 Poster: A snowHead
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Hoping to go to Chamonix for 4 days in mid-July. It'll be the first time we've been to Chamonix, so don't know the area. We're flying to Geneva and hiring a car. Unfortunatly we won't be mountain biking or doing any activities of that type.
But can I please have reccomendation of what to do? I assume the Aiguille du Midi cable car is must. Is the train up the mountainside worth it?
Would you suggest going and visiting the Portes du Soliel and nearby areas?
Any suggestions for 3 star hotels in Chamonix valley, which are cheap with good views. Having looked at a map, Les Praz takes my fancy.
Cheers
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Christopher, Les Praz is very nice - suggest hotel Eden or Rhodedendron - although haven't stayed in either. Arguably however, views massively better from the Hotel la Savoyarde or Le Bois Prin. No idea on cheap or not.
Definitely worth the Aiguille. Train ride, lunch at Montenvers and walk down also good. Adventure park good. Gorges de la Diosaz apparently good but never been.
Not sure what the benefit of visiting surrounding skis areas would be - with the exception of the Fantasticable in Chatel or if it's pissing with rain and you want to go art shopping in Megeve. Annecy arguably worth a look.
Why no activities? That's surely one of the main draws...
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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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http://www.les-praz-de-chamonix.com/
hope you find it handy!
I've stayed at both the Eden and Rhododendrons. The Eden is quite a bit smarter and good value. It's 2 star but more like a good 3 star in the uk. The restaurant's great. Rooms at the front have the best views.
The Rhododendrons is less smart but again very good value. Room 8 is the best, nice view and recently renovated. Friendly new management.
For 4 days I'd think Chamonix will have enough to keep you busy but take a laptop so you can check weather - if it rains try PDS or Courmayeur for the day - or Annecy
Are you not going to do some hiking? Montenvers (the train) to plan de l'aiguille (Midi midstation) is probably one of the most beautiful and not much level change - or Plan de l'Aiguille > Montenvers, then walk down from there. Or get the funicular to lac Emosson for a walk and a swim.
My rundown of summer activities here
http://www.chaletlaforet.com/summer/index.html
Plateau d'Assy and up to Lac Vert is a lovely day if you want to drive. I'm just compiling a list of really good viewpoints to drive to that you can have if you like?
Are you with kids?
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under a new name, firebug, Cheers for the replies. I'm 17 and being taken by my father, so I can't dictate what activities. Unfortunatly he doesn't enjoy the gradients of VTT etc. The activities will be for future trips. Just a short break to the mountains. We did something similar to the Dolomites last summer as a finishing exams present. After having visited the Tarentaise, Oisans and Briancon area, we thought we'd visit the Northern French Alps. Chamonix was the obvious choice. I've been up the cable car on the Italian side to Helbronner, but always wanted to visit Chamonix.
Thinking of possibly driving into Switzerland.
How far is the walk from Chamonix to Les Praz? Is it feasible in the evenings after a meal/drink.
Last edited by You need to Login to know who's really who. on Mon 8-06-09 20:38; edited 1 time in total
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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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Christopher, yeah, easy walk - about 15 minutes. Loads and loads of stuff to do - if your Dad gives you some "free" time - hydro speeding, rafting, canoeing, etc. - Firebug probably more organised than me!
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When I went years ago, very off season in the autumn, the walk along the balcony on the north side of the valley basically from Brevent to Argentiere was well worth it as you get the views over to Mont Blanc and the big glacirs. As it is basically gradually downhill it should be fine for older folk.
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I've done all the white water rafting, kayaking, VTT, adventure park etc around the Briancon area in the past. Great fun that it is, I'm sure I'll spend future Alpine summers with friends on activity based holidays. Just have to keep tight lipped about it all out of courtesy. Hoping to do a season next year, if that season continues through the summer there will be plently of time for that sort of stuff.
Would a long day trip to Zermatt be worth it? I know the drive would be around 2 hour 20 mins. Or is there somewhere else over the border worth visiting or stopping off to break the journey up on the way? How much is the train from the parking in the village below (Tasch) to Zermatt?
I fully well know it is a winter dish, but any idea where serves the best Tartiflette in the valley? The prospect of visiting the Alps and not having a tariflette is unthinkable.
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Christopher, Tartiflette not quite my thing but TOH reckons on the Boccalatte or the Bergerie. I also hear that the Labrador hotel has a fine restaurant which may well still have all the usual variations on a cheese and potato theme.
Zermatt seems like a bit of a hike to me - Megeve or Annecy much easier. Martigny maybe also interesting (I think the Giannadda has a Rodin Erotica exhibition on which I'd like to see - but now I check it ends June 14). http://www.gianadda.ch/wq_pages/fr/expositions/index.php. Alternatively, a whole bunch of fine castles to explore all the way down the Aosta valley which would involve less driving. Aosta itself a nice town.
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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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under a new name, Cheers for the suggestions, I'll bare that in mind.
Done the Aosta valley before, especially the Grand Bernard. Courmayeur is somewhere I haven't spent much time, only briefly passed through the town on the way to the Cable Car. A little expensive for the tunnel.
The father doesn't mind long driving, when we went to the Dolomites went over all 4 major passes in one day. No fear of long mountain driving. I'm sure that'll be a spontanous decision depending on what the weathers doing, what we get upto in Chamonix.
Any advice on flying to Geneva, as a lot of the existing advice on this forum seems to be contradictory.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Christopher, bear in mind that the weather on the other side of the tunnel can be completely different to the Chamonix side, so if it's raining in FRance, Italy may well be a better fair weather option.
On flying to Geneva? - do you mean alternative transport to Geneva (well, you could drive, I wouldn't for a 4 day weekend...) or selecting a different airport for Chamonix? Geneva's 1 hour away. Anywhere else, unless you're driving it yourself is (significantly) further...
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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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T Bar, under a new name, Sorry, should have spelt it out clearly. There is conflicting advice on which side of the airport to hire cars from. All a little confusing. Where do you get hold of the vignette?
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You don't buy a vignette. Hire from the Swiss side and it will already have one. Details here as I am too lazy to write it all out again
http://www.chaletlaforet.com/chalet/carhire.html
T Bar:" basically from Brevent to Argentiere was well worth it as you get the views over to Mont Blanc and the big glaciers."
This is a lovely walk as well - does he like to walk at all or would it be just driving? I go a lot with parents and relatives who don't have great mobility - the Merlet animal park has lovely views and is only a short walk from the car park, Plateau d'Assy and Lac Vert is very beautiful - interesting church on hte way which has decoration by Braques, Picasso, Matisse etc
Zermatt is a long day out but it can be done! I wouldn't pick it as a trip as I think all the suggestions above are easier drives but if he's never been it could be nice.
Martigny exhibition sounds good - it's a great train journey, better than driving.
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You know it makes sense.
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Would agree with Plateau d'Assy and Lac Vert. Another train ride option could be Chamonix to Le Fayet (maybe a stroll around the thermal park there) and then TMB up through les Houches to Nid d'Aigle. Courmayeur is very pretty - a bit like a much smaller version of Briancon old town. We had a good day in Albertville visiting the olympic museum and wandering around the old town (couple of reasonable restaurants up there too)
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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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The Cremerie du Glacier at the Grands Montets lift station is a nice place for a tartiflette in summer (and winter)
http://www.lacremerieduglacier.fr/
I'm sure I read some article saying that the best was a place in Vallorcine. I'll try and find it.
btw I would allow 25 mins to walk from central Les Praz to Chamonix, but it's a lovely flat walk with great views.
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Poster: A snowHead
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My dad is only in his late 40's, hes not immobile. Just doesn't like long uphill walking and adrenaline sports.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Ah well then I totally recommend the 2 balcon walks, nord and sud, as posted above There's not much level change and they're really spectacularly beautiful.
View from the Montenvers end:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/chaletlaforet/2935384020/sizes/l/
Don't go to Emosson though! I just found out they've drained the lake for repairs to the dam!
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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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Christopher, feck, I'm only in my early 40's! What's going on?
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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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Christopher, my French neighbour's 6 year old daughter very happily walked the path from the Aiguille mid-station to the Montenvers train, as described above . You'd have to be pretty decrepit and bone idle not to enjoy that walk. However, if your Dad doesn't want to do even that much, you'd be OK to do it on your own - it's a well travelled path. Take firebug's advice. If I were to spend 4 days in Chamonix I don't think I'd bother to go outside the valley unless the weather was ghastly. And even if it was, I'd probably sit and look at the mountains in the rain and read a few good books. Driving round in the rain is not much fun, really. Presumably the ice rink is open in summer, if you were bored with your book? (I vowed never to set foot in an ice rink again after injuring myself more badly in the Chamonix ice rink, one January when the snow was rubbish, than I ever have on a ski slope, but for youngsters like you and your dad it's probably OK).
I wouldn't bother with the PDS - there's some lovely walking, but the scenery in the Chamonix Valley is a lot more spectacular and probably more accessible too.
You can hire cars from either side of Geneva, with no problem - the arguments about snow tyres and chains won't apply in the summer. It's worth hiring from the French side if it's cheaper and the difference in price is greater than the modest cost of a vignette, which can be bought at the border in Ferney Voltaire, when you emerge from the French side of the airport and turn right across the border under the runway and back into Switzerland.
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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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Christopher, may have been mentioned and missed it above, but if not, when you have an idea of when you might be going up Aiguille du Midi (after checking forecast  ), you may need to book. We got caught out in the summer once and had to come back very early next morning or wouldn't have been able to go.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Christopher, no seriously, I am early 40s and am aiming to get into DH biking. Are you being ageist or something?
firebug, niiice...
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David Murdoch, Don't be so silly. I'm just saying my father doesn't enjoy those sort of activities, unlike he may have possibly done when he was younger. There is no generic comment towards older people. Where have I made an ageist comment?
Well I congratulate you for taking up mountain biking. I respect anyone who takes up challenges.
Anyway ignoring that inflamatory question. We have decided to stay at the Hotel Le Vert for its value for money. Thank you for those pictures and suggestions.
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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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Christopher, cool, le vert is neat. reviews please!
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A well spent 4 days in the Valley.
Hotel Le Vert is one of the cheapest hotels in the valley. It is a very basic 2 star; you get what you pay for. Bog standard breakfast, nothing special for €8. A 15/20 minute walk to the centre of Chamonix. If you get a carte d’hote, its worth using the bus or train to get into Chamonix for the evening which both station and bus stop are close to the hotel.
Bought a multipass for the lifts, in my opinion these are well worth their price. Giving access to Grand Montets, Flegere, Brevent, Aiguille du Midi, Montenvers train plus more.
Walked the Grand Balcon du Sud, a rather easy walk taking 2 hours with one steep section towards the Flegere end leaving from Planpraz. Views very good from the top of the Brevent cable car aswell.
The views from the top of the Grand Montets and Aiguille du Midi are well worth going up for. We were lucky enough to have clear weather on the last when going up the Aiguille. A little tip, you must book to avoid large queues and even the queue for picking up your ticket after having reserved it can take a while. The Arete looked scary to say the least, grit your teeth sort of stuff.
La Bergerie is a good quality good value restaurant (for Chamonix, its fairly expensive. But nothing new to those who spend a lot of time in ski resorts). Three course set meal for €20 including Tartiflette, salad and desert.
Another restaurant which specialised in Alsacatian food while serving a wide variety of food in the central square is reccomendable. I forget its name unfortunatly.
We spent one day outside of Chamonix. Driving and stopping off and checking out towns on the way for future trips. Drove up above Verbier to above 2100m, weather was fairly average with clouds about. Splendid views with a picnic, we had no swiss francs to spend, so stopped off in Argentiere for Reblonchon, jambon sec and pain. Drove up the Grand Bernard Pass, cloud obscuring views at the top. Good weather in Aosta Valley, there was late road surfacing for the tour which goes through on Tuesday. Aosta, which we've been to before is a nice town. Continued onto and upto the Petit Bernard following the tour route. Stopped off in La Thuile, which is a pretty town with views to a glacier and waterfall. Contrary to the impression I have been given that La Thuile is an unpretty resort. I hope to return to La Thuile sometime in the winter to ski the Espace San Benardo. Views from the top of the Petit Bernard towards Mont Blanc were good.
Pre st Didier in the Aosta Valley where the Petit St. Bernard branches off is a very pretty valley. Last stop was in Courmayeur. Coughed up our pennies and went through the tunnel and had dinner in Chamonix. A day after having walked a lot we both agreed was a day well spent.
Hope to return to the Valley for skiing and mountain biking in the future. I do have a biast towards the Briancon area in the southern French Alps, but the views in the Chamonix valley and the glaciers being so low down is pretty special and unique. Although I do prefer the fact that Briancon is much less of an international destination. Too many Aussies, New Zealanders, Brits and Dutch mean that the opportunities to speak French were limited as local workers tended to speak to you in English.
No problems at all with Geneva airport.
I do apologise for the length of the report. A good holiday in summary.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Christopher
Glad you enjoyed it. Always nice to hear that people have had a good time in the Alps, summer or winter 
Interested to find that the Tour went over the Gd St Bernard into Aosta. I've recorded the highlights so will be good to see that. Still wondering where they go after Aosta to get to Bourg? Presumably the Petit St Bernard?
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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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mountainaddict, yep.
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