 Poster: A snowHead
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Can someone tell me little about this small ski area and how/if it is linked to Chamonix itself?
Should I realy be looking at staying in Chamonix rather then Les Houches?
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Mon 10-09-07 10:55; edited 1 time in total
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Just down the valley. Often the only place open in a big storm. Limited night life compared to the town proper. Buses run there. On the same pass now I think -didn't use to be part of CMB.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Renry, I like Les Houches. It's quieter as fatbob, says but there are a few nice bars and at least one very good restaurant (I hear). The skiing isn't huge but it has better on-slope dining than the rest of the valley.
But if you're going to be in Chamonix I'd submit that you want to be more central - i.e. Les Houches to Le Tour is a bit of a hike...
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Les Houches (in my experience) is pretty dead at night too, so depends what you're after.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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It was part of the area pass, then it wasn't...has it joined up again..??
It is only linked by bus from Chamonix and you can get to from St Gervais via the tram which is 20 mins down the hill by car.
Although Le Houches is a nice little departure for the day and may have hidden gems, I'd say you'd need a car to lodge there.
The whole valley is about getting up and down the hamlets and although the bus is good from Argentierre to Chamonix, it would be a bit of a pain to do Argentierre to Le Houches more than a few times.
I'd stay in Chamonix and most people ski the GM mostly the first few trips anyway.
But there are enough locals to inform you
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Renry, Les Houches is no longer included in the 'standard' chamonix pass - you either pay for just the Les Houches lift access or buy the super duper 'Unlimited' skipass for the entire Chamonix valley - not cheap but it does include the rather impressive Aiguille du Midi.
To be honest I cant think of many reasons why staying in Les houches would be beneficial over staying in Chamonix. Even if you were looking to take the 'secluded' and relaxed approach there are better places to chose in the valley than Les Houches. If you could give us an idea of what sort of holiday it is you are after, perhaps myslef and a few more of the locals/regulars could offer more guidance/useless personal opinions......
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we are just looking for a reasonably priced sef cater chalet for 5/6 people with skiing on the door step.
we are only their for 4 days skiing so dont want to waste time with to many busses.
night life not that inportant as only out for 4 days hard skiing
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| NAKEDZOOKEEPER wrote: |
| RenryTo be honest I cant think of many reasons why staying in Les houches would be beneficial over staying in Chamonix. |
I can think of one: €€€€€€€€€
I've booked a hotel in Les Houches over New Years. It cost far less than anything comparable in Chamonix. I figure I can take that extra money I've saved and get a taxi if I really need one to get into/out of Cham at night.
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How long does it take by the ski bus from Les Houches to the centre of Chamonix and the main lifts?
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A taxi into chamonix from les houches or vice versa will eat up a lot of that difference, though. They're hideously expensive.
We stayed there one year when we left it till dec 22nd to book for Christmas (!!) and couldn't get anywhere else. We couldn't get a car either - the rental agencies just laughed when we called them!
We did have a great time, and it was a lot less bother than I thought, but there were just two of us to organise, and with snowboard boots you can walk a lot more so we got the train most days.
Takes about 20 mins to Chamonix as I remember, but the buses are not great from Les Houches. They were often late, and sometimes didn't show - much less frequent than the rest of the valley buses. We got into the habit of going by train - faster, punctual, comfy - but the train station is a bit of a walk and I wouldn't fancy it in ski boots.
The mountain restaurants are really good though. The Luge is my favourite, does great polenta.
With 4 or 5 days and no car, it wouldn't be my choice I must say.
Especially since you say you want days of "hard skiing" which it isn't really.
I think it's great for families, less so for a group of friends. If you are less bothered about nightlife and want to be near the slopes, I'd go for Argentiere or Les Praz. Or near the Brevent lift, like David's place?
Last edited by Ski the Net with snowHeads  on Wed 22-08-07 11:14; edited 1 time in total
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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We got a double room right next to a bus stop (St. Antoine) for €165 for three nights over New Years. I couldn't find anything comparable in Cham proper within €50 of that. We're not party animals and the only night we're likely to go out is New Year's Eve, and even then maybe not (I'd rather hit the empty slopes early on Jan 1), so for us at least it seemed to make sense.
FYI: http://world.chamonix.com/PDF/chambus.pdf
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Thanks for the timetableami in berlin,
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ami in berlin, we spent NYE in Les Houches on the same trip and had a great night (I mean, if you wanted a massive party, you could have stayed in Berlin! ) I'm a big fan of the New Years Day empty slopes too.
Do watch out though because every restaurant in Les Houches will be booked up with huge six course NYE dinner meals. Literally everywhere, including the hotels. And nothing really happens till after these dinners finish. We couldn't even find an open bar. So you really need to book somewhere if you stay there for NYE. If you decide to go into Chamonix, a taxi back to Les Houches on that night can cost you 50 euros (if you can even get one)
We'd planned to meet friends for a low key drink in a bar in Les Houches but it proved totally impossible due to the dinners. It was only thanks to the very kind efforts of our fully booked hotel (The Auberge Beau Site) to magic us up a last minute table in their packed dining room (I have a feeling the decorations were removed to fit us in) that we didn't just go hungry!
There are some great little bars there and we had a top night, but you do need to do some prior organising for food - hope this helps!
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You know it makes sense.
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Renry, The other thing I just thought of is - if there are a few of you, spend the money that you'd save by being in Les Houches on a hire car. For 5/6 people, the amount you'd save on transfers would almost pay for the car anyway. Then you won't have any problems getting around at all
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Thanks for the tip, firebug. I'll be sure to book a table well in advance. Any restaurant reccomendations?
And yes, if I wanted a wild night, I'd stay at home. I go on ski holiday to ski. Last year we spent NYE alone in our holiday flat in Grainau (next to Garmisch-Parkenkirchen), and I didn't feel like I had missed a thing.
Now here is a random question: is there a path that one could easily cross country ski between Les Houches and Cham? I don't necessarily mean one that is groomed and has tracks layed; even just a footpath that doesn't get plowed would do. Headlamp + skinny skis = no need for motorized transport!
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Poster: A snowHead
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ha - that would be the way to do it alright! I have no idea if it's possible though
I've had lovely meals in the Delice in Les Houches (british run and lighter food than the usual cheese-fest), and our food at the Beau Site was excellent as well. I'm sure others will know more though.
What would be really special would be to eat in one of the mountain restaurants for NYE and then ski/snowshoe back down, but I don't know if they offer this. Some of them do open occasionally in the evenings, I've heard, so it might be worth looking into.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Which company should we hire the car from
needed to collect and return from Geneva airport
big enough for 5 plus luggage and skis
Will we require snow chains as they seem to charge extra for them?
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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I usually go for holidayauto, though I've seen sixt recommended recently. Get it from the Swiss side, it will come with snow chains then.
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What is parking like in Chamonix and Argentire?
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Renry,
There are car parks at the lift departure points, for accommodation it is probaably better to find out when making enquiries, we parked in a paying car park for the hotel we were staying in but divided four ways the costs were not high.
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| Renry wrote: |
we are just looking for a reasonably priced sef cater chalet for 5/6 people with skiing on the door step.
we are only their for 4 days skiing so dont want to waste time with to many busses.
night life not that inportant as only out for 4 days hard skiing |
If you want on the door step skiing the last place I'd look would be Chamonix.
Love the skiing there, hate buses and/or trying to park a rental car in the centre where you have decided to ski for the day!
regards,
Greg
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I think with self catering Les Houches is about right for a few days and for good value for money. There is at least one decent size supermarket in Les Houches.
Been in Chamonix Valley for a number of years as I ran a static caravan there for 8 years. The biggest town is Sallanches at the bottom of the Valley. It is 17 miles to Chamonix and Les Houches is about 6 miles from Chamonix.
You will find the best view of the Chamonix Valley can be seen from Les Housches. Brevent./La Flegere sees mainly the middle, Grands Montets opens to the rear while Le Tour looks from the rear toward the front.
Skiing is good too in Les Houches. Brevent/La Fegere and Grands Montets are on very steep hills and even the red slopes are way above the average. Les Houches at least has some wide and tree lined areas. It isn't very big but none of the resorts in Chamonix Valley is big by any standard.
If one has car and stays longer it is sensible to stay in Les Houches (paying less for accommodation than in Chamonix) or Sallanches because within 100 miles one has the following options
From Country Miles
Chamonix France 0
Courmayeur Italy 13
Sallanche France 16
Megeve France 20
La Thullie Italy 23
Martigny Switzerland 26
La Clusaz France 37
Verbier Switzerland 37
Flaine France 38
Abertville France 40
Morzine France 42
Avoriaz France 48
Villars Switzerland 51
Valmorel France 60
Cran Montana Switzerland 61
Meribel France 66
Cervina Italy 68
Courchevel France 70
Les Arcs France 70
Les Menuires France 72
Gstaad Switzerland 72
La plagne France 76
Val Thorens France 80
La Rosiere France 82
Adelboden Switzerland 82
Val Dlsere France 92
Tignes France 93
Zermatt Switzerland 93
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Renry - this link will give you 15% off Holiday Autos prices.
Given your criteria, have you considered Megeve? Similar altitude to Les Houches (someone please correct me if I'm wrong on that) and probably more accommodation available...
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But still not "skiing on the doorstep". To have doorstep skiing you'd need to be higher than either Les Houches or Megeve, and not in the bottom of the Chamonix valley either, where you'd spend a fair bit of time looking for a parking space and standing in a lift queue before you get anywhere near the snow.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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saikee, That's unreal, Meribel, 66miles away and it takes 9 days to get there! 
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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The best lift is actually the Aiguille du Midi but you need to give it major respect and take someone who knows at the very least.
In fact I can't think of a better lift EVER although La Graves comes close, IME.
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Renry, if you do make it to Les Houches then the Vieux Luges is highly recommended - if a little "interesting" to get to.
If there was a "What Mountain Hut" magazine then the Vieux Luges would be its poster child.
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You know it makes sense.
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SMALLZOOKEEPER,
I could be out by a couple of miles depending where you start from Chamonix and where you want to land at Meribel. However using Autoroute, usually accurate within a couple of miles in a 600+ miles journey, the distances are
Chamonix centre to Abertville 41.8miles (not an easy route to drive)
Abertville to Moutiers 16.2 miles (dual carriageway)
Moutiers to Meribel 10 miles (going up the mountains and into the heart of the resort)
Total 69 miles virtually door to door.
I had skied in Coucheval while staying in Chamonix but later found it better to stay in Abertville. I did the whole of Tarentaise while staying in PG's flat in Boug St Maurice.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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JT, no, no, no, the best lift is the Brevent bubble 'cos' it's 2 minutes walk from my apartments... 
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Poster: A snowHead
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David Murdoch,
ha ha...nice one 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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"Should I realy be looking at staying in Chamonix rather then Les Houches?"
That would depend on what you are looking for. Les houches is a great resort for families-esp intermediates with some lovely tree lined runs and the black kandahar is a great one to try, but it does have limited runs. Chamonix is a must if going for a week or over and is 15minute drive.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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I think 1 day in chamonix is included in a 1 week les houches stnd pass
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Thought I would just Bump this thread again as I have now booked to stay in Les Houches.
What can you tell me about the sking, the restaurants and the little bit of night life that there is in Les houches.
We are only in for 4 full days sking and with the varing abilities of the group and the way things will pan out with regards what time we have to be out of the Chalet on the last day, transfers to geneva etc we are anticipating First and last day sking les houches and day 2 and 3 in Chamonix (this must include a day up to mont blanc).
So with this in mind is there any perticular areas of the valley that are a must visit over thoes two days away from Les houches?
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Renry,
I can tell you nothing much about Les Houches but as far as skiing elsewhere is concerned I would not decide exactly what to do untill you are there and know the weather forecast. I wouldn't bother with Vallee Blanche unless you can get a good day for it. It's a relaxing trip to enjoy the scenery and fantastic but in bad weather it's probably pretty unpleasant.
All the areas are worthwhile from what I saw, the famous skiing is at Grand Montets, the best views of Mont Blanc are from the other side of the valley. If the weather looks like its bad you may decide to go over to St Gervais to ski in the trees (Not that I've been)
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My recommendation, based on having spent 6 years in a mobile home in Chamonix, is spend one day in Courmayeur if there are sufficient of you and willing to pay the Mont Blanc tunnel toll. It is just on the other side of the Mont Blanc Tunnel. That makes one trip covering two countries. Courmayeur is about 1.5 to 2 times the size of Les Houches.
If you guys are good skiers then Grands Montet at the end of the valley is the place. It is steep and may national teams go there to train. At the very end of the valley is Le Tour which is comparable in size and difficulty as Les Houches.
Going up the Mont Blanc is a possibility but that is just for sight seeing and the cable car is extra and expensive.
Brevent and La Flegere are now linked. They are not as steep as Grands Montets but are typical of the terrain in Chamonix.
For mix ability I recommend Domain Evasion which is the area linking La Gervais, Megeve and Rochebrune. You can do a short drive to St Gervais, possibly about 10 to 12 miles, and take the chair lift.
There is a resort not widely known, has very good snow record but not crowded. It is called Les Contamines at a junction just before you hit St Gervais.
The Grand Massif area of Flaine, Les Carroz, Morillon and Sameon is about 45 minutes away. Within an hour you can also be at the heart of the French side of the Porte du Soleil of Les Gets/Morzine/Avoriaz.
To put things in perspective the whole of Chamonix has about 150km piste. Les Houches has 55km. Courmayeur 100km. Les Contamines 120 km. Domain Evasion has 300Km, Gran Massif has 265km and the entire Porte du Soleil has 650km which is roughly evenly split between the Swiss and the French.
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Does anyone know a link to a good quality piste map of Les Houches?
The only one I can find is not very clear at all.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| Renry wrote: |
Does anyone know a link to a good quality piste map of Les Houches?
The only one I can find is not very clear at all. |
Sorry, had to bump this.
We are staying in Les Houches and will ski it the first day due to having a one weeker in the group and he would like to see the piste map.
The rest of the trip will be spent down the valley 
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Renry, down the valley? What, shopping in Sallanches? Why do that when there's loads of skiing up the valley?
THe lift map on the Les Houches website is a JPG. Save it and open it with a decent image viewing app, like Picassa. Then you can zoom in about 200% before you lose detail.
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FAQ
