Anyone been to Chamonix?

Hi there,

I'm just looking for some feedback on Chamonix? We're looking at going mid March. I've never been but I understand it's not ski in ski out?

As most of Europe has variable snow at the mo we'll book as late as we can but just wanted to ask what's it like as a resort?

Good Skiing? Whats the Apres like? Is mid March a french half term? :)

Cheers for any info you can give me!

T1b

http://about-france.com/school-holidays.htm

No kids on holidays then, one of the reasons I am going 7/8th March.
Cham has come up on my search too, read what WTSS says about the place. Some great skiing, superb if you are an advanced skier, but quite disjointed and requires a car or using lots of buses which has always put me off for a holiday week.

Hi T1b

I've been to Chamonix and being honest I'm not it's biggest fan. The skiing is great but not for novices, and the town centre is lovely. My issue is with the different areas being bus rides apart, and very little if any ski in-out. It is a nice place, but so many other places offer better access and linked skiing, I would always look elsewhere. It's only my opinion of course, so good luck in your choice.

I have heard that about it to be fair. The Mrs has skied there before and reckons there's good skiing but you have to work for it.

Most of the skiing I've done is ski in and ski out, so I've been a bit spoiled.

think I'm now in my 7th(!) season and a pretty able skier (have done off piste, a bit of tree skiing and comfy on black runs) so I should be okay pretty much anywhere (I might not get down as quick as some but I can get down and in control).

I think the Mrs is keen as it's the only er chichi resort I haven't done :)

Cheers for the info though :)

sounds like good skiing but not the last word in convenience

I'm pretty much in the same boat as you, this is my 8th year. We've just come back from Lech and the skiing is fantastic.....challenges are plentiful, trees, cruisers, you name it. We had ski in ski out too and having been there for 2 years can recommend it heartily, and a great alternative to the big Frenchies.

Saying that, it's back to the 3 valleys and then Morzine for me next year!!!

We just came back from St Anton :) but it's our go to European resort as we just hop on the train from Zurich :)

Has to be said a 70 minute transfer from Geneva takes a lot of the pain out if it.

A great place, and I loved run R1, what a great place to fly down!

Then comes the Kangharu.........

Can someone explain to me the benefit of a linked resort. There is some logic that the M25 is linked to the M62 but cannot see why you would ever need more than 40km of piste linked for a day (or do you stay in a different hotel each night/go camping?). Chamonix valley offers far more variety in altitude, aspect, terrain etc than any resort alone can offer. For those with a sole aim in life is just to clock up KM's we also have the record for highest vertical skied in a day. Plenty of resort with 200+km of skiing, only one with <9000ft of skiing (appreciate some people may prefer a lot of lift time).

As for beginners Les Houches and Balme both enable first week skiers to get a mountain experience and also have terrain which would allow for a mixed group of any level to enjoy.

Basically a valley for everyone and also offers arguably best year round mountain town in world, short transfer, long season. Of course if convenience is measured by long transfer times, plenty of path skiing and you like to pay a premium for some hellish run to the bottom (in the name of ski in ski out) then is probably not the place for you. Yes every morning I look at weather and make a judgement on where best skiing is, walk 50m, jump on a bus (every 10min) or a train but hardly an inconvenience (ski schools and guides will collect you in town).

The clearest endorsement of convenience is that have never felt need to rent a car in Winter. Yes in Summer is nice to be able to access lake and beach but in winter reward is more than enough to compensate for 10 min commute.