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Hanging out in Morzine with Speedbreaks - France, Fun and FromageIncreasingly in the UK people are living alone and this change in demographics is fueling a demand for holidays for singles and solos. Speedbreaks is one such UK based company who specialise in holidays for singles. We went along to Morzine, a French ski and summer resort, to experience at first hand what these holidays were all about. It was a memorable week of fun, fromage and faded nightclubs. The week for me started on the train to Luton Airport and I slowly became obsessed with the search for the illusive 'Speedbreaks' luggage tags. My tags were tucked away out of view. Perhaps I didn't want to be spotted by another speedbreaker so soon. It all seems a little silly now. I strolled into the newly revamped London Luton Airport and into the queue for the recommended flight with Easyjet convinced that I would be able to spot some fellow speedbreakers. This was not the case. It then occurred to me that the others might be employing the same tactics of hiding their speedbreaks status until the very last moment. I recall being in departures and still looking for people in the 27-49 age range, alone and perhaps a little nervous like me. I would remain alone until the arrivals area of Geneva airport when the experience truly begun. I was slightly delayed in collecting my luggage which made me one of the last to join the group. So I treaded somewhat nervously out into the Geneva arrivals hall and immediately saw a jolly group of people and a guide with a Speedbreaks sign. The male and female mix was pretty even which was good. We were whisked away in two mini buses and back into the EU towards our alpine chalet for the week which would be the base for our activities. The accommodation was of a good standard and the hosts were delightful. The owner spoke a level of English that would be the envy of many over La Manche and the cosy, rustic atmosphere relaxed one and all. My room was a twin but I had booked it as single occupancy paying a little more for the privacy. It was nice with plenty of room for me with an en suite and a small balcony. Many of the boys had also booked their own rooms while the girls tended to be in shared rooms. We never really got to the bottom of why this was. Much of the success of the week would depend on the group dynamic which I have to say was very good. There was a pleasing mix of ages and backgrounds that kept everything interesting. I could not imagine how it would have been to be hanging out with 15 other web professionals. So the week took on a familiar pattern of buffet breakfasts, outdoor activities a go-go, cheese and ham baguettes, evening dinner and drinks which were sometimes concluded in one of Morzines' dodgy nightspots. However, this was no 18 to 30 'piss-up'. The week was activity packed with hiking, mountain biking and the more costly (for insurance purposes) activities of canyoning and white water rafting. Outside of the main packages one could indulge in a whole host of summer alpine activities such as paraplenting and swimming in the impressive Morzine Olympic size pool. The success of a singles holiday with a bunch of strangers is ultimately not down to the temperature of the soup, the 'speedos only' rule at the Olympic pool or the lack of numbers mountain biking. It is all the other strangers that usually makes a holiday. So with this is mind, all thats left to say is what a great week. A. Page
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