The Festive Period in The Portes du Soleil
By Paul Farley
The festive period is consistently one of the most popular times for our clients, and it’s not hard to see why.
What to expect in resort
The festivities in Morzine and Les Gets usually commence around two weeks prior to new year, which is the weekend of the 16th/17th December this year, and they tend to run right through to New Year’s Day. Typically there are special events on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Eve.
If you’re keen to get involved then your best bet is to head in the direction of the central squares by the resort tourist offices, which will be strewn with colourful fairy lights and festive decorations. You’ll find plenty of live music and light displays and children may even be able to catch a glimpse of Santa!
On Christmas Eve, impressive fireworks displays usually kick off at around 18:30, along with arguably the most anticipated spectacle of the evening when local ESF instructors, bathed in torchlight, descend to Pleney in Morzine and Chavannes in Les Gets. This unique sight really is worth making time to watch and tends to be a firm favourite for children and adults alike.
You’ll also find ice rinks, enchanted villages, face painting, carousels, giant Christmas trees, hot chocolates for children and “Green Chaud” for adults (Hot Chocolate with Chartreuse).
The same can be said for New Year, with fireworks at midnight and a multitude of local bars and venues hosting special New Year’s Eve parties later into the evening. For those who like to carry the party beyond midnight, just be sure to make plans in advance as everything is likely to be in demand.
On the Mountain
Let’s not forget why we’re all here in the first place: the skiing! Our advice is always to get out on the mountain as much as possible and make the most of the 650km of pistes that the Portes du Soleil has to offer, particularly at this time of year…
It may sound counterintuitive, but Christmas and New Year’s day on the mountain tend to be quieter than usual. Maybe that’s down to the quality of the previous evening’s festivities, who knows? In any case, it’s a great time to take advantage of quieter lifts and open pistes.
If you do venture out, you will be sure to find the festive atmosphere is the same on the slopes as it is in the towns. Christmas decorations will be in abundance throughout the lift stations and piste-side pit stops and mountainside restaurants will be offering special festive feasts.
How we can help
If you’re staying in one of our catered chalets then our hosts and chefs will of course be preparing a special evening for you and if you’re staying in one of our amazing self-catered properties, many of the local restaurants will be doing the same.
Our Concierge team can help you get your reservations made early for ticketed events and restaurants to make sure you have a truly memorable break. Alternatively, our resort team can make sure everything is ready for you to admire the view from the comfort of your own luxury home away from home, snuggled up in front of the log fire, vin chaud in hand.
We still have a few properties available over Christmas and we’re offering flexible stays over New Year across our portfolio, arriving from the 29th December onwards. Choose to stay for anywhere from six to nine nights – you can see a full list of our properties here.
Want to know more and discuss your next ski holiday?
Call us on +44 (0)20 3588 6001 – you can also email us using info@theboutiquechalet.com or speak to us on live chat using the chat box below. If you would like us to call you back or arrange an appointment to visit us in Bath or Morzine please let us know.