Chamonix

Chamonix has more than 200 shops, bars and cafes, however the best venues amount to little more than a five-pub crawl. The Terrace in the centre of resort often has a live band, a sticky floor and sardine-like drinking experience to share with Seasonaires and brave tourists! The Chambre Neuf is popular with the Scandinavian set and offers a more sedate pace and a local crowd. End your evening in the cool and calm, Bar BDN for a late night drink.

When it comes to restaurants, prices are dear all over resort. However La Caleche is worth the experience: a true Savoyard gem of a restaurant, and a museum of mountain artifacts. The food is pretty great too, and typical mountain fare: steak is fantastic, and Le Pot (casserole) even better. Also try Munchies for mountain food with a twist of Scandi style. And countless pizzeria and burger bars (even a McDonalds).

Mountain lovers and extreme skiers flock to Chamonix, the Alps’ most famous mountain town, at the foot of Mont Blanc. The “Chamonix Experience” is unsurpassed in terms of variety, level of facilities and that all important mountain atmosphere.

Chamonix glacier peaks at a little over 4,000m, and offers by far the highest slopes in France. It opens its doors earlier than most resorts to an eclectic mix of adrenaline junkies, mountaineers and holiday tourists, many of whom day-trip to Cham for sights like the Aiguille du Midi or Mont Blanc massif. The non-ski trade is equal in size to the ski fraternity which makes it all the more interesting.

The Chamonix Valley ski area is enormous and spans more than 700km, but much of it is un-linked and therefore user-hostile for those used to ski in and out convenience. Of most interest are the three main satellites: Brevant / Flegere, La Tour and Argentiere. They are unlinked, but easily accessed by a free shuttle bus: three very different ski areas, perfect variety for a three-day weekend. And later in the season there is the fabulous  Vallee Blanche, a 24km off-piste glacier run from 3,840m (after a40-minute ridge walk clinging to a rope) to the valley floor.