Self-catering or Catered Chalet - Morzine Offers Both

It’s a classic dilemma for skiers. Should you go self-catering or look for a catered chalet? Morzine, in the delightful French Alps, offers both.

So just how do you make your decision as to whether to choose the self-catering option or book in to a catered chalet? Morzine (and other resorts in the French Alps) makes the either decision result in a wonderful holiday.

Self-catering – as good as it sounds?

To some visitors, self-catering sounds like endless fun. It has connotations of discovering the joys of the local cuisine through your own cooking, shopping at local markets and experimenting with your gastronomic skills in-situ. All of this has plenty of merit, but there are a few down sides to take into account.

Glamorous as food preparation and cooking might appear to be, the clearing-up afterwards (including the dreaded washing up if there’s no dishwasher) is decidedly less so! Then there are all those issues with shopping in the local stores. Sure, that might be charming and colourful the first time you do it, but if you need to do it again and again during your holiday, well, the attraction might wear off fairly quickly.

Many of us are also a little vulnerable to over-estimating the attractions of cooking. Anyone who prepares the bulk of food at home will know that and might well value simply getting away from cooking during their holidays rather than engaging in even more of it.

Of course, those who don’t normally do the majority of cooking at home may feel fired-up with enthusiasm having watched one of the plethora of cooking programmes on TV but the reality is rather different. If you’ve come off a busy session on the slopes, it’s highly likely that the last thing on your mind will be the joys of peeling potatoes.

Catered Chalets - Morzine Has Some of the Best!

The French Alps are famous for more than their peaks and skiing. Morzine is in the Haute-Savoie département of France, and this area has a famous cuisine known for its emphasis on soups, stews, game and the very best fresh produce.

Coming home after a day on the pistes to an expertly prepared meal that draws upon these local traditions can be a major attraction of a skiing holiday for many. In fact, given the tendency of many resort restaurants to be rather international in their cuisine, this may be the best way to really eat as the locals would.

Is there a downside? No, not really – although clearly it’s a good idea to look carefully at the catering offered. Not all is necessarily of an excellent standard and if you’re being given pasta in various tinned sauces every night, it’s likely to become a little tedious after a while! So, ask for sample menus or something similar, in advance. In truth, however, you should have little to worry about with the majority of catered chalets. Morzine's establishments are typically of very high standards.

Liz Olkowicz is the Business Development Manager for Ski and Summer Morzine, a tour operator, based in Surrey, offering tailor-made ski holidays. If you're looking for a self-catered or catered chalet, Morzine is the perfect location from which to explore the French Alps, so for a great-value Alpine holiday, call us.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.