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Going to the Alps this summer and have no idea where to start on booking things,We will be going in the car and take our own bikes with 1 hiring a bike. The accommodation will need to cheapish but not to cheap. And wondering where's the best place to go for XC/AM style riding.
Cheers Iain
The White Room in Sainte Foy near Les Arc. Great variety of trails and they're superb hosts. We went on one of their backcountry weeks last year and are returning this year.
Are there a few of you? You can rent chalets pretty cheaply. There are 1000s of ski chalets and a lot less tourists in summer. We normally go for about 50% occupancy and spread out a bit as in the winter they cram them in. I'm a fan of Morzine; excellent riding, great singletrack and some really good epic rides plus decent bars and lots of other stuff to do.
All looking really great guys. There's only 3 of us so not enough to rent a big chalet..
Rent an apartment - ours in Les Gets (5 bed, 2 bedrooms, lounge, kitchen + bike storage) is 240 euro.
Ferry (Hull-Zeebrugge overnight in a nice(ish) cabin, Calais-Dover) = £320
Hotel in Calais - 90 euro
Fuel and tolls £240
So about £850 for 3 of us - taking bikes with us.
Plus food in local supermarket (SuperU at the bottom of the hill - similar to UK prices)
Plus lift passes
Did it last September - cheaper than a week in Cornwall
Ok looking good nearly got the accommodation booked so that's the main thing which is in Morzine. I would like to know about spares and if they are available and how expensive they are. Another thing is about the routes, are all the routes DH stuff with jumps or are the red runs more Am/XC friendly?
There is a big downhill area in les gets but there are loads of other mountains and valleys. IMHO the best riding involves a few uplifts hopping from valley to valley. Look at the passportes route as a start. Loads of well marked xc riding and good maps if you want explore and find your own way. There are several good bike shops in town prices are pretty decent, about the same as a UK bike shop (lbs, not crc). Hiring bikes is expensive, though. As you are driving you can always do a decathlon stop, we always do. Beers are a bit pricey so a supermarket stop is worthwhile, too.
Lots of small (1/2/3 bed) chalets available, usually much cheaper than a hotel and more practical for biking
Morzine (and Les Gets in the next valley) are a good choice of location IMO. There are some shops but take as mant spares as you can fit in (pads, cables, chain, tyres etc. maybe even wheels if you fancy doing some jumping)
Maps are available and give a really good outline of the various trails - singletrack, DH course and lots of other stuff. I spent a week there and didn't feel the need for local knowledge at all.
Ok looking good nearly got the accommodation booked so that's the main thing which is in Morzine. I would like to know about spares and if they are available and how expensive they are. Another thing is about the routes, are all the routes DH stuff with jumps or are the red runs more Am/XC friendly?
Morzine has loads of none DH riding available. I took my Prince Albert last year (albeit with 150mm fork) and never felt under biked (I will take my full suss when I go back though).
Most spares are readily available in town but you will pay a premium for them, take as many as you practically can.
And definitely ride Super Morzine, muchos fun.