Posted on 11 August 2021
So, you’re choosing the best places to buy a ski property. You’ve looked at transfer times, après ski bars, property selection, and the price range; but what about the little known bonus that is dual seasonality? Is this resort going to be worth visiting during winter?
Summers in the Alps might not be quite as popular as hopping on a plane to Turkey and sitting on a pristine white beach, but there’s more than a few reasons to swap out that beachwear for hiking boots during the summer holidays!
For starters, child-friendly activities are through the roof. No need to try and find something, anything, to keep the kids entertained while you sit on the beach; they’ll be so busy they’ll barely have time to sit down! The Alps are as beautiful in summer as they are in winter. If you’ve ever wondered what it might feel like to run through a field like an extra in the Sound of Music, this is the perfect time of year for it.
So, now that I’ve convinced you about the merits of the Alps in summer, where are the best places to buy a ski property if you want a summer season?
Megeve
Founded by the Rothschild family, this ski resort oozes class throughout the year. The resort is pretty, with beautiful architecture and pine-covered mountains that feel a little gentler than they do looming over nearby Chamonix. Megeve village itself is very classic, with old school glamour by the gallon, and features on many lists of the best places to buy a ski property.
Megeve has a golf club, mountain biking trails for all levels, parapenting, and a large area of interconnected lifts that will take you across into St Gervais and Combloux. This is as attractive a town in summer as in winter; its reputation as the French St Moritz is well deserved. Take an electric mountain biking tour to experience the sights, or just hop on the lifts and whizz down specially set up bike park routes.
If poolside relaxing is more your cup of tea, you can head over to Le Palais Sports Centre, which has a thermal pool and a selection of saunas and hammams. The centre also has a kids pool and a street running parkour course, so your kids will love it as much as you do.
Morzine
A pretty town in the Portes du Soleil ski area, Morzine is an incredibly popular summer destination. The biking trails are well known even amongst Mountain Bikers in the UK. With great hikes and several easily accessible lakes and rivers in which you can swim, you can see why the resort is so popular.
Morzine has more to offer you than just ski slopes! Swim in the beautiful Lac Montriond, an easy cycle away from the resort, where the water is crystal clear and the scenery is breathtaking. You’ll also be able to soar down to Châtel on the Fantasticable zipline and hike across stunning mountain ridges.
Morzine is one of the most popular dual season resorts in France, and it’s always on the list when you’re looking for the best places to buy a ski property. It’s consistently on people’s radar, and there’s a good reason for that!
Crans-Montana
Switzerland’s lakeside resort is already a fixture in many lists of the best places to buy a ski property. That is, in large part, thanks to the excellent dual season strengths of golfing summers and a long winter season.
The famous golf course at Crans-Montana is home to the European Open, and the lake has water sports, a beach, and fun for all the family. The resort itself is home to some amazing hikes and walking routes, including through the local vineyards along a winemaker’s hiking trail. The glacier is a spectacular view, whether in summer or winter. Plus, there are mountain biking routes and rivers that you can enjoy along the hike up to the icy peaks.
Crans-Montana is also home to several festivals and events that draw visitors throughout the summer season. These include the Terrace and Caprices Music Festivals; the former starts at the beginning of July and the latter ends at the end of September.
La Clusaz
La Clusaz is a small ski resort near Geneva and Annecy. The resort is an excellent place for beginner and expert skiers alike, and it’s the home mountain of famous ski pro Candide Thovex. La Clusaz is one of France’s lower and more traditional ski resorts. With that said, the resort benefits from a micro-climate that means it receives more than its fair share of snow each year.
All this is to say that La Clusaz is an excellent dual season resort. The ski lifts ferry mountain bikers and hikers up the Mountain in summer, and there’s a whole range of ways to throw yourself down the Mountain that don’t require snow on the ground to enjoy. These include the luge d’été, which is a summer luge that sends you shooting down metal rails on little more than a tea tray.
Nearby Le Grand Bornand is home to local cheesemakers whose wares you can sample as you hike through the stunning scenery. The peace and quiet you’ll find here is a nice contrast to the more bustling vibes in Chamonix, Crans-Montana and Morzine.
In terms of summer Alpine fun, Candide’s not the only person who would tell you that La Clusaz is one of the best places to buy a ski property.
Chamonix
A bonafide year-round destination, Chamonix is the destination of choice for tourists looking for somewhere a little bit different. The resort thrives during the summer months. Not only is Chamonix home to the famous UTMB week of long-distance endurance trail running, but it holds the speed climbing world championship.
If sporting events aren’t your cup of tea, there’s also the Cosmo Jazz Festival, and there’s a bevvy of great activities to keep the kids happy. These include another luge d’été, climbing, mountain biking trails, lake swimming, and the odd appearance of a travelling carnival. That’s before you even mention the main attraction.
The Aguille du Midi draws tourists from as far away as Japan, and even local residents can’t help but be awed by the views at the top. This alone makes Chamonix one of the best places to buy a ski property.
Whichever resorts make your personal list of the best places to buy a ski property, wherever you’re thinking of buying, check out our complete listings. If you want to enquire about a resort or a property, get in touch with our experts. After all, when it comes to finding your dream property, we’re here to help!