Location, Location, Location! Ski Resorts you can be Reach in Less than Half a Day from the UK!

Thinking of buying a ski home in the French, Swiss or Austrian Alps? As one of the best lifestyle and financial investments you can make, the opportunity to own a piece of the mountains as well as earn rental income makes choosing ski property as an investment a no-brainer.

But what is the most important thing to consider when buying your dream ski home? Location! Ski resorts with shorter commute times mean weekend trips are easier for you, and more appealing for visitors should you choose to rent it out.

So what are some great alpine ski resorts for property investment that you can reach within half a day door-to-door? Here are a few of our favourite ski resorts within 2-hours drive of some of the major airports in the Alps.  

Geneva

Chamonix

An easy 100km drive along a well-kept motorway will have you in Central Chamonix in just over an hour. With a buzzing town, large international community and some of the most challenging skiing in all of the Alps, "Cham" is one of the best options for ski-home owners looking for a weekend destination - as well as somewhere with an active summer season. Learn more about Chamonix here. 

Courmayeur

A 30 minute drive through the Mont Blanc Tunnel (the other end is in Chamonix) sits the beautiful Italian village of Courmayeur. A charming town with cobbled streets, designer shops and fantastic restaurants, Courmayeur is a favourite of city-folk from Milan and Turin who pop up for the weekend. The skiing is varied, the pistes uncrowded and the on-mountain food choices second to none! For more info on Courmayeur click here.   

La Clusaz

Often overlooked as skiers speed past on their way to the Three Vallees, La Clusaz is a quaint French village just one hour's drive from Geneva airport. With mostly French and Swiss visitors, when you holiday here you truly feel like you are in France. With over 130km of pistes to keep you entertained, extensive off-piste (it’s where Candide Thovex learnt everything he knows) and a further 88km of piste in Grand Bornand you needn’t overlook La Clusaz for the bright lights of the better known resorts nearby. Learn more about La Clusaz here.

Morzine

Just 75 minutes away from Geneva airport, Morzine is a great choice if clocking up the ski miles is high on your list. One of the key resorts of the Portes du Soleil ski area, Morzine gives access to over 650km of terrain across 13 resorts in France and Switzerland. A year-round town, with friendly locals and a lively apres scene, Morzine also has a booming summer season and is one of the most famous resorts for mountain biking when the snow melts. For more info click here.

Chambery

Courchevel

The St Tropez of the Alps can be reached from Chambery Airport in just over an hour. The jewel of the Three Vallees, Courchevel has long been the ski resort of choice for royals, Hollywood superstars and Russian Oligarchs alike. With a combined area of over 650km of pistes to explore, there is something for everyone here. Although Courchevel is synonymous with glitz and glamour, it is only the village of Courchevel 1850 which holds true to this. The other 4 villages are affordable and friendly, with all the benefits of what 1850 offers too. Learn more about Courchevel here.

Grenoble

Chamrousse

Less than one-hour from Grenoble airport, Chamrousse is famed for its role in the 1968 winter Olympics. Family-friendly Chamrousse is often overlooked by those heading to Alpe d'Huez and Les Deux Alpes so the pistes are generally uncrowded, fresh tracks can be made days after a dump and it is a far more affordable choice than more famous names in the area. A 13 year plan to revamp the entire village has just begun in an effort to create France's first completely "smart resort". Quite a vision for a ski resort many in the UK have never heard of! Read more about Chamrousse here.

Alpe d’Huez

The sunniest ski resort in France is only 90 minute drive from Grenoble. With stunning scenery, plenty of snow-sure skiing for all abilities and an après scene that would put the Austrian resorts to shame, there are few drawbacks to Alpe d’Huez. The town itself is separated into quarters, and each quarter is lively with a number of venues to suit all moods and budgets. For more information about Alpe d’Huez, click here.

Les 2 Alpes

Located just a 90 minute drive from Grenoble airport, Les 2 Alpes is one of the best all-round resorts in the French Alps. The massive expanse of terrain is great for everyone – families will flourish, beginners will be able to progress quickly, intermediates have plenty to zoom around on and experts can take in the unpisted paradise of La Graves just over the ridge. The variety of pubs, clubs, bars, restaurants and shops means everyone is catered for AND it is one of the friendliest villages in the Alps. Learn more about buying a ski property in Les 2 Alpes here.

Zurich

Engelberg

One of Switzerlands best-kept secrets, Engelberg is a keen-skiers paradise. Nestled amongst the dramatic peaks of the Titlus and Hahnen Mountains, the skiing here is big! With a 2,000m vertical drop and the north-facing Titlus glacier holding its powder all through the winter, Engelberg has become the go-to resort for enthusiastic skiers looking for epic skiing without the crowds. And it isn’t just the winters which are popular. Summer visitors looking to hike and mountain-bike mean Engelberg gets more visitors in the summer than the winter making ski property in Engelberg a great year-round investment. Read more about it here. 

Sion

New airline, Powdair, has made it much easier to access resorts which traditionally took several hours to drive to from either Geneva or Zurich. Flying into Sion, resorts such as Zermatt, Verbier, Saas Fee and Grimentz are all within a one-hour drive from the airport, significantly reducing transfer times and making weekend stays easier. For more information on Powdair and the surrounding ski resorts, check out this article here.  

WHILE YOU ARE HERE...

Looking for a ski property? Start your search here!

Need help with a mortgage to buy a property in the French, Swiss, Austrian or Italian Alps? See our mortgage tips and advice from experts.

Want to know which ski resort is best for your ski property purchase? Check out our ski resort guides.

Need to swap some Pounds for Euros? All you need to know about currency exchange.

Want to know about buying a ski property in the Alps? Get the lowdown with our buying guides.