Chamonix Chalets & Accommodation: What’s The Best Place To Stay In Often the Chamonix Valley?
The Chamonix area is made up of the Chamonix area and a string of cité along the Chamonix valley carpet, most of which are clustered in regards to the ski lift. All of these are usually collectively referred to as Chamonix and have their own character. They are related by a network of Rapace and trains, so it’s painless to have around.
All of them have breathtaking scenery, and each has its own impress. I’ve put together an overview of the different areas to help you get a feel for these.
LES HOUCHES
At the entrance to the valley, Les Houches is a small, pretty community with plenty of restaurants, nightclubs and shops. It’s a lot more family-orientated place with a tobogganing area and ice rink.
The good
+ Excellent on-slope food – the best inside the valley.
+ Tree-lined works – good when rankings are poor, especially since it’s lower and can be under the clouds
+ Less expensive compared to the other areas
+ New surfaces park this year
+ Characterful village
+ Has some snowboard in/ski-out accommodation
… as well as the not so good
– Community doesn’t get much sunshine in winter
– Some elements can have road noise
– Difficult to get to and come from Chamonix at night
– Little nightlife (though there are plenty of eating places and some bars)
– Certainly not ideally placed for getting to the other ski areas
– Flat spots can be a problem for snowboarders
Skiing in addition to snowboarding from Les Houches
Les Houches pistes usually are gentler than elsewhere inside the valley and it has more tree-lined runs. It’s very popular with people and can get quite populated during school holidays. You can find some challenging terrain offered with Les Houches though, along with the Kandahar World Cup black colour run is superb. It also has good high-altitude cross-country water skiing on the plateau, and a snowshoeing path at La Coupeau opposite.
CHAMONIX TOWN
Middle Chamonix is the place to possibly be if you want to go out a lot of instructions there’s a huge choice of nightlife and the town is very dynamic. Most accommodation in middle Chamonix is apartments. Maison tend to be located in the towns or towards the outskirts of town (though there are some wonderful ones very close to the centre)
The good
+ Lots of nightclubs, restaurants and clubs.
+ Lively, atmospheric, beautiful community
+ Some parts are incredibly close to the Brevent lift.
+ Central to all transport to be able to lifts
… and the not-so-very good
– More expensive accommodation
– Not often with outdoor space
– Can be noisy
Skiing and also snowboarding from Chamonix community centre – Brevent
The particular Brevent lift (on the particular outskirts of Chamonix community centre up a short although steep hill) accesses Brevent/Flegere, Chamonix’s biggest linked parts. Brevent has a good collection of pistes including the Charles Bozon black run from the major, which is among the most scenic pistes in the Alps. Anyone may appear up to the Panorama restaurant at the summit and take in the vistas, as the two gondolas can also be open to pedestrians. Nice significant rolling blues and yellows here, and some very good away from piste too (for you need a guide)
CHAMONIX MERIDIONAL
Universally known as Cham-sud, that is a district of Chamonix has less appealing architecture, commonly blocks of apartments. Nevertheless, it’s also where a lot of dynamic bars are, and several great restaurants as well as the Aiguille dere Midi cable car.
The nice
+ Good bars
and up. Inexpensive accommodation close to the community centre
… and the not-so-very good
– Not very pretty
– Apartments can be small
– Can be noisy
– A serious walk to the Brevent lift up
LES PRAZ DE CHAMONIX
Sunny and charming, L’ensemble des Praz is the first community after Chamonix. Home for the Flegere lift, which relates to Brevent to make Chamonix’s largest listed ski area, it is. got several very good dining places, and is not too far through Chamonix for a walk (15-20 minutes) or a quick taxi ride home after a particular date.
The good
+ Charming Alpine village
+ Mostly toned, walking distance to Flegere ski lift
+ Main position in the valley, great for accessing other areas
+ Sunlit
+ Good restaurants
… and also the not so good
– Very few bars
Skiing and snowboarding at Les Praz: Flegere
Flegere’s sunny slopes, as well as bowls, are a fantastic natural playground, ideal for mixed ability categories as there’s so much varied terrain. The Trappe elevate accesses a couple of easy guns which are a great place for starters to learn in the unparalleled landscape, while the Floria accesses lovely rolling reds and complicated blacks as well as very good off-piste (take a guide to access Flegere’s hidden gems). It’s worthy of getting up there early for the reason that lift from the base with Les Praz can get really busy at peak occasions.
ARGENTIERE
Home of L’ensemble des Grands Montets, one of the most popular ski areas in the Alps, Argentiere is lovely accommodations. It’s a good-sized village along with plenty of shops, restaurants as well as bars and a more relaxed environment than Chamonix.
The good
+ Close to Les Grands Montets
+ Attractive village along with traditional architecture
+ Great bars and restaurants, very lively at night
+ Stop in the centre
… and the not so fine
– Long, expensive minicab ride back from Chamonix if you want a big night out
rapid is Not ideal for beginners (although it does have its own baby room slope with lots of family activities)
Skiing and snowboarding with Argentiere: Les Grands Montets
One of the most famous ski along with snowboard areas of the Alps, the huge drops and mopping runs of Les Supérieur Montets are unmissable. Typically the black runs from the top-rated lift are unlike anything else, with their huge expanses enclosed by wildly crevassed snow. A day out with a manual is highly recommended to access a few of the world’s most spectacular lift-accessed off-pistes. Also has an excellent terrain park and some beautiful forested areas. Good learner downward slope at the base, with mat for small children
LE TRIP
At the head of the Chamonix area, Le Tour is a silent and pretty hamlet — just a few streets and a few restaurants around the lift.
The excellent
+ All accommodation is incredibly close to the lifts – there is certainly some ski-in/ski-out and about places available
+ Quite peaceful and quiet
+ The tiny but very very village
+ Has some quite gentle slopes
+ Attacking other areas is surprisingly quick on the bus as you are planning against the main crowd
+ Often quiet in the days as no one’s got generally there yet
+ Generally obtains good snow as it’s high
… and the not so excellent
– Not a big personal choice of accommodation
– Very noiseless, no shops, just a couple of bars/restaurants
– A long taxi drive back from anywhere after having a night out
– The train station is actually a long way from the lift
– Quite exposed if the climate is bad
Skiing and also snowboarding at Le Travel
Le Tour is best known for wide rolling blues and also reds, but accesses different mountain terrain including some terrific tree runs off the back and also natural half-pipes. It’s connected to Vallorcine (see below)
VALLORCINE
Vallorcine is at the end of the Chamonix valley, just a few kilometres from the Swiss Border. Any quiet and traditional Savoyarde village, it’s recently been becoming available more by the new, quickly lift that runs from your town. Even so, it continues to have the lovely peaceful feel of your undiscovered gem – for that moment…
The good
+ Regular, low-key, attractive commune
+ Some very good eateries
+ Train station is middle to lifts and commune (and has a super restaurant)
+ Excellent tree extends
… and the not so good
– Very quiet at night (though of course, this may be a plus for quite a few! )
– A long way by Chamonix (20km)
– Route can occasionally be blocked by means of very heavy snow (though rail access is always maintained)
Skiing and snowboarding on Vallorcine
Vallorcine remains on the list of quieter areas of the basin – a good tip to get peak times is to get for the lift here if there usually are queues at Le Vacation – and has nice combination pistes including some relative tree runs.
Peak periods
There’s a huge variety of accommodation of types, so you should be able to locate exactly what you want in Chamonix – though remember you need to book early for maximum times like Christmas, the Beginning of the year and a half term.
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