We all love our ski trips and although most of us are not oblivious to the environmental cost these trips entail, sometimes it is hard to know how best to mitigate their impact.
Studies show that the biggest penalty of our annual pilgrimage to the mountains each year is owed to the mode of transport we choose, so it seems logical to start there – and thankfully there are new initiatives from forward-thinking resorts such as Morzine, to help us more easily understand and choose the greener options.
A clear example of more sustainable transport is the carbon reduction tourists gain by travelling to the mountains by rail versus the typical air-travel or by car. In a bid to encourage more visitors to choose the rail route, businesses in Morzine, along with the local authorities, have rolled out two initiatives that help holidaymakers more easily plan their rail travel to the resort, while also saving money throughout the duration of their holiday.
The first initiative is the Go-Morzine-Avoriaz website, which allows you to plan your journey to Morzine from anywhere, and by default also shows you the lowest-carbon option. You can filter your search by ‘fastest’ and ‘cheapest’, but still see the carbon impact of your journey, so you are always equipped with the information you need to make sustainable travel choices.
The second initiative is the AlpineXpress card. The card was born through the collaborative efforts of Morzine’s environmental charity Montagne Vert and dedicated businesses in the area, who wanted to create an initiative that rewards visitors for making sustainable travel choices. Travelling by train might not always be the cheapest or most convenient option, so the AlpinExpress card offers people who opt for rail travel exclusive offers and discounts during their stay in Morzine. Much like a ‘thank you’ for taking eco-responsible steps towards preserving the mountains and the planet.
And the card puts its money where its mouth is. There are a wide range of businesses who support the initiative, allowing you to make savings in every aspect of your holiday. From lift passes to accommodation, eating out to unwinding, here are some examples of how the AlpinExpress card can save you money…
Save Big With the AlpineXpress
*Based on 2024 pricing
Accommodation
You can pocket some big savings on beautiful accommodation throughout the resort: AliKats Mountain Holidays, Le Dahu, Hotel les Cotes, Le Croc Blanc, Hotel Fleur des Neiges and More Mountain are all in on the AlpinExpress scheme, plus many more.
For example, with the AlpinExpress you can bag a 10% discount on a week’s catered accommodation with Alikats Mountain Holidays in its über-luxe Chalet Debussy. For a mid-March stay, the price drops from €850pp to €765, with a saving of €85ppn. If you travel by rail, forgo the hot-tub and choose to eat plant-based meals during your stay, you get a 20% discount, which means a saving of €170 per person – even better!
Transfers
Part of the AlpinExpress pass, Skiidy Gonzales offers an incredibly convenient way to get from the train station to resort, stress-free. A private return transfer from Geneva or Bellegarde train station for up to eight people with Skiidy drops from €598.50 to €538.50 with their 10% discount, saving you a rather chunky €59.
Lift passes
Even the lift companies are getting in on the AlpinExpress action. You can nab a 10% saving on the Morzine-Les Gets ski pass with the card. For a six-day pass, €276 becomes €248, with a saving of €22 per person. That’s €88 for a family of four (a free dinner out!).
Wellness
Nothing beats a massage or stretching session after a big day on the mountain. Get 10% off treatments with Mobile Mountain Massage and spa treatments at Le Dahu. For example, a 60-minute deep tissue massage with Mobile Mountain Massage drops from €85 to €76.50, saving you €8.50 (and some very sore thighs the next day).
Activities
Get 5% off lessons with Mint Snowboarding, or gear hire with SkiSet and Skimium. Or if you’re looking to slow the pace on those well-deserved rest days, use your AlpinExpress pass to get 10% discount at Aquariaz, or indulge in some retail therapy at Montagne Vert thrift shop.
Food and Drink
All this skiing and spa-ing worked you up an appetite? The AlpinExpress initiative collaborates with some of the area’s most exciting restaurants and cafés – from Bec Jaune Brewery to Le Local – and you can enjoy an exclusive 10% discount on all of them. This means that an average meal for two people drops from about €80 to €72, saving you the cost of another cheeky beer!
So if we do some very basic maths…
By travelling to Morzine via rail you could end up saving an average of €322 per person for your holiday. That’s €644 per couple, or €1,288 per family of four. Big bucks! The AlpinExpress initiative puts money back in your pocket, and helps us all to sustain and preserve the beautiful mountains that we love.
But it doesn’t end there…
Morzine is committed to addressing the very real issues of climate change and natural exploitation. Government, businesses and local stakeholders are always working towards understanding the issues, contextualising them within our mountain habitats, and formulating strategies – both long and short term – to reinforce the longevity of these habitats and preserve them for generations to come.
More Eco Initiatives in Morzine
Flocon Vert
Since September 2021, Morzine has held the Flocon Vert award, which is an independent audit of a ski resort’s positive contribution towards sustainable tourism. New for 2023, the Flocon Vert status can now also be awarded to individual businesses within a resort. Morzine-Avoriaz now has 12 such businesses, including Bec Jaune Brewery, AliKats Mountain Holidays and Indiana’Ventures. To see a full list of businesses with Flocon Vert status, visit en.morzine-avoriaz.com.
Getting around
The centre of Morzine has been pedestrianised since 2022 in a move to promote people leaving the car at home and exploring town on foot. In a similar move, a system of free shuttle buses operates during the summer and winter, with new developments for 2023, including optimised routes and a geolocation information system to keep you up to date and on the move.
Biodiversity
In 2022, six young white-tailed eagles were reintroduced into the local area, after being extinct in the region since 1892. This is part of a wider initiative to educate both locals and holiday-goers about the amazing array of wildlife in the Alps, and the importance of maintaining healthy habits and thriving biodiversity for years to come (check out the superb aviary up at the Pointe de Nyon in Morzine).
Other actions include the establishment of nature trails on the Nyon summit, with information boards about local fauna, and the creation of the Locafauna App, which allows the public to record sightings of animals, and therefore contribute to our understanding of wild populations in the area.
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