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- Destinations
- Europe
- France
- French Alps
- Chamonix
Chamonix
The holiday resort of Chamonix sits in the shadow of Mont Blanc
and offers some of the most challenging skiing in Europe. The town
is in the centre of a string of villages spread out along a valley
cutting deep through the Alps; the village of Argentiere is six
miles (10km) up the valley, beneath the renowned Grands-Montets
slopes, and Les Houches is a small holiday resort a few miles
below. The huge variety of on- and off-piste skiing in Chamonix
attracts ski bums and serious weekend skiers (the town is only 50
minutes drive from Geneva) and this is reflected in the sportive
atmosphere in the bars and restaurants.
Information & Facts
Activities
Chamonix has a swimming centre with pools, a sauna and Turkish
baths, and an indoor ice rink and bowling for holidaymakers to
enjoy. Paragliding can be arranged when the weather's good.
Language
French is the official language.
Money
The Euro (EUR) is the official currency in France. Currency can
be exchanged at banks, bureaux de change and some large hotels,
though you will get a better exchange rate at the ATMs. Major
credit cards are widely accepted, as are travellers cheques,
particularly in major tourist destinations. Foreign currency is not
accepted.
Negatives
The ski areas in Chamonix do not inter-connect and the base lift
stations are far apart, so a car is essential in Chamonix unless
you are happy to wait for the erratic shuttle buses. The beginner
slopes are separated from the main skiing areas making lunch
meetings hard to organise. Chamonix has its own microclimate and
the weather can be bad when neighbouring resorts are fine. If it is
clouded over, it's worth checking out the weather in Courmayeur in
Italy, a short trip away through the Mont Blanc tunnel.
Night Life
Chamonix is known for its ski-hard-party-hard atmosphere and the
nightlife won't disappoint. The Bumble Bee and the Mill Street bar
in Chamonix and the Office Bar in Argentiere are popular choices
for après-ski drinks, and Wild Wallabies is an essential stop for
hard-drinking Brits and Scandinavians. There is a casino for those
wishing to try their luck on the tables.
Restaurants
Chamonix is alive with restaurants, ranging from first-class
French restaurants to Indian, Chinese, Italian and Japanese and
holidaymakers will not be disappointed. For Michelin-standard food,
book Albert Ist et Milan in the town centre. Argentiere has some
good local restaurants but much less choice than Chamonix. There
are some fine restaurants on the slopes too, including Le 3842, the
highest restaurant in Europe.
Shopping
Chamonix is a year-round town and is packed with a selection of
shops - though most are aimed at skiers and climbers on holiday
here. There are plenty of supermarkets and delicatessens for
self-caterers.
Time
Local time is GMT +1 (GMT +2 between last Sunday in March and
last Sunday in October).