of the Pleney cable car – and a mix of high-altitude skiing, testing off-piste and long, leisurely blue runs. Central Morzine has swimming pools and an ice rink with great family-focused après-ski. Best of all, being so close to Geneva, the transfer is one of the shortest in the Alps, making a spur-of-the-moment weekend trip perfectly possible when the snow is falling.

Pictures from top: on the piste in Morzine (Alamy); and a tree-lined valley (unsplash)

2 VERBIER, SWITZERLAND

SOPHIE HARBEN, RENTALS MANAGER VERBIER, SAVILLS SKI
sophie.harben@savills.com +41 (0) 27 565 89 40

“Why Verbier? Because year after year it’s voted the best ski resort in the world. It’s a luxury resort that invests heavily in its well-connected infrastructure, has a wonderful range of slopes, on- and off-piste, and is renowned for its après-ski. It attracts a wealthy international audience, but remains inclusive and down to earth – a true winter sports resort.”

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Verbier welcomes a long list of famous faces every year, yet is resolutely understated: this is a place where all-comers hang out in the buzzy restaurants and bars around Place Centrale. It’s about two hours from Geneva airport and part of the Four Valleys, Switzerland’s largest ski area, with 412km of slopes offering exciting challenges for all levels of skier and snowboarder. The backcountry off-piste attracts elite-level skiers, but there are gentler off-piste options, accessible without a guide. Away from the slopes, older teenagers pile into Le Farinet for daily live music or end the day with family and friends on the terrace of Le Rouge. The chalets on offer here are some of the finest in the Alps, with weekly rentals running from CHF10,000 to CHF35,000.

Picture: a mountain-top spot in Verbier (unsplash)

3 COURCHEVEL, FRANCE

JÉRÔME LAGOUTTE, HEAD OF SAVILLS COURCHEVEL JLagoutte@savills.com +33 (0) 4 79 06 22 65

“For world-class skiing, instant access to the slopes and a range of activities for skiers and non-skiers, Courchevel is simply superb. What sets it apart is the variety and high quality of its infrastructure and après-ski, as well as its choice of property locations – all with the biggest ski area in the world on your doorstep.”

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Less than two and a half hours from Geneva airport, Courchevel is one of the most celebrated – and snow-sure – resorts in the Alps. Part of the Three Valleys ski area, it links seamlessly into more than 630km of pistes, covering dramatic couloirs, testing reds and flattering blues and greens for beginners: there’s enough to keep even the most determined skier or energetic teen happy week after week. Super-chic 1850 is the highest of Courchevel’s four villages, but quieter, more traditional – and more affordable – options include Le Praz and Moriond, home to Aquamotion, an indoor spa and sports complex. Whether you want a family fondue, a takeaway crepe or dinner in a high-end hotel, Courchevel can serve it up – it has more Michelin-starred restaurants than any other resort in the Alps.

Picture: breakfast with a view in Courchevel (Getty)