Chamonix-Mont-Blanc Hotels

• leanne_pearc
• Reviews: 388

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Balmat B: Cosy Apartment in the City Centre

This was a perfect little self catering apartment located in the pedestrian city centre of Chamonix. The apartment was managed by My French Chalets and included a bunk bed, tv, free internet access, washing machine and dryer, dishwasher, oven, stove, utensils and fully equipped bathroom. We cooked a few meals very easily. French doors opened onto the balcony exposing a stunning view of the Mont Blanc and river. Leave the doors open and you can hear the river.

A very comfortable stay after a day of skiing and exploring the mountains. Restaurants, shops, bars and supermarkets are all downstairs.

Unique Quality: Renovated in 2010. The shower was hot and had wall sprays. Dishwasher and washer/dryer. The location was magic, never had to travel too far at all. The city centre is very pretty and has an old town feel to it, it was always nice to walk downstairs right into the area where everything is happening. The burger place downstairs was open well past midnight.

• Opinion of Price: about average
• Website: http://www.myfrenchchalet.com/chamonix_apartments/chamonix_apartments_balmatb.htm
• Written March 18, 2011

Mont Blanc View

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• firechick
• Reviews: 175

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Mountain Refuges for hikers and climbers: Lists of refuges with opening and closing dates

It is becoming a real problem with certain routes such as climbing Mont Blanc and the Tour du Mont Blanc that huts are over-crowded. This is most often caused by people who do not call ahead to make reservations or even hear the hut is full, but turn up anyhow unannounced. This is rude and also a bit dangerous in high season as you risk sleeping on a table or even being denied a place altogether and being told to walk on if another hut is nearby.

However, if you call ahead and book your space then you will have a guaranteed place up to a certain time of day. If you are going to be late enough to miss dinner time or will miss your reservation entirely due to a calculation error about how fast you would travel, call the hut so they can either take on more people or save your place.

Store their numbers in your phone before you start the walk (some areas won't have reception but many areas of the walk do). A page with all the hut telephone numbers for the Chamonix mountain region is maintained by the Office of Haute Montagne in Chamonix and is here : http://www.ohm-chamonix.com/fiche.php?id=62&ling=En . They also list some of the nearby Swiss and Italian huts that connect to the Mont Blanc massif and for many of the popular hiking tours and mountaineering locations. You can find the opening and closing dates as well as the phone numbers to call for reservations.

If you are reserving for climbing Mont Blanc you will need to reserve your summer place several months ahead of time. The other way to do it is more risky but you can always call on the night before or the morning of your departure for the hut, even if they were previously booked up and see if there were any cancellations that you can take. Some tour operators make a habit of reserving blocks of spaces in the hopes that they will have a group coming in that week, but if there are no bookings they will cancel their reservations. If you are vegetarian mention it at the time of booking. Some huts ask that you remind them of this when you arrive. Don't expect amazing vegetarian food by the way ...

Huts vary in quality of food and bedding however the same general 'rules' apply to all mountain huts. If you are a first time hut goer, the 'unique qualities' shows what to expect. Note that the higher the altitude or more remote the hut, the more basic it will be. More popular huts may be better stocked but will be more crowded as well. The closer to a town often means more creature comforts.

Unique Quality: 1. No boots or ice axes in the hut - you will find sandals in the hut entrance and put your boots on a shelf.

2. Most huts have some type of drying area for wet gear near the wood stove which is often in the dining area. Some have outdoor lines as well.

3. Blankets and pillows are provided but bring your own sleeping bag liner for hygienic reasons as the sheets are not changed daily ... silk is lightest weight and does not hold smell.

4. Dinner time is generally one serving for all at a fixed time. If you will arrive after this time, often if you call ahead you can arrange for the kitchen to save you a meal. The kitchen is closed after dessert is served and the staff will be off to bed!

5. Breakfasts are usually light European style - coffee or tea with some bread and jam, possibly yogurt or muesli if you are in Switzerland. If this is not enough, you may want to bring protein bars.

6. Often you can purchase candy bars, bottled water, beer or wine in the huts. Some but not all can make you a pack lunch, so if this is important to you call ahead to ask.

7. Most huts do not have showers and have a cold water area to wash up and brush teeth. Some have inside toilets and some have toilets outdoors. If this is important to you, call to inquire and plan your walk accordingly.

8. At huts you can choose to buy dinner, bed and breakfast (demi-pension), only a bed if you have your own food (you will need to cook it outside) or just a meal (if you have your own tent and will sleep outside). If you sleep outside be certain to NOT contaminate the hut's outside sourced water supply with your urine or poo ... use their toilet facilities !

9. If you are light sleeper ear plugs are recommended.

10. Do not turn on the group room lights after dark as others might already be asleep in the room. Bring and use a small headlamp.

• Opinion of Price: N/A
• Address: Alps of France, Italy and Switzerland
• Phone: various
• Related to: Hiking and Walking, Mountain Climbing, Backpacking
• Written July 7, 2009

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• sno_man
• Reviews: 3

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Mountain Base: Best Accommodation in Chamonix

Mountain Base have looked after me most times I've stayed in Chamonix and so I wanted to let everyone know that they give the best service and best value of anyone I've found in the whole Chamonix valley (Argentiere, Les Houches, Chamonix, Le Tour)

They have a huge range of self catered apartments and chalets and, unlike most accommodation agents, don't try to increase the price they advertise by adding linen and/or cleaning on later.

A good bunch!

Unique Quality: honest, professional, diligent, courteous & extremely good value for money

• Opinion of Price: less expensive than average
• Address: 27 Chemin les Lupins, Chamonix, 74400
• Phone: +33450907645
• Website: http://www.mountain-base.com/
• Related to: Budget Travel, Mountain Climbing, Skiing and Boarding
• Written March 15, 2009

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• Manara
• Reviews: 481

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Go mid-week, get a discount

Chamonix is not a cheap place to stay, but more reasonble accommodation prices can be obtained, in summer, if you spend there a few days avoiding the weekend. The 2008 summer rates (per person, including breakfast) are the following:
EUR 35 in a 2-stars hotel;
EUR 49 in a 3-stars hotel;
EUR 75 in a 4-stars hotel.
The conditions are:
a) Arrival mst be from Sunday to Thursday;
b) The duration of stay must be between 2 and 5 nights;
c) Reservation must be done through Chamonix Reservation Centre.

• Opinion of Price: less expensive than average
• Website: http://reservation.chamonix.com
• Related to: Romantic Travel and Honeymoons, Family Travel
• Written August 18, 2008

Bridge with hotel in the background

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• pinemarten
• Reviews: 1

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Mer de Glace Camping: Woodsy Chamonix campsite

I've stayed here several times and always enjoyed it. The facilities are very good - hot showers, lots of covered space for washing up and a vending machine for basics like milk, and there's a daily bread and croissant delivery (order the night before).

The lots are divided by pine hedges and birch trees, and there are flowers everywhere - it's all very idyllic and alpine! The owners were very friendly and helpful too. The one downside is that it's quite close to the heliport so you do have some noise from the rescue helicopters from time to time, but it's not too bad, and it's far from the road so in general a lovely tranquil spot to camp.

The location on the outskirts of Les Praz is lovely and sunny, close to the Flegere lift and lots of walking and mountain biking routes.

Unique Quality: This year they've also added WiFi and phone charging, very deluxe for a campsite! The views of Mont Blanc, the Aiguilles Rouges and the Dru are wonderful, and it's fantastic watching the sun come up and silhouette the Dru every morning.

• Opinion of Price: least expensive
• Address: 200, Chemin de la Bagna Les Praz 74400 Chamonix Mont-Blanc
• Phone: 33(0)450534403
• Website: http://www.chamonix-camping.com
• Related to: Hiking and Walking, Camping, Mountain Climbing
• Written August 23, 2007

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• Tre4
• Reviews: 2

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Annexe de l'Universe: Self Catering Apartment Chamonix

Annexe de l'Universe is a beautiful one bedroom apartment in the heart of Chamonix Mont Blanc. Because it is right in the centre of town it has access to all the ski slopes and the bars/night life. Surprisingly it is also very quiet because it is tucked behind the church.

My stay at Chamonix Rental was ten out of ten

Unique Quality: Open Fire & private garden area

• Opinion of Price: less expensive than average
• Address: Chamonix Mont Blanc
• Website: http://www.chamonix-rental.com
• Related to: Skiing and Boarding, Cycling, Mountain Climbing
• Written August 16, 2007

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• cachaseiro
• Reviews: 1886

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hotel louvre: nice traditional budget hotel

the hotel louvre in chamonix is a typical old fashioned french budget hotel in the center of town.
the room i had was old but had a lot of charm to it and the reception was freindly, helpful and english speaking.

Unique Quality: the hotel louvre is very french style and i much prefer a hotel like louvre to a lot of the cheap chain hotels where you can't feel what country you are in.

• Opinion of Price: less expensive than average
• Address: 25, Impasse Androsace
• Related to: Budget Travel, Hiking and Walking, Mountain Climbing
• Written August 12, 2007

hotel louvre

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• iaint
• Reviews: 1327

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• smirnofforiginal
• Reviews: 947

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Hotel Vallee Blanche: A great Hotel

Once we had (online) booked our accommodation we were sent (by post) confirmation together with information and maps etc... it was a very friendly introduction to the hotel. Hotel Vallee Blanche is 3 stars. It is friendly and clean. Our family room was a good size with views immediently onto the river which GUSHED past at a tremendous speed.

We enjoyed our stay here.

The only complaint I have, and it could be completely my mistake... We thought that breakfast was included. When it came to check out and pauing... breakfast clearly was not invluded and was HUGELY expensive. If I had realised we had to pay for the breakfast I would have either eaten somewhere else or I would have stocked up greatly!!!

Ah yes - Chamonix is a small place with many hotels. This hotel is in a GREAT location but it has no parking. There are a couple of car parks in town but spaces are like gold dust. It didn't really cause us a problem but we were not here in peak season. (Some hotels do have parking but there is a big difference between parking for 2 cars and parking for 32!)

• Opinion of Price: N/A
• Address: 36 Rue Du Lyret, 74400 Chamonix - Mont Blanc
• Phone: +33 450 53 04 50
• Related to: Skiing and Boarding, Mountain Climbing, Family Travel
• Written April 29, 2007

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