Chamonix discussion

[Shellski]

Mostly for chaletlaforet, but anyone else feel free to chime in!

I did ask in the another thread, but I think you didn't get around to reading it..

We are thinking about options for guiding, and I think we might like to do a multi-day off-piste 'course' that takes in a few of the ski areas, and includes a Vallee Blanche run. I've seen a couple of the ski schools have something like we want, but you know of any that you would specifically recommend? Or not recommend?

Also, is there anything else in the way of local's knowledge I should know? Anything else I specifically need to take or remember?

We're staying at the Richmonde in Chamonix.

PS - I have a brand new pair of Lotta Luvs, do you think they will be a good ski for Cham?

 

[chaletlaforet]

Hi Shellski!
I missed this for a bit

Off piste sounds like a good idea in high season...

I'm doing some research into the ski schools and guides at the moment, and have been in touch with the lady who runs
https://www.basschamonix.com/
which a couple of people have recommended to me - she seems really nice.
Another name that often comes up is Evo2
https://www.evolution2.com/cham/evo2-ecole-uk/ecole-ski.html#skicourse

and I am just about to get in touch with
https://www.guides-du-montblanc.com/uk/vb_uk.html
as the founder (who was the first Frenchman to summit Everest) used to live in our house! The ydo a night on the mountain at the Cosmiques hut which could be amazing...


I asked around for you and apparently the Lotta Luvs are ideal for Chamonix - hurray

I've always liked the look of the Richmonde - looks like a lovely building and the location is super - you'll have to let me know how it is...

My favourite apres bars are the MBC ( the Canadian Bar and Microbrewery opposite the sports centre) and Chambre Neuf near the railway station in town - there's also a nice juice bar and bagel bar on the same street (diagonally opposite corner) for when you get a bit too cheesed out.

The Atmosphere
https://www.restaurant-atmosphere.com/gb/presentation.asp
is a lovely French restaurant (you need to book there, it gets very busy - ask for a table over the river unless one of you gets seasick easily). The Hameau Albert Premier is the big Michelin starred restaurant - I've never been there, but French friends have said that the Atmosphere is a comparable standard and much cheaper. The Eden in Les Praz also does lovely food
https://www.hoteleden-chamonix.com/

The Monchu is nice for Fondue and Raclette...

One thing that Chamonix is a bit short on is charming slopeside restaurants, the best by far is Cremerie Du Glacier, in the woods above the Lognan cable-car base at Les Grands Montets - it does Croustades - lovely pizza style bread with loads of different toppings...

Les Houches has a couple of really lovely on-piste restaurants including the atmospheric Luge - Italian specialities and delicious polenta dishes (a bit tricky to find, check the map). It's extremely popular so may well be worth booking - drop in at the beginning of your day to reserve for lunch. Also be aware that it doesn't take credit cards so make sure you're OK for Euros. Les Houches is pretty relaxed skiing but can be clear when everything else is foggy...

You can get pretty much anything you need there but I think prices are probably better in the US at the moment...
Some pics etc here...


anyway I will add to this if anything else occurs to me - look forward to hearing how it goes! :D

 

[Shellski]

Thanks! I'll no doubt think of a few more things..

Evolution 2 is one of the sites I have looked at - they have 3 and 6 day off-piste 'courses' that sound good. I guess we should book as soon as possible given it is peak season?

Atmosphere looks fantastic - it is our wedding anniversary on the 5th so we might make a booking there right away - table for 2 on the river si vous plait!

We're not really ones for having a big lunch in the middle of the day anyway, we're more likely to ski straight through with a bit of a snack and then quit a little earlier.

I'd found the site for the Microbrasserie - that is definitely on the list to check out!

Looking forward to skiing Les Houches - the race course there - La Vert? I think.

How 'dressy' are the restaurants and bars in the evening? Can I get away with nice jeans, jumper and boots? With only 20 kgs luggage allowance I can't really take an extensive apres wardrobe with me.

Neither of us speak French aside from basic greetings etc, do you think we will get away with it?

Now on to shopping.... where are the bargains to be had?

 

[chaletlaforet]

Yes definitely book!

It's not a very dressy place so you would be fine pretty much everywhere dressed casually. There are some smart places if you fancy getting dressed up for a night (e.g. No Escape, Hameau Albert, the Club House) but mostly it's pretty informal - possibly as there are approximately 20 men for every woman! Mind you, you're there family skiing time, so this may not be quite as pronounced as usual...

If you make the effort with the basic greetings it's always appreciated, but almost everyone speaks English and most restaurants have English translations on the menu. A lot of places - MBC, Chambre Neuf, Munchies, the Eden) are English or Swedish run anyway.

Where are the bargains - well mostly in the US I think! ;) It's not a particularly cheap place, and the exchange rate doesn't help. Snell Sports is the biggest ski shop I think, it really does have everything - you can't miss it!
https://www.cham3s.com/gb/default.asp
will give you an idea of the prices.

The one thing that's cheap and charming is the French scrolled cast iron work, which unfortunately is way too heavy to fly with! Oh well. There is always Paris!

Les Houches - yes, La Vert / the Kandahar is great fun.
You can read about its history here
https://www.chamonixworldcup.com/
It can get icy though...

 

[Shellski]

One more question - hopefully you will read this..

We are flying into Geneva, but out of Paris (spending one week in Paris) - I've found a bus service to take us from Geneva Airport to Chamonix one way, but we have now decided it might be best to bus back to Geneva and take the TGV directly to Paris. The bus company I have booked with doesn't drop off at the Geneva train station. Do you know a bus company that picks up from both the airport and the train station?

 

[eng_ch]

Go to the airport then simply get teh train into the main railway station as the airport has its own railway station. Piece of cake.

 

[Shellski]

Excellent, excellent - thank you!

 

[chaletlaforet]

Hi Shellski - if you see this PM me - I'm in Chamonix unexpectedly, and I think you are here now?

Hope you see this!

Cheers.

m

 

[Shellski]

Oh no! So sorry I missed you. I have been checking emails very quickly, but only had a chance to look in here as I am having a very well-earned day off today!

I hope you got to enjoy some of the great snow that's fallen.

Thanks for all the great tips, Chamonix is completely amazing and we have had an incredible time. Hopefully we will be able to ski the Vallee Blanche tomorrow - that is the plan - then off to Paris on Sunday.

Full report to come!!

 

[chaletlaforet]

Ha, you're still there! Brilliant, I'm so glad you got the snow. We left about a week ago but yes, we did yet to enjoy some of it, thanks! Look forward to hearing about your trip