Chamonix first timer

Hey everybody,

Wondering if I could possibly get some advice, I've been skiing for the past two years (Andorra and Sauze) and become absolutely hooked! Each time we went for about four days and booked it all seperatetly, and as my girlfriend and I are both pretty new to the whole skiing thing its always been a bit of guess work about where to go etc. Sauze was my first time and I thought it was brilliant (facilities/slopes/access), while Andorra was good but poor snow put a bit of a dampener on it.

This year as I've a (small) bit more knowledge I'd like to do more leg work to ensure we have a great time. I keep hearing about Chamonix as a skiing destination but again am unsure what part of it would be best suited to our needs. To provide a bit of background we're both in our 20s and while we enjoy having access to a good apres ski, we mainly go skiing to go skiing! We are both relatively competent skiiers and happy to tackle most red slopes, but this year we also hope to bring some friends along would probably be happier with blue slopes. As such do people thinkg Chamonix would be a good place for us to go? Which part, or any other more granular advice would also be greatly appreciated!

Thanks everyone! :D
Brian

Well Brian,
I would say the world is your oyster - with just a bit of thought and research.
No idea if Chamonix would suit, I've only been there in the summer amd I prefer a ski station to a town for my skiing hols.
How about deciding which country is your favourite?
Language preference etc etc.
Then having a chat with GF to find out what parts of a holiday are most important for you both - luxury accomodation, self catering, chalet etc.
Do you value the ski in ski out idea or is a bit of a walk or bus journey OK?
Do you like to really put in the miles skiing or are you happy with less miles to ski and the opportunity to get to know a smaller area well?
I could go on but won't now, I'm sure you will get lots of ideas from the forum and lots to think about.
Good luck
:thumbup:

BrianB1985 wrote:Hey everybody,

Wondering if I could possibly get some advice, I've been skiing for the past two years (Andorra and Sauze) and become absolutely hooked! Each time we went for about four days and booked it all seperatetly, and as my girlfriend and I are both pretty new to the whole skiing thing its always been a bit of guess work about where to go etc. Sauze was my first time and I thought it was brilliant (facilities/slopes/access), while Andorra was good but poor snow put a bit of a dampener on it.

This year as I've a (small) bit more knowledge I'd like to do more leg work to ensure we have a great time. I keep hearing about Chamonix as a skiing destination but again am unsure what part of it would be best suited to our needs. To provide a bit of background we're both in our 20s and while we enjoy having access to a good apres ski, we mainly go skiing to go skiing! We are both relatively competent skiiers and happy to tackle most red slopes, but this year we also hope to bring some friends along would probably be happier with blue slopes. As such do people thinkg Chamonix would be a good place for us to go? Which part, or any other more granular advice would also be greatly appreciated!

Thanks everyone! :D
Brian

Brian, Chamonix is a Mecca for skiers and boarders alike. Ive not been to ski, only driven through the place, and I'm not sure its somewhere I'd rush to ski at, so not sure quite why you're pulled to it after only limited ski time yourself.
Sauze is a fun place, and the skiing there is not crowded, and Andorra is often regarded as a good cheap place if you can't afford the Alps or don't want the big peaks. Cham on the other hand is full of seasonairres and serious adventurers, as you can ski the Valley Blanche which I am sure I will do one day.
However, in the meantime, maybe you should have a rethink about what you want from a ski trip......like you I go to ski: first lift to last lift. The apres is a bonus but not the feature. Cham is a big town spread out, I prefer a ski resort with character.

Ask yourself the following and you might come up with a different short list:

1. Preference on country?
2. Ski in-out or not fussed?
3. Altitude/snow sure important?
4. When are you going/
5. Flying, and therefore length of transfer?
6. Accommodation ie chalet, hotel, self catering?
7 Extent of slopes?
8. Ease of access to slopes?

Draw up your requirements, and then go to WTSS (book or website) and I'm sure you'll come up with a new shortlist that includes Les Arcs, Avoriaz, Arabba, Saas Fe, Cervinia, Soll and Saalbach. Probably

Chamonix is an amazing place both on and off the slopes. I've been a number of times and it keeps pulling me back. There is a problem for you though, your friends will suffer a lack of cruising blues. Yes, they could go to Les Houches and Le Tour which are at either end of the system (not linked), but the whole area is designed to be skied hard. The reds, are proper reds, no dozing off in the middle. The resort definitely favours the athletic or aspiring skier.
For this trip you might do better with an area like Alpe d'Huez or Serre Chevalier where skiers of different abilities can cross a wide system and stay together.

Last year i went to La Plagne and it was great.

I too want to go to Chamonix, and like Tony, i suspect i will one day as the Valley Blanche really appeals to me.

But right now i want to stick to the larger all round Ski areas to clock up the miles and gain experience.

If it were me i would look at:

La Plagne
Les Arcs
Alp D'huez
The Three Valleys.

Not through any real experience, just my own research,

I agree with Bandit, great ski area but not very suitable for beginners. Put simply, it's a steep resort. I's suggest Trois Vallees, or maybe Dolomites - which will be super romantic too.

Alpe d'Huez for big French ski station with plenty for everyone or Dolomites with lots of lovely vliages crusey blues and great food. (food/beer way cheaper in Dolomites than France last season).

Dave

wow thanks very much for all the responses! this is exactly the type of insight i was hoping for!!

i'm a complete novice when it comes to the different resorts in Europe, the last two destinations were picked mainly because we could get flights nearby rather than any great knowledge! As to why i was thinking Chamonix, well a lot of people i spoke to last year seemed to be going there and the name just seemed synonymous with good skiing. obviously judging by the comments above it may not be the best of resorts for what we are looking for.

thanks for all the suggestions, seems one of the other French resorts or the Dolomites may be a better fit. the prospect of cheaper beer and food at the Dolomites certainly sounds attractive, but again (surprise, surprise) its an area im not fimilar with, i'll do some scouting on that area and check WTSS (thanks for the tip), but if anyone has any first hand experiences of the resorts then advice would be appreciated...

again many thanks for all the feedback!!

Brian