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Visitor reviews for Chamonix Ski Resort

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• June 14, 2011
  alex from Greece
  

  I believe "Le Grand Montet" resort is the best of Chamonix.

  Great for off-piste skiers!

• Chamonix Ratings

  Based on 11 votes. Vote

  Access: 4.7 (1) At least one overnight stop, (2) requires a whole day, (3) requires more than half a day – you may have time for a few turns (4) arrive by lunchtime and ski all afternoon, (5) there is a main airport within an hour of Chamonix.	Public Transport: 4.5 (1) There are no buses or taxis to Chamonix, (3) there are slow or infrequent buses / trains available, (5) getting to the resort is easy with frequent bus / train connections.
  Scenery: 4.8 (1) An ugly resort in a bland setting, (3) average mountain views and resort, (5) a spectacular setting and a beautiful / historic resort town.	Accommodation: 4.6 (1) No places to stay in/near Chamonix, (3) a few places to stay in the resort, (5) a wide variety of accommodation suitable to suit all budgets.
  Cheap Rooms: 3.8 (1) No budget accommodation available, (3) just one or two hostels so book ahead, (5) several cheap hostels and pensions available.	Luxury Hotels: 4.7 (1) No luxury accommodation available, (3) just one or two luxury hotels so book ahead, (5) several up-market hotels in Chamonix.
  Ski in/Ski out: 2.9 (1) The ski area is located far from any accommodation, (3) a free ski bus takes you to the ski area in a short trip, (5) Ski-in ski-out accommodation is available.	Childcare: 3.5 (1) There are no child care facilities at Chamonix, (5) the resort has excellent child-care facilities including at least one reasonably priced creche.
  Snowsure: 3.7 (1) Occasionally gets enough snow for skiing, (2) is often closed due to a lack of snow, (3) occasionally suffers from a lack of snow, (4) rarely suffers from a lack of snow, (5) Chamonix is snowsure even in the poorest seasons.	Snowmaking: 3.1 (1) Chamonix relies entirely on natural snow, (3) there are just a few snow cannons, (5) there are snowmaking facilities on all pistes.
  Snow Grooming: 3.6 (1) There are no snow groomers at Chamonix, (3) occasionally some pistes are left ungroomed and in a poor state, (5) all the runs at Chamonix are groomed daily.	Shelter: 2.9 (1) there is nowhere to ski when it is windy or visibility is bad and lifts often shut, (3) there are some trees for poor visibility but main lifts sometimes close, (5) Chamonix is mostly in forest where you can ski in flat-light and windy days, lifts rarely close.
  Nearby options: 3.7 (1) If snow conditions are poor at Chamonix, it will be poor everywhere nearby, (3) there are good alternatives within an hours drive, (5) other locations on the same lift pass provide a rich variety of snowsure ski conditions.	Regional rating: 3.8 (1) Chamonix usually has poor snow conditions compared to other resorts in region, (3) has average conditions for the region, (5) usually has the best snow conditions in the region.
  Lift Staff: 3.5 (1) The staff at Chamonix are rude or unhelpful, (5) lift staff at Chamonix are pleasant, cheerful and eager to help.	Crowds/Queues: 2.9 (1) the resort is always busy and there are usually long lift queues, (3) it is quiet apart from occasional weekends and school holidays, (5) it is uncrowded and lift queues are very rare.
  Ski Schools: 4.2 (1) No ski schools available, (2) one or two ski schools but local language only, (3) a few ski schools but book early for multi-lingual instructors, (4) plenty of ski schools and multi-lingual instructors available, (5) excellent ski schools with friendly multi-lingual ski instructors.	Hire and Repairs: 4.8 (1) Nothing can be sourced, not even ski-wax or ptex. (3) there are some ski shops but rentals need to be booked in advance, (5) good quality ski equipment can be purchased or hired and overnight repairs are possible.
  Variety of pistes: 4.5 (1) The ski runs are featureless and unvaried, (3) the ski runs are varied but not extensive enough for a week, (5) Chamonix has diverse and interesting pistes including forests and high alpine terrain.	Beginners: 2.6 (1) Beginners can only watch others ski and snowboard, (3) a few gentle slopes but beginners will get bored in less than a week, (3) Vast areas of gentle terrain.
  Intermediates: 4.1 (1) No intermediate terrain at Chamonix, (3) intermediate skiers will get bored after a few days, (5) vast areas of cruising runs.	Advanced: 4.7 (1) Nothing for advanced skiers and snowboarders, (3) enough steep terrain for a few days with some good offpiste, (5) Enough steep terrain and offpiste areas to entertain advanced skiers for at least a week.
  Snow Park: 2.5 (1) Not even a kicker at Chamonix, (3) average sized park quite well looked after, (5) huge park area and expertly crafted pipes, jumps and boardercross trails.	Off-piste: 5.0 (1) No off-piste worth mentioning, (2) off piste is out-of-bounds, (3) some varied offpiste that stays fresh for one or two days, (5) a vast array of off-piste routes that can stay untracked for several days.
  Cross-country: 3.5 (1) There is nowhere to go for cross-country skiing around Chamonix, (3) there are some cross country trails available, (5) the area features many spectacular and well maintained cross-country trails.	Luge/Toboggan: 2.8 (1) No designated luge or toboggan runs, (3) there are toboggan runs that open quite often, (5) Chamonix has long and well maintained luge / toboggan facilities suitable for all ages.
  Mountain Dining: 3.3 (1) Nowhere to buy food by the pistes, (3) some places to eat up on the mountain but they are often busy and expensive, (5) there is a variety of excellent mountain eateries right next to the slopes to suit all budgets.	Eating: 4.8 (1) Bring your own food, there isn't even a shop. (5) A wide variety of places to eat and drink in the resort, from fast food to fancy restaurants.
  Apres-Ski: 4.6 (1) Nothing to do, not even a bar, (3) there are a few bars in the resort but nothing special, (5) clubs and bars stay open until very late and have a friendly atmosphere.	Other Sports: 4.4 (1) No sports facilities at all apart from ski lifts, (3) resort has just a small public swimming pool, (5) resort has all kinds of sports facilities, including a full-size swimming pool.
  Entertainment: 4.5 (1) Besides the snow and walking there is nothing to do here, (3) the non-skier will find things to do for few days but may become bored after a week, (5) the resort area is a fascinating place to visit, regardless of winter sports.	Winter Walks: 4.3 (1) Very limited walking and no snowshoe trails, (3) a couple of designated scenic walking/snowshoe trails, (5) extensive and diverse winter walking trails for all abilities.
  Ski Pass Value: 3.7 (1) A 1 week ski pass is overpriced compared to the number of lifts available, (3) the ski pass is averagely priced and covers a reasonable number of lifts, (5) ski passes are excellent value for money and cover a lot of lifts spanning a big area.	Value (National): 3.8 (1) Overall, Chamonix is one of the most expensive ski resorts in the country and not worth the money, (3) overall represents average value for money, (5) overall offers the best value resort in the country.
  Value (Global): 3.9 (1) Overall, Chamonix is one of the most expensive ski resorts in the world, (3) overall it offers pretty average value for money compared to resorts from other countries, (5) internationally the resort offers excellent value for money.

  Based on 11 votes. Vote

• April 18, 2011
  David from United Kingdom
  

  My wife (skier) and I (boarder) went for the last (long) weekend in March and had a brilliant time. Chamonix is different from other resorts I have been to in that it is a proper functioning mountain town and access to some of the slopes is via a free local bus. There are slopes close to the centre - Brevent - with access to Flegere, and the Aiguille du Midi but to make use of the other slopes - La Tour, Grand Montets, Les Houches and even Courmayeur, in Italy, you hop onto a free local bus, which we found to be very frequent and no problem at all. We skied / boarded at La Tour, Grand Montets and Courmeyeur during this visit and found the slopes to be excellent and varied and some of the best off-piste I have known. The town itself is beautiful with many period buildings and the Mont Blanc massif setting is quite stunning. There is also lots to do away from the slopes - the cinema shows films with English subtitles and the ice rink was great - we hope to catch an ice hockey match next time we visit. There are lots of bars and restaurants in town and we found the prices to be surprisingly reasonable if you look off the main high street. All in all, we had a great time and feel like there is so much more for us to explore in the valley - we will definitely be back and are planning for a week's visit next year.

• March 08, 2011
  Ian C from United Kingdom
  

  Why go to Chamonix? Only go if the following apply -
  1. You want a diverse, multicultural skiing experience steeped in mountaineering/skiing history and located in fabulously rugged terrain.
  2. You are at least a strong intermediate skier/boarder with a sense of adventure and are willing to get off-piste, even if it's not back-country.
  3. You are willing to make a few compromises in the process - unlinked ski areas, busy buses, average lift system.
  4. You like a good party but the skiing comes first - it's a party town but the majority of skiers/boarders are there for the mountains not the beer.
  5. You are adaptable and can change plans when needed. Most runs are above the trees so when bad weather arrives then local options can be limited. Having a car is a lifesaver as there are many other neighbouring resorts that are more enjoyable when the cloud comes down e.g St Gervais, Courmayeur

  Given the above criteria, this is one truly epic ski resort. If they don't apply to you then I wouldn't bother because you will be frustrated and disappointed.

• March 07, 2011
  Bryan from United Kingdom
  

  We were in Chamonix for a few days - Feb 15-18 2011. Our intention was to ski off-piste and then the Vallee Blanche, however, the snow was so poor it was not worth skiing anywhere in the Chamonix valley. This was mid season and daytime temperatures were 7-8 degrees! - muddy puddles everywhere! We did go to the Grand Montets area and skied the few runs there which were ok considering the lack of snow. But on the advise of the locals we went through the tunnel (47 euros return) each day to ski in Courmayeur. Here there was good snow and some great off-piste areas, although the pisted area is limited.

  I'm sure we were unlucky with the snow conditions, but I certainly won't rush back to Chamonix. Is it a ski resort or a mountain town that has a few ski areas around it? You need a car so you can drive to where the snow's good - not a very convenient ski holiday unless you get snow right to the bottom, which I gather does not happen often. The next week we were in Tignes which was brilliant - far bigger linked pistes and great off-piste.

  I didn't find it especially expensive, nor find anyone unfriendly, but I went there to ski!!.

• March 06, 2011
  Mark from United Kingdom
  

  If I could sum up Chamonix in one word it would be ‘fantastic!’

  I’ve seen a fair number of negative reviews of Chamonix on this site, and my own personal experience is the complete opposite. I found there was lots to see and do even if you weren’t enjoying the slopes, and it made for an unforgettable holiday with long lasting memories!

  There is a lot of freedom once you get up into the slopes and you are free to go off-piste if you choose, or spend time perfecting your skiing/boarding skills on the great runs there are on offer! Chamonix is not directly marketed at beginners, but that being said there are a good deal of blue and green slopes to be found. Le Tour for example would be a good place for beginners to start. I went with two beginner boarders and I myself am an intermediate skier and we found the slopes at the majority of runs we went to easy to traverse, even slopes signed as reds could easily pass for blues so don’t be worried if you read that Chamonix is strictly NOT for beginners!

  A big criticism I’ve seen here about Chamonix is expense. Chamonix is no more expensive than any other ski resort in my experience, and in fact compared to Meribel for example, it is considerably cheaper! It would be entirely possible to blow hundreds of Euros if you went out to restaurants night after night, then off drinking afterwards in the main square and the high street, however, there are many bars and restaurants more towards the Chamonix-sud end of town, and down the streets leading away from the high street/tourist trap areas that are substantially cheaper (we found a place where you could get a pint of lager at more or less the same price you would in the UK!). If you want to save money, you could try making packed lunches and taking them up onto the slopes with you as the restaurants there can be very expensive as you’d imagine. When it comes to accommodation, staying in a place away from the town centre, such as Chamonix-sud, will be cheaper and will still be within walking distance to the centre and other points of interest.

  I think the thing to remember is that ski resorts are generally not cheap holidays, so I think paying a bit more for things than you would normally is justified as you’ll being having such a great time!

  Another criticism I’ve read is the lack of grooming on slopes, the antiquated lift systems, crime and rude locals. Well, it’s true that slopes are generally ungroomed, I myself didn’t have too much of a problem with this but I guess it’s all down to personal preference. There were a few groomed slopes at some of the sites for example, such as a Brevent, but generally they just let Nature get on with it. The lift systems have, within the last year or so, been replaced with modern counterparts, so therefore no issues there anymore. Personally, we didn’t experience any crime but that’s not to say that there isn’t any there, just use common sense such as locking rooms, not walking around with large amounts of money and not leaving your personal belongings unattended, and you’ll be fine. Remember that travel insurance is your friend! Finally, I found all the locals to be friendly and helpful. Having a D grade in GCSE French, I’m not the best French speaker, however, I did have a go at it and I think the locals appreciated me trying. The majority of people you encounter will speak English to a degree, so as long as you’re polite and try your best then they’ll try in kind!

  My only gripe with Chamonix would be that you cannot ski directly into town, you will have to drive (or more commonly) get a bus to and from the piste you want to go to. These can often be crowded and you’ll probably have to stand for the duration of your journey, however, if you get your timings right and go early in the morning (before 9am) and return late afternoon (no later than 4pm) you’ll generally avoid the rush and may even be able to secure yourself a seat! Buses are regular, however, and free to use. You may also encounter a few Essex/Londoner ‘lad‘ types, as they seem fairly common there which came as a surprise to me, so be prepared to witness a number of them, generally drunk and not doing the stereotype of the British lager-lout image any favours!

  So, in summary, be prepared to have a great time, Research the place properly before going to see if it caters for all your needs and go at the off-peak times if you can to get the most for your money - there are loads of deals out there for Chamonix so it’s possible to make huge savings if you just search around online.

• March 05, 2011
  Peter from Canada
  

  Chamonix is for real skiers, not for showing off. As far as having to speak French once in a while... well, what do you expect? Chinese?
  One of the best places I have ever been for expert skiing and scenery. Les Grands Montets is a must.

• March 03, 2011
  David from Brazil
  

  In Chamonix "If you're not French, be prepared to be a second class citizen. Your money is wanted, but you will only be barely tolerated." Sadly totally true.

  I tried my best to speak all the French basic sentences I know to satisfy the French's snob needs to feel appreciated.... and it still doesn't work.

  I've been travelling around Europe during the last years and I never had problem to communicate speaking English before (and as you can see, English is not my native language).

  They never respect arrival order in ski lift lines. Neither supermarket line... anywhere!

  Well... talking about what matters: Mountains... If you don't care about the lack of direction signs, you will have a lot of fun.

  My favourites: Le Brevent and Grand Montes.

• February 14, 2011
  Tibster from United Kingdom
  

  This will be our third season in Chamonix and I can honestly say the more you go there, the more you love it.
  I have seen some of the comments made here and they are not entirely true. Most people do not speak perfect English but they will try to speak your language. I have never had a language problem in Chamonix and once required the Police help to point me out towards the nearest garage to sort out a car problem. They were kind enough to actually drive in front of me.
  Food is fantastic, ski lifts are absolutely great and the slopes are perfectly maintained. I am an experienced skier but my wife and co are not. We have managed to find slopes to fit all of us, ESF (French Ski School) is great. There are lot of things to do in town especially when the local hockey team (Les Chamois) is playing. I recommend this as a great evening out (tickets are only a few Euros).
  Never had car problem or hear of thievery, etc..

  All in all for a French holiday resort you get what you pay for and in Chamonix is definitely worth it. Hotel Alpina in the centre of the town is absolutely fantastic and their restaurant is also very good. A bit pricey but if you don't want to spend that much on food there are the little bistros where food is basic, cheap and excellent.

  We'll be there is three days and can't wait.

• February 03, 2011
  Steve from Germany
  

  Chamonix seems to be full of hoards of British/Irish blokes. Most of the bars appeared to be gay over-30 bars.

• January 28, 2011
  Martin read from United Kingdom
  

  I have my brother living out there (Chamonix) for the past 8 years. What a fantastic place.
  Le Garage is the night spot to hit. 'Shin bre neaf' probably spelt wrongly was hired by my brother for his 40th and what a party place. Great atmosphere and food.
  Chamonix for me every time, in Europe. It's a happening place. Expensive but what isn't when you're on a ski holiday!
  Enjoy.

• January 04, 2011
  valley chimp from United Kingdom
  

  Just got back from a New Year break. Bringing in the New Year in the town square is brilliant that is if you don't mind the occasional flying firework.

  The bus system sucks. Two hours of waiting only to have three turn up at the same time.

  As far as the variety of skiing goes, don't bother if you are a beginner. If you are intermediate it should be ok just go to a different area each day.

  Chamonix comes into itself if you look at a resort and spot the lines that are outside the pisted runs and are willing for a little graft to get to the lines. Don't forget your shovel/probe transceiver though.

  It is France so please learn to speak French, or at least try your best. it will be appreciated by the locals.

  One last thing. Keep your kids out of MacDonalds. It has no place being in Chamonix.

• June 05, 2010
  James from United Kingdom
  

  I've done three seasons in Cham (Chamonix) and have snowboarded all over Europe and Canada. In my time in Chamonix, I've seen the best and worst it has to offer.

  Here's the deal.

  When it goes well, Chamonix can be a great place. The mountains are huge, and steep, varied and beautiful. You're free to roam and stomp in ways most European resorts can't offer. That's providing you are a very good standard skier or boarder who likes hardcore alpine stuff and are prepared to put up with pretty rubbish ski buses, long queues and London rush hour standard travel (the town is in a valley and you can't walk to any of the pistes).

  When it goes badly, which it can very easily, it is a very bad place to be.

  Firstly - and people don't talk about this - there's a lot of theft in the town and on the mountain. I've seen a lot of people lose their boards and skis and, worse, luggage. Holiday accommodation is targeted by thieves and some unlucky people have even had their luggage stolen within minutes of arriving.

  It gets worse because the police do not speak English. The attitude is: you're in France, so speak our language.

  This also goes for if you've been the victim of a violent crime. Be prepared to pay for an interpreter, who you will have to find and pay for yourself.

  If you drive an English car, don't be surprised if it gets vandalised or broken into.

  If you're not French, be prepared to be a second class citizen. Your money is wanted, but you will only be barely tolerated.

  Put simply, Chamonix has always had a rough reputation (justifiably) and is a proper town. So don't expect a pure cute alpine village designed to cater exclusively for foreign holidaymakers.

  And just hope you don't get unlucky.

• March 22, 2010
  Dan from United Kingdom
  

  Having spent two seasons plus in Chamonix and visited many, many other top class resorts throughout Europe all I would say is, Chamonix is amazing, special and unique but you will only get the best out of it if you are there for a month or more.
  If you're planning on a one week holiday and don't know Chamonix well, then I wouldn't even consider Chamonix.
  As I said the place is amazing, but I think you'll have a far better time going to another resort, i.e, Tignes/ Val d' Isere, Serre Chevelier, the Three Valleys, etc etc.

• March 21, 2010
  Dave from United Kingdom
  

  We have skied all over Europe and graduated to Chamonix 10 years ago, but still visit other resorts. The main problem is that too many people will decide it has the best skiing in Europe and is a real town, so thank goodness for others. The more the better as far as we are concerned.

• March 01, 2010
  Dan Johnson from United Kingdom
  

  It's great that folk are leaving negative reviews about Cham (Chamonix) - leaves more space on the mountain for those of us that appreciate what a special place the Chamonix Valley is. For those who don't the answer is simple - don't come back!

• February 14, 2010
  dgz from United Kingdom
  

  Having spent a season here at Chamonix, I think:

  The valley ski pass is about EUR 260 for 6 days: given the price, you would expect something pretty amazing. Well, the lifts are mainly old and slow. The pistes are pretty limited in their scope. The valley ski bus is ok, but not amazing. You have to remember that Chamonix pistes are all on the same aspect - no multi valley skiing here.

  Bottom line. Don't waste your money coming to Chamonix if you are a beginner, intermediate or advanced piste skier. There are far better resorts for your requirements out there.

  However, if you are an experienced off-piste skier with ski mountaineering experience, then this place is amazing! A good guide is recommended for a couple of days to really get the most out of a week here. The lines are stunning.

  I would like to point out that even if you like off-piste, unless you don't mind exposed routes/ski touring, all the easy access off-piste is tracked out within a day or two in Chamonix. You are far better going to the quieter Portes du Soleil resorts for off-piste that is easy to access and is not trashed.

  Some people comment that the weather is poor. Possibly true, but it is at the bottom of the Mont Blanc Massif!!! What do you expect? Of course, it will probably have worse weather.

• January 20, 2010
  oliver from Ireland
  

  I have been to Chamonix 4 times and I love it. The off-piste in Grand Montet is excellent. Loads of powder bowls to ski in and out of very near the piste. Brevent also has some good runs. The views from everywhere are spectacular. The buses are awkward (just get early and you'll be fine). The nightlife is ok but has anybody else noticed it's mostly blokes who go skiing.

• January 12, 2010
  J from Ireland
  

  Been to Chamonix a few times & heading again this year. Some great skiing/boarding available but not suitable for rookies, kids, or anyone not willing to tackle some steep, tough slopes. Make sure you stay in Cham itself in order to have any sort of night life and car hire is a must (or else face needless queues for buses, gondolas etc). Also Vallee Blanche is well worth doing. Do hire a guide - it's pricey but will keep you from falling off the Arete or into a Crevasse on the way down, so money well spent in my book. Grand Montets is also good, especially when there's plenty of powder.

• January 05, 2010
  Martin from United Kingdom
  

  Put simply, Chamonix is not great for:

  * Novices, families with small children etc. There are plenty of places to ski, but there are better resorts for this, which are more convenient and better set up.
  * "Beautiful people" apres-ski. Apres-ski is great in Cham, just a bit more grungey. It is a top resort, but does not have the same "scene" as say Verbier or St Anton.
  * Endless blue and red groomed pistes - go elsewhere for this, say 3 Vallees or La Plagne.
  * Endless linked pistes - you need a car or be prepared to put up with the buses. It is 8 miles from Cham up to La Tour and 5 to Grands Montets.

  So if you want a trip with lots of cruising around and ski-in ski-out, Chamonix is not the place for you. Certainly I took two kids under 5 once, and it was a poor choice.

  BUT BUT BUT... Chamonix is unique. It has the biggest vertical drops, a huge variety of difficult, challenging runs, fantastic off-piste, unique views. La Vallee Blanche - 13 miles down a glacier and the highest vertical of any run in the world. Les Grands Montets is a skiing Mecca. Some of those runs from the top lift are simply incomparable - leg burning, lung bursting drops of 1500m in 4.5km of trail.

  For decent skiers who fancy a challenge, Chamonix is fantastic. It also has the Midnight Express late night snack bar, with the Super Double Midnight Burger - unique, amazing, challenging, incomparable. Sums up Chamonix really.

• December 22, 2009
  dusan from United States
  

  "if you want to ski then go elsewhere. No ski areas are linked and you spend most of the day doing the same runs. " Tim, UK.

  If you want to ski "groomers" go elsewhere. Chamonix is by far THE BEST free-ski resort in the world. Nothing could compare to it aside from heliski in Alaska. Even Whistler B.C. doesn't compare to it. In the same day you could ski a Rectiligne or Poubelle or Pas de Chevre to a Cosmic and a Rond. That's 7000 vertical meters of insane untracked terrain. All lift accessible . No other resort can give that. That's without counting the Brevant ensa and all the couloirs next to it. + all the short hikes you can do to even more insane lines an infinity of them. The 3 valley is great for piste skiing and posing. VERY VERY flat otherwise. Chamonix IS the free-ski capital of the world....

• November 06, 2009
  tim from United Kingdom
  

  Went to Chamonix this year and if you're looking for great nights out and plenty of places to eat than you will love it.
  If you want to ski then go elsewhere. No ski areas are linked and you spend most of the day doing the same runs.
  People say the off-piste at Chamonix is "the best ever" but I do not agree. Try the 3 valleys.
  So, a round up: go if you like food, dont go if you like skiing, or unless you like doing the same run time after time.

• November 05, 2009
  JK from United Kingdom
  

  Chamonix has the best off-piste in Europe and the town has got real character with the best views around up in the mountains. Only downside is the resort link up.
  If you are just interested in groomers or posing then you should look elsewhere. When there is lots of snow it's unbelievable.

• March 07, 2009
  Clare from United Kingdom
  

  I went to Chamonix for the skiing and wasn't disappointed.
  Fabulous pistes - unsurpassed views - breathtaking glaciers.
  We had fresh snow and blues skies.
  Getting between areas needs planning - but I went to Chamonix in the half-term week and although it was busy I had no problems with queues.
  Lifts are dated but they still get you up the mountain.
  I have been skiing for 30 years and can easily say one of my best weeks skiing.
  Not really a beginners resort, but Chamonix has plenty for improvers and the more daring skiier.

• March 06, 2009
  SAN from South Africa
  

  The real issue here at Chamonix is the same as in the Med:too many lager louts misbehaving, drinking, urinating and vomiting. The town is fun otherwise; friendly restaurants and not too pricey.
  Slopes are pretty but the area is small. Would recommend Megeve as it is not busy.

• February 02, 2009
  dawn white from United Kingdom
  

  Chamonix does not have such bad weather, crap buses and expensive restaurants.
  With regard to the snow quality, I could go on. Can anyone can tell me about a ski resort that has blue-bird powder days, a lift system which has no one on it and I can get a beer and a burger for under a fiver? It just doesn't happen.

  The ski areas at Chamonix are not linked and this was a bit of a shock, so do be prepared to spend a little time travelling and, to be fair, it isn't bad at all. The buses run all the time and if you do have a car you can park in a huge car park next to the base lifts in all ski areas.

  All the ski areas have some great wide runs with breathtaking scenery. I was lucky enough to have nearly a meter of fresh snow, so the off-piste was amazing and the pistes where simple perfect. One day we were limited to only 3 or 4 runs because of the heavy snow fall but were making fresh tracks over and over again; I didn't care one bit.

  Pros and cons:
  -need a car or be ready to use public transport
  -buses run all the time, wasn't busy at all when I went but that was January
  -loads of restaurants to suit all prices and cuisine
  -if you're a good skier/boarder and want different runs day in and day out go to the 3 valleys, unless you don't mind jumping to another ski area. This can be a bit of a pain though
  -if you want chilled relaxing days, lovely wide runs and some breathtaking scenery Chamonix is the place.
  -off-piste is amazing (depending on snow of course)
  -if you have none skiers in your party, Chamonix town is ideal.

• January 28, 2009
  AP from Australia
  

  I can thoroughly recommend Chamonix to anyone who is contemplating a visit. I have been skiing for 30 odd years and this was my first trip to Cham (Chamonix) and loved it.
  If anyone goes and needs a good/excellent guide to ski the Vallee Blanche or anywhere else for that matter make sure you do yourself a favour and hook up with Kenton Cool, AKA Coolman, from Dream Guides based in Chamonix. He is passionate about climbing and the mountains, and his positive attitude to his job as a guide is infectious. He certainly knows the mountains; then again I suppose you would after climbing Everest 6 times. Get on board with him; you'll love it.
  Make sure you head to the the Neuf...Chambre Neuf for a good apres session at Chamonix. It is located opposite the bus station.
  Happy Crankin...AP

• January 19, 2009
  Sandra from United Kingdom
  

  Just returned from a week's skiing in Chamonix on 17th Jan. There has not been any fresh snow since before Christmas, but the skiing was fantastic & the pistes appeared in superb condition. They were expecting a "large dump of snow in the next few days", which I believe will only be of benefit to those lower slopes.
  
  2 things of note:
  Skiing in January is highly recommended - not only does it help to get over those post Christmas, winter blues but one does benefit from the empty slopes. On questioning the lift attendant about "tres tranquil" the reply was simply, "mais oui, le deuxieme semaine de janvier" - so the 2nd week of January can be highly recommended.

  The very poor exchange rate with the euro & the GBP is a problem. It was most certainly noticeable this year compared to last year. The prices are £6 per bottle of beer, £5-6 for a glass of house wine (bear in mind they are very small servings), so I would recommend the bottle of wine at a minimum of £20, because this invariably means you get far better value for money.
  In our hotel, the price for a J&B rare was £9.

  The food prices in the mountain restaurants vary according to where you are skiing - approx £8-£10 for tea/coffee with a baguette. I would recommend purchasing your sandwich from one of the numerous cafe/snack bars in the town centre prior to venturing up the mountains.

  Despite this, bite the bullet & go for it.

  We did and had the most fantastic holiday & will be returning there in the near future.

• January 01, 2009
  Wellster from United Kingdom
  

  December 18th 2008
  I have recently returned from a trip to Chamonix with a small group of intermediate skiers and felt moved to provide a report of our experiences.

  This was our third trip to Chamonix together in the week leading up to Christmas and it was, by a 'long way' the best ever. The conditions this year could only be described as awesome. However, I should point out that if you are a visitor from the UK, skiing in Chamonix just now (or any resort in Europe for that matter) is a double-edged sword.

  First - the resort.

  Le Compagnie du Mont Blanc has started to invest heavily in the resort and we benefited from the new gondolas and chairs in La Flegere, Brevent and Les Grandes Montets. They really have made a difference and it was good to see the pistes in excellent condition and well marked. We're not yet up to the off-piste Chamonix experience, but given the early season conditions, I'm sure there was plenty of fun to be had by all.

  However, we did find enormous disparity between the resorts regarding the costs of food, drink etc and information. Prices at Les Houches (no longer part of the Mont Blanc ski pass) were off the scale although Gnd Montets was perfectly acceptable.

  We decided to visit Courmayeur via the Mont Blanc tunnel as we were encouraged to do so, but found that our ski passes were not acceptable at the tunnel toll to get the (significant) discount for the journey. We also encountered an unexpected delay of 45 mins going through the tunnel due to 'maintenance'. Also, once at Courmayeur we had to upgrade our passes at the ticket office to gain access to the pistes that took a further 40 minutes. This all seemed inappropriate as the whole point (surely?) of getting the full Mont Blanc pass would be to provide unhindered access the pistes. One of our party had bought his Mont Blanc Unlimited ski pass online before our trip but found that it wasn’t valid at Courmayeur without the receipt! All very painful.

  The big thing we all must deal with just now is the GBP - EURO exchange rate. The prices in Chamonix were so much higher than any of us had anticipated or experienced before that we were left with a limit on our enjoyment simply because we could neither afford, or justify the horrific prices for food and drink when out and about in the evenings. Try going out for a night and shelling out £6.00 for a pint (£10.00 in 1 venue) £8.00 for a shot, £8.00 for a starter and see how long your money lasts?

  So, in summary - Chamonix remains, as always, a very special resort with truly breathtaking scenery, awe inspiring descents and a varied skiing experience. Just expect, for this season at least, to have to pay for it.

• December 21, 2008
  Anton from South Africa
  

  I visited Chamonix for an early season break and was fortunate to benefit from the best early season snow falls for several decades. As a strong intermediate to advanced skier I found it to be a challenging and enjoyable resort. Not being a very accomplished off-piste skier (and having brought my 63mm slalom skis with me) I was not really able to take full advantage of the off-piste opportunities, but I could appreciate that they were impressive. The pistes themselves were good and pretty well groomed considering the amount of snow, but not the best I have ever seen. Grading of the pistes was definitely understated, and many of the blue slopes would pass for reds elsewhere. Also I must say that the pistes were not particularly well marked or signposted and it was not difficult to find yourself skiing down the wrong piste, or even skiing off it in low vis. Scenery was fantastic (that is, when the clouds weren't obscuring it) and I liked the town.

  Although not cheap (especially when paying in Rand) I didn't find it much more expensive than comparable resorts in Switzerland or even Austria. I have to agree that many of the lifts are due for upgrading, but am happy to say that there are encouraging signs. The new 3000 person/hour gondola from Chamonix to Brevent opened on my last day and should make a big difference for access to this mountain. A lot of the so-called "high-speed" chairlifts were, however, unfortunately anything but.

  My biggest gripe, however, is the disjointed nature of the resort and the time taken to get to the slopes using public transport. Long walks, long waits and packed buses seem to be the order of the day (especially painful if you are breaking in new boots).

  My summary - if you are in to wild and challenging off-piste skiing, thrive on adrenaline and are prepared to suffer some inconvenience to get it, or if you have your own transport, this is the resort for you. If you are looking for mainly on-piste skiing with easy access, convenience and nice wide open pistes, there are better resorts out there.

  Thumbs up to the guys at Fall-line for their excellent service in customising my new boots (highly recommended) and the girls at Hotel Cretes Blanche for looking after me.

• December 03, 2008
  Joni Mac from United Kingdom
  

  Re: Orshi comments.
  "Your boyfriend swapped his snowboard and went up the Aiguille du Midi - after a death walk he got separated from his friends, nearly fell down a crevasse and slept in a ice cave on the Mer de Glace".
  Sounds like:
  1. He didn't bother to get a guide - being one of the highest off-piste glacial runs in the world with massive crevasses that are covered by snow - getting a guide is pretty much a must.
  2. He got separated from his friends - off-piste you never leave your friends. It's rule no. 1. Always plan where you are going to ski and where you are going to meet. Always carry a transponder (and know how to use it) especially if you are somewhere like the Aiguille du Midi. This is basic off-piste stuff.
  3. Didn't he take a mobile phone with him or radio, may of been an idea... there's loads of other stuff to mention. However, all I wanted to say is, the rest of Chamonix, Le Tour, Brevant, Flegere, Grand Montet is like any other resort and safe for families and groups to ski/board and have a brilliant time.
  If you are going up the Aiguille Du Midi, do yourself a favour and get and guide and make sure your level is good enough to do it. The scenery up there is amazing and breathtaking plus it's a brilliant run to do if you go with a guide and are experienced enough. Just use some common sense...