Accommodation really does include everything; bunkhouses or exclusive luxury are on offer up and down the valley. Chamonix is a beautiful Alpine town, witness to over 250 years of mountaineering, climbing, and more recently, skiing. The architecture is very different to the usual purpose-built resorts. The town is full of fin de siécle hotels and villas.
Don’t expect much doorstep skiing – a bus, car or even bicycle journey is par for the course, unless you stick to one mountain. Accommodation can be found spread along the valley from Servoz to Vallorcine and transport by the local buses is good, and free during the day with your tourist card.
Where to stay in Chamonix
Chamonix consists of a selection of villages and hamlets nestled up and down this 12km-long valley.
The main choices to consider for accommodation working up the valley are: Les Houches, Chamonix, Les Praz, Argentière, Le Tour and Vallorcine. Each location offers easy access to one ski area but bus transport will be needed to ski the other areas.
Les Houches offers acces to Les Houches; Chamonix to Le Brévent and the Aiguille du Midi; Les Praz to Flégère; Argentière to Les Grands Montets and Le Tour or Vallorcine for Le Tour / Balme.
Where to stay if you want to party
Cham Sud is the place for the 18-30 package holiday crowd that pile into bunkhouses and budget accommodation with bars and clubs on the doorstep.
Finding quieter accommodation
Out of town areas are good for active families as they tend to be close to the activity areas that are scattered throughout the valley. The small hamlet of Les Bois and the pretty village of Le Praz are both close to the skiing at Flégère.
To check out a good variety of accommodation, from apartments to chalets and hotels, take a look at Chamonix specialists Bigfoot, and if you crave a spot of luxury try the Dynamic Lives.
The tourist office website also offers lots of accommodation information.
Stay in chalets, apartments or hotels
Whether you want to stay in one of the charming and atmospheric boutique hotels or a youth hostel, there is something for every budget. Being centrally located is good if you plan to make the most of the exuberant nightlife or the shopping, but in terms of being close to the lifts you are likely to have to travel anyway.
