Posted on 11 March 2021
When it comes to choosing the perfect ski property for sale, what you’re planning on using it for can be an important part of the equation. For anyone planning on buying a place where they can spend weekends throughout winter, having a short transfer time can be right at the top of your list of requirements.
If you want to be able to hop on a plane at three on a Friday and be in the resort by eight, you won’t be able to do a three-hour drive to one of the less accessible ski resorts. In fact, anything over an hour and a half will begin dragging your travel time out and making those weekends away you’re dreaming of less and less of a possibility.
Of course, if you’ve got your heart set on somewhere that’s two and a bit hours from Chambéry Airport, and you’ve got the energy for it, you could still spend the odd weekend there. For genuine weekendable resorts, though, look for ski property for sale in these three resorts!
Morzine
Sitting in the massive Portes du Soleil ski area, Morzine shares ski areas with Les Gets on one side and Avoriaz on the other. Unlike the resorts on either side, Morzine is a town with a year-round population; that’s a plus for property for sale in Morzine. The slopes at Avoriaz are snow-sure, and the ski area swings all the way into Switzerland, via a couple of routes including the infamous Swiss Wall.
As Morzine is a little bigger than the surrounding areas, there’s more ski property for sale there than there might be elsewhere. The transfer from Geneva is a little over an hour, and there are regular shared transfers going from the airport to the resort, via Les Gets. Both EasyBus and AlpyBus go hourly during the season, and a few times a day in inter-season too.
As a ski resort, Morzine ticks more than a few boxes with its’ huge quantity of skiing, access to snow-sure slopes, large and lively town, and short transfer. It’s pretty family-friendly too, with good slopes for beginners, and a wide variety of ski schools that have French and English speaking instructors.
Chamonix
Just a half-hour drive further up the motorway, only an hour’s drive from Geneva along the main motorway toward the Turin Tunnel, Chamonix is the original home of extreme skiing. Although the ski area is a little disjointed, split as it is into different areas that aren’t joined together as is the case with areas like the Trois Vallées, this is the home of some famous off-piste routes. Chamonix is the start of the Haute Route ski tour from Chamonix to Zermatt (via Verbier!) and it’s a good base from which to explore the many excellent resorts nearby.
As is the case with property for sale in Morzine, Chamonix is a town and therefore has a larger property portfolio than you might find elsewhere. This is a year-round destination, with tourists coming to view Mont Blanc from around the world. The centre of the town is partially traffic-free and there are a number of satellite villages where you can buy ski property for sale if what you’re after is a quieter, more remote Alpine retreat.
Chamonix is home to a few thousand year-round inhabitants, including some retired professional skiers and snowboarders. It’s one of the must visit destinations if you love the mountains, and it’s an easy drive from both Morzine and Verbier.
Verbier
Verbier, in the Swiss Alps, is the crowning jewel in the extensive Four Valleys ski area. Its’ high, snow-sure slopes, attractive and lively village, and classy reputation make it a desirable option for anyone looking for ski property for sale. Unlike when you’re viewing a property for sale in Morzine or Chamonix, ski property for sale to foreigners without residence permits in Verbier is subject to some fairly strict rules, but it’s still very possible to get your dream property.
As Verbier is in a touristic canton in Switzerland, there is property for sale to foreigners, and as the premier resort in the Four Valleys Verbier sees a huge number of tourists and winter residents alike. Verbier does have a summer season; as with most Swiss ski resorts, it’s an ex-farming village and is therefore low enough at resort level to be a pleasant, attractive place to visit in summer.
At only an hour and twenty minutes from Geneva, Verbier is infinitely weekendable. For those who have enough capital, Sion has a small airport that is open to private aircraft and cuts your travel time down to just half an hour.
Wherever you choose to buy ski property, be it close to an airport or with a long transfer time that you’ve weighed up all the options for and against and decided is worth it, we’ve got you covered. Take a look at our ski property for sale, and don’t hesitate to get in touch.