Chamonix
A skiing vacation in France offers a choice of seven different mountain ranges, most notably the Alps. Each has its unique attractions so it is a good idea to decide what you want out of your vacation before you choose a resort or region. Make a vacation plan based on you level of skiing and other preferences such as après-ski, family-focused ski schools or proximity of slopes to chalets.
Chamonix offers a mix of everything you may be looking for in a vacation destination: challenging and varied terrain and lively nightlife and après-ski. In fact it is worth visiting just for the spectacular views. Chamonix lies nestled in a steep-walled valley, surrounded by Europe’s highest mountains, the most notable being Mont Blanc, the highest peak in Western Europe. Chamonix offers skiing between December and May.
Chamonix Mt-Blanc at 3,396 ft is in the heart of the French Alps, very close to Mt. Dolent where the French, Swiss and Italian borders meet. The skiing and snowboarding options are numerous, accommodating all levels of skill along the valley. One can vacation at the resort town of Argentière where there are innumerable hotels and chalets to stay. Les Grands Montets looms above the town and offers steep, long, and ungroomed terrain. You have the option of skiing or boarding the face of the mighty Mont Blanc itself at either Point de Vue or Pylanes. You may find that the slopes are rather challenging, but they may not be as terrifying as you may have imagined. The access, though, is riddled with cornices and crevasses and an adventure by itself.
Chamonix is selected by many as a vacation spot for the après-ski as much as for the slopes. Bars, restaurants and clubs are filled with boisterous skiers and most often there are leading DJs of Europe in action here. Bars like the immensely popular Cantina, and nightclubs like BPM, have live music and performers rocking through the night. There is even a casino at Chamonix. Restaurants offer excellent cuisine and spectacular views of the Mt Blanc massif. A vacation here is an unforgettable experience quite unlike any other.
