Want to take the misses on a biking holiday to the Alps or similar, any recommendations?

She’s a beginner so want to inspire her!

Cheers!

Can’t get much better than Chamonix. Took my other half last year and it’s a brilliant place, easy to get around, riding for all abilities and lots of other things to do too – paragliding, white water rafting, ice caves in the glacier. You could pop to Les Houches which is free on the train or a 20 minute ride on the road. There is a bike park there or you can get a cable car (Le Prarion) to the meadows which is easy to ride albeit harder to breathe at the high altitude but its all good fun! We stayed with Alpine Elements which is cheap and cheerful and gets mixed reviews, but we weren’t bothered about the hotel as we were only using it for a bed to sleep in and went straight out first thing to make the most of it all! Hoping to go back this year but if you want to hit the harder stuff, you need a pretty good long travel bike.

http://www.whiteroomchalet.com/sum_alpine_first_timers_coaching_weeks.htm

highly recommended, my wife really enjoyed it (as did I obviously), and we intend to go back as long as they’ll have us.

guided or non-guided?

Morzine is a good bet for the latter as the trails are numerous, well marked and the town has everything you need.

Verbier is nice but I’d say go guided to get the best out of it.

There are loads of threads on this question – just do a search and read on….

Depends how “novice” she is. Morzine is great although some people may get “freaked out” by the storm troopers there which there is detrimental to their riding ability. There is that Rowan Sorrell book about MTBing in Europe, breaks down all the resort, pro’s and con’s, out local library had it too so you don’t even need to buy it if you don’t want to.

We are doing Verbier this summer ahlthough I have been told this is crazy steep and no so good for novices.

looks and sounds good but cant tell you till after Ive been in July
MrsT is a non biker and we have a double room booked. She will be partaking a day or 2 at these spa`s;
http://www.lavey-les-bains.ch/index.php?lang=en
http://www.thermes-parc.com/en

Verbier’s amazing but it’s not all super steep, and Bike Verbier split their groups up anyway. You defo need guides to get the best from the area – there’s loads away from the resort that no one really rides. Everything about BV holidays is absolutely spot on – I’d drop them a line and ask about options.

Been to Morzine a couple of times and loved it. First time was a chalet holiday with Endless Ride, who were brilliant, whether in terms of guides and rides or wrap around service (mechanicals etc) or chalet life.
It’s possible to do some fantastic trips on the lift system, and it’s definitely not all gnarr, pads and full face terrain

Also been more than once to Les Arcs, camping in Bourg, and found the ‘moonscape’ (less trees than Portes de Soleil) riding not as inspiring

bikevillage are doing more women friendly weeks, some of which are also skills weeks (where they’ll spend more time on technique!).

sam and lynds are super friendly, and always seem to find great guides (and great chefs, if i say so myself 😉 )

honestly though, i holidayed there 7 years on the trot, and worked for them last summer, and every week there has been incredible – riding, food, working, chilling out, socialising. not working for them this summer, but WILL be visiting for a week or two.

just awesome.

(unless you don’t want to ride up a single hill – in which case, follow the masses and go to morzine)

Jamie and Mary at Ride the Alps Can tailor riding and accommodation to suit all tastes.Based around the Morrilon/Samoens area.