Solo Ski Holidays
- About solo
Ski Holidays - Dates
Prices - Holiday
FAQ - Booking
form - Beginners
Ski Holidays - Xmas
Trip - Basecamp
Festival
Welcome to Pistepals, the place for Skiers & Snowboarders who travel independently or in small groups.
We provide ski holidays for solo skiers, single snowboarders & small groups looking to join up with others. If you are travelling alone or with a few friends, come and join a group of likeminded skiers & snowboarders for one of our Ski Holidays in Morzine. These are holidays for sociable people looking to meet outgoing travellers to ski & snowboard with. We cater for all ages & abilities and there's no single supplements.
You will have a dedicated chalet host all week who will ensure you are fed, watered and cleaned up after and your Pistepals rep (that's me) will be in resort to show you around the beautiful town, the fantastic range of pistes and ensure your expectations are being met in general. I will be with you for dinners in the evening, taking you out to the quietest or most challenging slopes, recommending the best lunch and hot chocolate stops and joining you for apres ski beers. I've looked after over 200 guests through Pistepals and look forward to looking after you on your trip.
The chalet owners themselves have the ability to organise your ski hire at a good discount, pre-order your lift pass and book or recommend ski lessons. This can all be organised prior to your visit so all you have to do is bring yourself! (and preferably some good winter ski clothes)
If this is your first single ski holiday the please do get in touch. We've had a lot of people start their skiing career with us and a group of likeminded people all falling over together is a great way to start.
All sorts of people come on Pistepals holidays. We have single skiers & snowboarders. We get small groups of 2 and 3's who are looking to find other people to socialise and ski with. Some people are sneaking off for an extra blast of snow after already having done the family ski holiday this year. Some people's partners don't ski. A lot have people have found their regular group whittled down to nothing over the years and are left the last skier standing. Whatever your situation, Pistepals is the place for those looking to join others for skiing & snowboarding holidays.
So if you would like a group to join for your next skiing holiday, or have a small group but would like to be part of a larger one, then please just get in touch, that's what Pistepals is here for.
Dates for our Solo Skiing Holidays 2012
Click Here to Book Your Solo Skiing Holiday!
| Dates | Chalet | Price | Availability | |
| 19 - 26 Dec | Xmas, 7 nights | Chalet Chery Les Meuniers | £550 | **FULL** |
| 8 - 14 Jan | 6 nights *B&B can be arranged for the night of the 7th if needed | Chalet Chery Les Meuniers | £395 | **FULL** |
| 22 - 29 Jan | 7 nights | Chalet Perrier | £460 | **FULL** |
| 28 Jan - 4 Feb | 7 nights | Chalet Chery Les Meuniers | £460 | **FULL** |
| 5 - 12 Feb | 7 nights | Chalet Perrier | £495 | **FULL** |
| 26 Feb - 1 Mar | 4 nights short break | Chalet Perrier | £325 | **FULL** |
| 3 - 10 Mar | 7 nights | Chalet Chery Les Meuniers | £495 | **FULL** |
| 20 - 24 Mar | 4 nights short break | Chalet Chery Les Meuniers | Special offer **£325** | 1 female place remaining! |
| 25 Mar - 1 Apr | 7 nights | Chalet Perrier | £460 | 1 male and 2 female places remaining |
| 1 - 8 Apr | 7 nights Easter skiing! | Chalet Perrier | £445 | Spaces Available!(including one single room) Click the link below if you would like to know more about the Skiing in April |
| 7 - 14 Apr | 7 nights Easter skiing! | Chalet Chery Les Meuniers | £395 | Spaces Available! Click the link below if you would like to know more about the Skiing in April |
Click Here to Book Your Solo Skiing Holiday!
Your Solo Ski Holidays Includes
We've planned that perfect balance in our solo skiers holidays - everything you need to make a great ski holiday, and we've removed any unnecessary frills to provide great value too.
- Chalets with 5 ensuite rooms (except the little room in Perrier).
ALL rooms are shared either twin, triple or quad (a whole self contained apartment within Chalet Perrier) with same gender.
Rooms are allocated first come first served depending on gender balance.
Chery Les Meuniers has only one twin, the rest are filled as triples.
Perrier has two twins, two triples and a self contained apartment for 4 as well as one twin room available for sole occupancy. It has a low roof and no ensuite but it's all yours :-) - Fully catered on 6 nights of the week with tasty and filling breakfasts and afternoon tea (short breaks are 3 nights catering)
- 3 Course meals with free flowing wine at dinner, a local cheeseboard and port
- Only 16 max slots available on each week so deposits are being taken now at £150 pp
- 650km of piste to ski - including world class blacks, high red runs above 2000m. You will be guided around the resort for as long as you need to uncover the hidden gems of the Portes Du Soleil by Pistepals
- Amazing nightlife, you can take what you want from it - apres ski, after dinner beers or dancing till dawn. Party or relax as hard as you like!
Not Included
- Flights, transfers, equipment hire and lift passes are not included.
- We'd be more than happy to arrange your transfers for you though, just let us know your flight times and we'll do the rest.
- We'd also be more than happy to arrange any lift passes, ski / snowboard hire hire or lessons you would like. Especially if you are a beginner, just get in touch and we'll guide you through it all.
Pretty much the most common question, but hardest to answer since each group is different and we won't know till everyone is booked on! So far though, most groups are comprised of ages ranging from 30 to 45 with a few on either side. Usually, if there are much older people on the trip they tend to be excellent skiers and fantastic company. There are never any young party animals on the trips either, anyone below 28 tends to be mature, interesting company and quite relaxed.
Depending on which chalet is being used, the smallest groups are of 10 people and the largest of 17 (mainly at Xmas) 99% of Pistepalers are relaxed, easy going, good company, not out to get battered every night but enjoy a knees up at least once in the week, love a nice glass of wine with dinner and good food.
They are great banter on the chairlifts, over a vin chaud and in the apres ski bars! Some are very go getting and will get you to try more challenging runs or new pistes, others are quite happy to follow on behind, even through the off-piste in the trees in low visibility!
Snowboarders and skiers get on well in these groups, the divide varies from week to week, but everyone welcomes each other with open arms and occassionally there are bladers and even a telemarker one trip! Friendships form easily and sometimes more, a couple met on my first Pistepals Xmas trip and are now married as well as several existing long term relationships! I am still friends with many of the people from my trips and enjoy seeing them come back year after year, bringing friends with them too!
Although Pistepals isn't just for singles skiing, we had a couple meet and marry from this trip! How exciting for you single skiers and boarders!
Most skiers on the trip can get down blues easily. If after the first day they are struggling, I often suggest a quick and cheap private lesson to get their confidence up qnd rejoin the group. ESF charge 35e for 1 hour private, really worth it! The majority of runs we do are blues, easy reds, hard reds and a small element are hankering after the blacks and the off-piste! At least half the group try the Swiss Wall even just once. If you are an improver and still want to come, it is more than acceptable to get half day lessons and hook up with the group for lunch and for apres ski. You will see them all in the evening anyway!
Pistepals trips are always DIY flights to Geneva (try www.skyscanner.net for flight info) or get to Morzine any way you see fit. Some have taken the bus, driven or taken the snow train. It is entirely up to you.
If you do decide to fly to Geneva, all we need are your flight details in order to organise your return transfers. These are 70e return - payable in resort.
We will be in touch about the transfer pick up times - due to the fact you are picked up one at a time - there's an element of fluidity regarding the transfer arrangements until a few weeks before. It allows the transfer company to have the best visibility of incoming flights to ensure you are picked up with minimum delay at the airport.
On the day of arrival you will be able to leave your cases and go out to ski if you have arrived in time and on departure day - there will be a place to leave your cases and you will be able to use the communal areas to have a cup of tea before your transfer bus arrives. You can leave your hire skis at the chalet and they will be picked up.
The chalets offer 6 nights catering out of 7 - this is standard "chalet board". There's an example menu within the "Our Chalets" pages but you can look forward to tasty staters, wholesome and balanced main courses and something yummy for dessert. This is followed by a cheeseboard and port and during your meal you are provided with free flowing red and white wine.
Your breakfasts are provided each morning - lots of tasty patisseries, crusty breads and jams and plenty of cereal, fruit, yoghurts and juice, tea and coffee. This is complimented by a hot option, something like scrambled or poached eggs (rather than a full english as we'd be struggling to get your into your salopettes in the morning) If you have any dietary needs such as gluten or lactose allergies please let us know so we can provide an adequate choice for you at breakfasts.
For the one night, mid week that the chalet staff have off - we usually hit one of the local resturants. There a good number of excellent local Savoyard restaurants in the town so it seems a shame to sit in every night when there is amazing local wine and cuisine to be trying! Some of the favourites are Racelette (served dripping with local meats and salad), Tartiflette (like a Potato Gratin but much better!) Fondue, Creme Brulee.
I use Morzine as a base for most of my chalet holidays for a number of reasons;
Pistes and facilites
From Morzine, you have access to 650km of pistes, stretching across two countries (France/Switzerland) There are an outstanding selection of blues and reds, as well as some challenging blacks and off-pisting if you know where to look. One of the top hardest runs in the world is on your doorstep (The Swiss Wall) as well as the world famous Burton Stash (snowboarder heaven) If jumps are your thing, there are 4 boarder cross parks within easy reach.
Proximity to Geneva
On a good day, a straight transfer from Geneva should only take 50 minutes. Although picking up and dropping other people off can make it a little longer. There are a multitude of low cost and premium airlines flying to Geneva, as well as the option of taking the snow train or driving from the UK. Transfer from Geneva can be as low as 25e each way, versus the hell that is the 3 Valleys or Tignes, 3-4 hours and about 80e each way.
On the mountain, it can be a little expensive to eat and the portions are huge! Sometimes it is worth asking if someone will share! Either that or we roll you down the mountain on the way home!
Some of the best places are Le Grande Ourse (Big Bear) on Mont Chery (run by a Cornish family and has the most epic views!), Pointe de Nyon (has a lovely large terrace for sunny days) and Petit Lindarets in the little goat village south of Avoriaz central. Very quaint. The restaurant at the top of the Swiss Wall is also worth a visit, even if only to gawp down the wall and surrender to a hot chocolate instead. The scenery is amazing, on sunny days they have sun loungers with duvets and the cutest family of boxer dogs who are really friendly and love a game.
Added to that, the practically infinite number of Vin Chaud and Hot Chocolate stops available, as well as more snacky-type food, you are spoilt for choice!
Morzine is situated in an area called the Portes Du Soleil (Doors to the Sun) This is a pretty apt name, as the sun shines quite a lot here and temperatures are never really lower than -10 in Jan and can get up to 6°C in March/April. The scenery is visually stunning as you have the omni-present Mont Blanc in the far distance, ringed by the mountains leading over to Switzerland. From the 3 highest peaks of Nyon, Chamoissiere and Ranfolly, you can gawp for ages at the majesty of the Alps.
Morzine/Les Gets benefits from many tree lined runs, so when it is cold you can shelter a bit! They are also very pretty to ski through, you feel quite connected to nature! Up in Avoriaz and into Switzerland you are much more closely connected with the sheer rock faces and steep mountainous inclines. An excellent cross section.
Morzinoise don't consider themselves fully French, the term is Savoyard. If you have taken a dislike to French people in the past, please discount it when thinking of travelling here. The people here are very helpful, friendly and happy to communicate in English. The local restaurants are used to non-French speakers and the shop owners will help you out as much as possible. Added to that, there is a large English speaking seasonaire population, so you are bound to hear an English speaking voice every now and then.
There are many things to do in Morzine when not skiing or boarding. I have included a small list below but there are plenty more if you can find the time!
Shopping - Cheese Factory, Chocolate, Cow Bells, Ski Gear, souveneirs
Bars/Restaurants, including the famous Buddha Bar!
Sports Centre, Gym, sauna etc, Ice Hockey on Saturday and Wednesday nights - local team
Tourist Office Organised Activities eg Grand Odessey Husky Racing, Horse and Cart around town
Relaxation - massage, spa, jacuzzi, sauna, facials, manicure and coiffure!
Unlike some of the more purpose built resorts, Morzine is a real thriving town and as a result, is extremely pretty.
It benefits from a high number of owner run independent chalets. These are often of a high standard and made from the local wood, with very pretty "Savoyard" style furnishings. You can see the current chalets we are using through Host Savoie Ltd by clicking on "Our Chalets"
Underfloor heating, warm boot/ski storage and lots of hot running water and cosy full sized beds are all essentials in your chalets but you will also find Chalet Perrier has a sauna. There's always plenty of tea, coffee and tasty fresh cake available.
Morzine's original and best ski school, the ESF (Ecole du Ski Francais) is well regarded and can offer an outstanding lessons package for beginners, which includes a lift pass for 209e. They also offer the best priced private lessons at 35e per hour. Avoriaz Alpine Ski School can offer an intermediate clinic taught to a small group in native English, as well as back-country hosting and Park and Pipe lessons.
There are a number of ski hire shops, the best being Francois Baud. I have the pleasure of knowing the family and the guys who work in the shop and they are far and away the most knowledgable and competent technicians in the region.
Most guests go for the full Portes Du Soleil pass, as they liked to be able to ski over into Switzerland and back all in the one day!
How to book your ski holiday
We've made our booking process super simple, as a good holiday should be. We don't do online bookings; we prefer to talk to all our guests first to make sure we've answered every question for you.
If you've come here looking for prices and availability please see Solo Ski Holidays Prices and Availability
To Booking Your Solo Ski Holiday
1. Check out our Ski Holiday Terms and Conditions
2. Fill in the form below, we'll pencil you in for your selected dates
3. We'll be in touch, we like to chat to our guests before booking.
4. If you are more than 12 weeks before your holiday, a deposit of £150 would be due, otherwise the full amount would be due.
Any questions on this though don't hesitate to get in touch or request a call back.
Please do not book any flights until we let you know that your holiday is confirmed.(that'll be after payment has been received)
Thinking of going on your first Ski Holiday or Snowboard Holidays? You've come to the right place.
It can all seem a little daunting at first, there's a lot to plan and think about. It can seem a little more difficult if you'd like to go on a solo skiing holiday or if you are a single snowboarder. Where to even start?! That's what I'm here for though, to guide you through everything and I'm more than happy to answer even the smallest question or concern you might have.
I was a late joiner myself to the world of skiing, I did my first beginner ski holiday aged 27, and can still remember how confusing it all seemed at first. Maybe though this help me to relate better than most to help guide you through it all.
What is important to note, many of the chalet owners, visitors and workers in the resort, have skied for many, many years. They don't remember what it is like when your boots pinch too much, your thighs burn from too much snow ploughing and getting on a chairlift is genuinely a traumatic experience!
They also don't remember getting so exhausted you could fall over right there, how many bruises you pick up along the way and just trying to keep up with the group. Skiing for the first time is really hard work, but when it pays off - boy do you have something to write home about! Just check out the photos in the main part of the site of previous Pistepals trips!
Once you nail it, you have many years ahead of you of long lazy lunches, gorgeous sunny skies and groomed pistes, Vin Chaud stops with friends, meeting new people on chairlifts, snowball fights during apres ski, learning to carve and do moguls, being faster than all your friends (even the boys!), buying a fabulous ski outfit to match your ability, wearing big dark sunglasses, looking forward to owning your own sexy skis and boots - tailored to you, dancing in Buddha till late, still in your ski boots, getting up really early on a fresh powder day to get the fresh untouched snow, skiing with your poles tucked behind you at 50km per hour
I learnt only a few years ago, in Morzine, so I understand what you are going through, sitting there at home - thinking the same things you are right now about beginner skiing holidays or learning to snowboard ... "should I do this?" "what if I am rubbish at it?" "I don't even know what I need to take". I'm here to help you with all that, to introduce you to your instructor and make sure your first skiing experience is one you'll never forget.
So please don't hesitate to get in touch, I'd be more than happy to chat through the whole wonderful experience of learning to ski with you.
Looking for somewhere fun to spend Christmas? Would rather not do another home visit with nana at the sherry by lunchtime and the rugrats running around under foot - clearly high on too much sugar or go away on your own - as solo holidays, Christmas or otherwise are hard to find.
Pistepals Solo Skiing Holidays were created for Christmas Solo Holidays, when being single can often feel the most lonely. Why not meet up with a group of fellow single skiers and boarders to head out onto the slopes with during the day and enjoy friendly banter and apres ski with them afterwards and over dinner?
We understand what it takes to pluck up the courage to go on holiday alone, let alone with a bunch of people you have never met. Be assured - they are all in the same position as you and once the first initial nerves wear off - you may find yourself making lifelong friends.
Your Christmas Ski Holiday
You'll be arriving into the snowy winter paradise that is Morzine Ski Resort for your Christmas Holiday. Small chocolate box wooden chalets all covered in snow, surrounding mountains all around, the charm and charactor of Morzine really comes out at Christmas. Be it a wander up the snowy highstreet or trying the open air ice rink, there's a wonderful festive atmosphere.
When you arrival our chalet hosts will look after everything for you. You'll be with a group of other like minded solo & single Christmas holiday makers, and our Christmas trips always make for a great social as well as skiing occasion. Everyone is here for the same reason, to be away in a charming ski chalet for a real white christmas as well as experiencing the winderful skiing that Morzine & the Portes du Soleil have to offer.
If you are travelling alone or with a small group, if you'd like to join others to ski this Christmas, then our Christmas holidays are for you.
Skiing on Christmas Day Itself
Skiing Christmas day itself is a wonderful experience. The full white Christmas experience really comes together when you are the top of a snow covered mountain on the day itself.
Everything is running on Christmas Day in a ski resort. Ski lifts are running, the ski instructors are teaching, the hire shops are open and your chalet hosts are cooking & looking after everything for you. You'll notice a lot more people wearing Santa hats than on a normal day, indeed there'll be a few skiing Father Christmas' as well, but everything still runs on Christmas day here in Morzine.
What's great about our Christmas Skiing Holidays for Solos?
- A group of like minded individuals, looking to escape Christmas in the UK - be it over commercialisation, lack of family, bored of family dinners, single and want to celebrate Christmas where the "REAL" snow is!
- The chance to ski on Christmas day and earn your Christmas dinner. No rolling off the sofa after too many choccies and turkey - this will get you energised, fit and healthy. Ski all day - enjoy a lovely Christmas lunch in a pisteside restaurant and even dress up if you like - from Santa hats to full on Santa costumes - you are welcome to mark the occasion any way you like.
- Someone to share a room with and avoid hefty supplements imposed on solo Christmas holiday makers.
There's many great reasons to try a solo Christmas holiday with pistepals, but if you've any questions at all to see if our ski holidays would suit you please don't hesitate to get in touch, we'd be glad to help.
Dates and Prices for our Singles Christmas Holidays
Firstly though a quick matter to clear up - they are not dating type singles holidays - our holidays are purely for those who like to travel alone or in a small group & would like to join up with others, that's all, there's no dating aspect to is at all!
Our Christmas Solos Holiday is 19th - 26th December, and it's only £550 per person. There's no single supplements of course (that's the whole point of our holidays!)
What's included in our Solo Christmas Holidays?
6 nights evening meals - in particular the Main Event - Christmas Day Dinner with three courses and local cheeseboard/port as well as free flowing red and white wine throughout the meals.
All morning breakfasts - a hot option such as poached eggs along with an eye-popping range to choose from; fresh patisseries, fresh crusty baguette, yoghurts, fruit, cereals, fruit juices.
A tasty afternoon tea each day - laid out for 4pm to fill a hole until dinner at 8pm. A nice opportunity to catch up with people about their day skiing if they have been in lessons or came back early.
But this year will be even better - with the addition of the Basscamp Festival from 2nd-6th April
5 days of music - 6 snowparks - 650km of piste - 1 super pipe - Mountain madness
BaseCamp Festival Morzine - The Ultimate Spring Skiing & Snowboarding Holiday
Basscamp festival is about bringing together the two expanding worlds of snow sports and electronic music to create an energy and atmosphere that has NEVER been seen before in Morzine! By combining international DJs and one of the greatest alpine ski areas in the world, Basscamp festival is not to be missed!Ski and board the Portes du Soliel ski area by day and enjoy the best aprés parties and world-class music by night! Get your dancing shoes on!
Book a bed in Chalet Perrier from 1st-8th April and you can say you attended this fabulous event!
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