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Argentiere Resort Reviews


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Visitor reviews for Argentiere Ski Resort

Argentiere Ratings

Overall: 3.9. Based on 13 votes and 16 reviews. Vote

Snowsure: 4.8

(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) Argentiere is snowsure even in the poorest seasons.

Variety of pistes: 4.6

(1) The ski runs are featureless and unvaried, (3) the ski runs are varied but not extensive enough for a week, (5) Argentiere has diverse and interesting pistes including forests and high alpine terrain.

Off-piste: 4.8

(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.

Scenery: 4.9

(1) An ugly resort in a bland setting, (3) average mountain views and resort, (5) a spectacular setting and a beautiful / historic resort town.

Access: 4.8

(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 Argentiere.

Public Transport: 4.6

(1) There are no buses or taxis to Argentiere, (3) there are slow or infrequent buses / trains available, (5) getting to the resort is easy with frequent bus / train connections.

Accommodation: 4.2

(1) No places to stay in/near Argentiere, (3) a few places to stay in the resort, (5) a wide variety of accommodation suitable to suit all budgets.

Cheap Rooms: 3.9

(1) No budget accommodation available, (3) just one or two hostels so book ahead, (5) several cheap hostels and pensions available.

Luxury Hotels: 2.5

(1) No luxury accommodation available, (3) just one or two luxury hotels so book ahead, (5) several up-market hotels in Argentiere.

Ski in/Ski out: 3.9

(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: 3.6

(1) There are no child care facilities at Argentiere, (5) the resort has excellent child-care facilities including at least one reasonably priced creche.

Snowmaking: 3.2

(1) Argentiere relies entirely on natural snow, (3) there are just a few snow cannons, (5) there are snowmaking facilities on all pistes.

Snow Grooming: 4.1

(1) There are no snow groomers at Argentiere, (3) occasionally some pistes are left ungroomed and in a poor state, (5) all the runs at Argentiere are groomed daily.

Shelter: 3.4

(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) Argentiere is mostly in forest where you can ski in flat-light and windy days, lifts rarely close.

Nearby options: 4.5

(1) If snow conditions are poor at Argentiere, 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: 4.7

(1) Argentiere 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: 3.8

(1) The staff at Argentiere are rude or unhelpful, (5) lift staff at Argentiere are pleasant, cheerful and eager to help.

Crowds/Queues: 3.5

(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: 4.0

(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: 4.7

(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.

Beginners: 2.8

(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: 3.5

(1) No intermediate terrain at Argentiere, (3) intermediate skiers will get bored after a few days, (5) vast areas of cruising runs.

Advanced: 5.0

(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: 3.7

(1) Not even a kicker at Argentiere, (3) average sized park quite well looked after, (5) huge park area and expertly crafted pipes, jumps and boardercross trails.

Cross-country: 4.1

(1) There is nowhere to go for cross-country skiing around Argentiere, (3) there are some cross country trails available, (5) the area features many spectacular and well maintained cross-country trails.

Luge/Toboggan: 2.1

(1) No designated luge or toboggan runs, (3) there are toboggan runs that open quite often, (5) Argentiere has long and well maintained luge / toboggan facilities suitable for all ages.

Mountain Dining: 3.7

(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: 3.8

(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: 3.6

(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: 2.7

(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: 3.6

(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: 4.2

(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: 3.3

(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): 3.7

(1) Overall, Argentiere 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): 3.7

(1) Overall, Argentiere 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.

Show all 35 ratings

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December 24, 2019
Tony Graham from Ski United Kingdom United Kingdom
The headline message is well out of date. The Bouchard gondola is open (2019/2020), and the brand new Flegere gondola lift down the valley is now open which will be great. The Grand Montets cable car is still out of use; however, future plans for a rebuild are being held up temporarily by local planning issues. But enjoy the skinning in the meantime!! Vast slopes available......
April 02, 2019
Rob from Ski United Kingdom United Kingdom
Very sad to say one of my favorite places to ski has become a bit of a joke. At the moment the lift to the top of Grand Montets is shut for at least 2 years but probably 3, Bochard lift is shut now for the second week running and the information flow to skiers is awful. A great shame that a wonderful area is being ruined by real mismanagement.
January 27, 2017
Tony Graham from Ski United Kingdom United Kingdom
The lifts out of the valley have now been improved with a new telecabine to supplement the cable car. The old clapped out chairlift has been removed. So much better. If you love off-piste in dramatic scenery then Argentiere is superb. But beware, you are in true moutainous glaciated terrain.
October 05, 2016
Jamie from Ski United States United States
I went again last season in March and I have to say the place is completely ruined. Last winter got so hyped on the stupid internet because of deep snowpack we couldn't hardly get on the bus let alone quick lift access. Plus people, mostly tourists, were very full of themselves, having only proved any idiot can get to Chamonix. Before you scoff, let me say this was my 30+ trip to Cham where I have many friends who agree. I will be going elsewhere.
February 08, 2016
Lew from Ski United Kingdom United Kingdom
A very good ski area but really it's just too busy and expensive. Crowds are insane and if the weather isn't perfect many or all of the lifts can close for all or most of the day. Many of the runs are challenging and fun and some of the blacks can really hone your skills. However, the queuing for the cable car to the 3275 meter summit and skiing down from the 3175 top of the run is hugely irritating as you really need to pre-book a cable car number or queue for ages. It's one of the best mountain areas to ski in Europe with about 2000 meters vertical drop but it's ruined by crowds and high prices. There are plenty of other glaciers over 3000 meters in other less well known places all over the Alps with nearly as good skiing but none of the downsides.
January 01, 2015
Alpswanderer from Ski Switzerland Switzerland
Submitting this review because another reviewers submission looks dodgy to me: trying to send folks away to keep the gem for you? All right, it can be crowded and the wait for the telepherique can be long (opt for the chair to Lognan) but for good skiers this is a heavenly playground, especially the ungroomed piste from the top of Les Gramds Montets when weather allows. And up there it''s "la haute Montagne"; awesome and the piste offers a grand view of the Glacier d'Argentiere in all its splendour. It can be challenging especially below the pass, depending on conditions, so advisable only to expert skiers. Others can just come for the views; still memorable.
December 26, 2013
Jamie from Ski United States United States
Yes, they don't have the best lift system but you can kill yourself with little trouble!
March 22, 2013
Dodgy from Ski France France
Stay away. It's getting far too crowded, everyone skis off-piste so the powder only lasts a couple hours, the lift system from the valley is a joke, a 4 man chair that they only allow 2 by 2 when its snowing i.e. powder days, when its busy. Poor information on opening, the web site isn't updated and is often wrong. The terrain is fantastic but if you want to ski untracked powder go to a family resort where they aren't as likely to ski it. I just spent a couple of weeks in another resort ( no, I won't give the name ) and skied untracked powder every day with no rush to get to it.
February 18, 2013
Bodie from Ski United Kingdom United Kingdom
Love the skiing, love the mountain, love the village. Has its critics but where else can you get off-piste like this. If you haven't tried it and powder is your thing, then you must. Chances are you will keep coming back for more. Not a lot of choice when it comes to accommodation but gite le Belvedere is worth a look see if you are on a budget.
January 18, 2012
Hectic19 from Ski United Kingdom United Kingdom
Been skiing here since buying a place at the bottom of the Grand Montets lift some 20 years ago. The mountain, there is only one, used to be a head case paradise with pretty much only expert skiers in residence. However recently, more intermediate skiers have been catered for by changes in the piste which has sort of tamed the beast. Off-piste it is still a joy to ski although with more less able skiers around, avoiding turkeys on the steeps can be a problem. Bars, well, the best bar there currently would be the Rusticana (lerusticana.com) owned and run by Sven (founder of the original Office Bar which was once holed up in the hairdressers opposite prior to expansion and relocation to its current position across the road). Tell him the Doc sent you and he might just buy you a drink!! Other than that, remember to rap up warm because early season can be cold on a north facing slope as it gets very little sun which keeps the snow great but the tootsies can feel the pain. Enjoy the place but keep it to yourself.

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