 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi all, i am organizing a stag weekend in chamonix in march, and am looking for some advice on activities for the day time.
We are a group of 15 people, mixture of skiers and non-skiers so skiing/snowboarding might not be the best bet, was thinking more along the lines of a sightseeing tour, or sledging or snowmobiling, something that doesn't require any skiing experiencing and hiring equipment etc.
Also was thinking of hiring a table/area in a nightclub for the Saturday night, anyone know if any clubs offer this?
Tried browsing the websites but some experienced advice from someone who knows the resort would be really helpful.
Thanks in advance
Gary
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Err...Chamonix is very ski orientated! Not sure what your looking for in nightlife but it's not got your traditional europop ski resort nightclubs, most are quite underground (the French love their hip hop). I guess you could try and catch an ice hockey game (they serve beer) to start an evening off before hitting some bars. If in Chamonix for sightseeing I'd normally recommend a trip up the Aguille de Midi, but it's fairly expensive for a stag group, or a trip to the mer de glace and the ice caves but again there's not much for a beer hungry stag group to do up there and can't see some lit up ice exciting grown men!
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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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Just remembered there's bowling and pool tables in Chamonix Sud.
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Hi mate, thanks for the response, Ice Hockey sounds like fun might check it out. We did want to see a bit of scenery though and get up in to the mountains, without having to actually ski, I have looked at Aguille de Midi but a lot of reviews say it can get very busy unless you get there early, cost isn't too much of an issue.
I have seen something about doing Paret sleds which looks like fun, ever tried that?
http://www.evolution2-chamonix.com/adventures/winter/wilderness-eve
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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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The old luge used to shut in winter, indeed if the new one stays open it should be worth a go.
No idea on the Parot sleds.
For views without the price of the Aguille de Midi head up Brevent, two stages (cable car onto a gondola), on the opposite side of the valley to mont blanc hence giving great views of the whole massive...and possibly the skiers could have a 4 hour/day pass and meet others up there! Take your own food and drinks up though and sit with all the other picnickers as the restaurant is really pricey!
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@manicpb, I haven't been on in Winter but it claims to be open. It's a very different design - I think the old one relied too much on very direct friction and so covered in snow and ice would have been lethal  The new one is a little more sophisticated looking.
Top of Brevent a good idea - I don't the very top restaurant is any very much pricier than anywhere else.
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Are you sure that even if snow conditions are epic your skiers and boarders won't shog off and leave a sad little group behind?
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@pam w, LOL 
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Hahaha, actually pamw yes it has been mentioned, a couple of the skiers have suggested there is no way they can go to Chamonix and not ski, hence the reason I've got to try and find something to do as a group, to stop the "sad little group" scenario happening.
The luge sounds interesting, how does that work? is it like a little mini theme park where you pay to go in and have as many goes as you want, or is it pay per ride sort of thing? Do you have to get a ski lift to the top of it?
Brevent sounds perfect, and looks like the cable car leaves from the centre of Chamonix which is handy. Can we just get drinks/beers at the restaurant at the top?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Quote: |
| The luge sounds interesting, how does that work? is it like a little mini theme park where you pay to go in and have as many goes as you want, or is it pay per ride sort of thing? Do you have to get a ski lift to the top of it? |
Pay per ride. Yes, you have to take possibly the oldest 2 man chairlift in the valley to the top.
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| Brevent sounds perfect, and looks like the cable car leaves from the centre of Chamonix which is handy. Can we just get drinks/beers at the restaurant at the top? |
Yes you can get drinks at the top, I've taken family there and a coke or hot chocolate was around a fiver...beers closer to a tenner I'd guess. I'd suggest one round of drinks and a hip flask of something whilst you have a gaze at the views on the otherside back towards lowland France.
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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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@GaryDig, if someone told me I was going to Chamonix on a stag-do and then said I couldn't ski whilst I was there, I would be inclined to tell them to stick their daytime activity up their whatsit, however fun it was!
On a more serious note, a weekend of boozing in a French ski resort is about as expensive a stag-do as you are going to find, I would think.
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paint balling and go karting in passy although you'll need to check if its open...
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You know it makes sense.
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Are you a skier/boarder, @GaryDig? I think rainman has a fair point. People will be paying to get to an iconic ski resort and drink expensive beer.
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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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I'm not a skier/boarder, and neither are most of the guys going, and even the ones that are I wouldn't say are super keen. We just are all in our 30's and are done with the Magaluf/Prague etc type stag do, and a weekend in the snow I thought would make a nice change. However while we were there it would be a shame not to at least get up in to the mountains at some point, even if we don't ski/board back down.
We're not really worried about beer costs, the other option on the table was Vegas so the way i see it we've all saved over a grand on flights before we even get there!
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Poster: A snowHead
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Well in that case I suggest you do try to get up the Aiguille du Midi. You need to pick a sunny day and wear many layers if you want to spend time out on the viewing platforms.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Out of curiosity, why Chamonix in particular?
I'd have thought there were better destinations in the mountains for a stag weekend.
Austria (generally) is much more party-oriented and (generally) less expensive to party in.
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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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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Chamonix was chosen mainly because of the relatively short travel time, short flight and easy transfers from Geneva, which when only staying 2 nights is important. Plus of course everyone i spoke to said Chamonix is a really cool place.
Thanks Eddie, those sleds look perfect, and i have reached out to the organisers.
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
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@GaryDig, Salzburg to somewhere like Saalbach is a little over an hour and a half - I'd have thought that would be a much better destination to be honest. Traditional town, plenty of things to do and huge variety of bars/clubs, live bands, food options etc etc.
Just at the top of the beginner slope in Saalbach is the legendary Hinterhag Alm - banging apres destination (its a huge wooden barn) that non-skiers can easily access via the chair lift and then walk/slipe/slide down from, afterwards...usually around 6pm or so.. Dancing on the tables sort of place that kicks off at around 3pm!! Be warned!!
Flights from London airports are 2 hours and not massively expensive.
As others have said - Cham is a bit of a skiing mecca and the skiers on your group would probably not want to miss out on that....Saalbach has some top skiing, but I reckon it would mix better for your group as a whole.
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Thanks guys but flights and accom at Chamonix is booked, hence the need for advice on Chamonix rather the other resorts.
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Ahhh - possibly not clear from the earlier posts.
Have fun and good luck with the planning.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Chamonix has the highest proportion of men to women in the entire Alps !
Try letof bar 
Just a word of advice, if there's any idiots in your group then stay away from because if they're the type to look for trouble then they'll find it in chamonix.
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@gad, where is letof bar?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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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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Ha ha @gad, was the rainbow above the door not a bit of a giveaway?
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You know it makes sense.
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@under a new name,
 we were in a bar across the forecourt and we just saw a few people going in and just thought " that place looks busy"
One of our lads went out to ring somebody and have a ciggie, as he walking back down the stairs he saw the pictures of Rock Hudson, Freddie Mercury ect on the wall and came running down the stairs shouting " lads, this is a ga......"
We were already running past him !
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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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@gad, ah, don't be so prejudiced. It's the locals (of all interests) go to get lashed late bar.
Awesome.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Switch to Verbier.
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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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Friends went to Chamonix for a hen do and enjoyed it - you'll be fine - it's a big enough place and I'm sure you're all find a way to enjoy it 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| Quote: |
I'm a mancunian, it's just not allowed round this neck of the woods
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Canal Street not a favourite hangout then ? 
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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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No pun intended 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@gad, Non at all 
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| gad wrote: |
we were in a bar across the forecourt and we just saw a few people going in and just thought " that place looks busy"
One of our lads went out to ring somebody |
Right place, right time, I guess...
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