Chamonix Hotels

Posted on October 16, 2012 | Comments Off

Chamonix has a large variety of hotels in which to stay.
Here is our selection and independent reviews of the best hotels in Chamonix.

GRAND HOTEL DES ALPES
Rue du Docteur Paccard, 75, 74400 Chamonix, France

grand hotel

The Grand Hotel des Alpes is perfectly situated right in the heart of Chamonix town. This wonderful  hotel has lot of old world charm and elegance. Good sized rooms and  a large beautiful lobby that is a perfect for taking tea. Very helpful staff.

Tip – if you don’t want to be disturbed in the night by the drunken apres ski brigade ask for a room at the back of the hotel.

HOTEL MONT BLANC 

chamonix hotel

In the very heart of Chamonix, nestling in the quiet calm of its shaded and floral gardens, this grand 19th century hotel is a delight.
The 8 suites & 32 rooms of the hotel have been designed & decorated with style & charm.
This hotel exudes comfort and tradition and even has its own piano bar.

AUBERGE DU MANOIR  
8 route du Bouchet, 74400 Chamonix, France

If you are looking for a charming quiet calm hotel in Chamonix, this is for you. It is surrounded by lovely garden and fruit trees, and situated at the end of dead end street and and despite being located right in the centre of Chamonix is extraordinarily peaceful.
The hotel is stylishly decorated, with great views of Mont Blanc and charming hosts who unlike many Chamonix hotels make non French speakers feel very welcome.

chamonix hotels

The outside hot tub!

Comments Off

Posted in Chamonix

Chamonix skiing

Posted on October 11, 2012 | Comments Off

Chamonix boasts a superb snow record, a long season (Dec-May), unrivalled off-piste skiing, and views to die for.

chamonix ski chalets

Chamonix has an international reputation as having some of the most spectacular, challenging and exhilarating skiing and snowboarding available anywhere in the world.

The Chamonix valley is both huge and daunting, and that’s before you count the neighbouring resorts. The Mont Blanc lift pass covers 8 local and 13 regional ski areas with terrain up to 3840m, over 200 lifts and 700km of piste – with the majority of the ski areas being above 2000m. It caters for all standards, from beginners right through to experts.

The major ski areas are : Brevent, Flegere, Les Grands Montets, Le Tour, Les Houches and the Aiguille du Midi.

SNOW RELIABILITY:

Very good high up; poorer low down

The top runs on the north-facing Grands Montets slopes above Argentière generally have good snow, and the season normally lasts well into May. The risk of finding the top lift shut because of bad weather is more of a worry.

There’s snowmaking on the busy Bochard piste and the run to the valley. Balme has a snowy location, a good late-season record and snowmaking on the run down to the valley at Le Tour.

The largely south-facing slopes of Brévent and Flégère suffer in warm weather, and the steep black runs to the resort are often closed.

Don’t be tempted to try these unless you know they are in good condition – they can be very tricky. Snowmaking was increased at Flégère this year to improve the link to Brévent. Some of the low beginners’ areas have snowmaking. Piste grooming standards are generally respectable.

Compared to other French ski resorts, the ski schools in Chamonix are particularly good.

Chamonix Skiing for Experts - For expert skiers Chamonix is one of the world’s great resorts.

Chamonix Skiing for Intermediates - There are some fantastic ski runs for intermediate skiers in Chamonix.

Chamonix Skiing for Beginners - There are limited but adequate nursery slopes either side of the town.

Comments Off

Posted in Chamonix

Tagged ,