Chamonix is actually a great all round resort- with intermediate skiing on the doorstep! If you stay in the centre of town near the Savoy nursery slope, you can actually ski in and ski out! The classic intermediate area is Brevent- followed by Flegere (linked to it) which is accessible right from town.
I have skied in huge mixed groups in Cham- and you can all play on the same mountain and meet at lunch. The Grand Montet which everyone always thinks is big and scary - has loads of blue and red runs- but it does give some experience of dipping on and off the piste if you want. On a good day, the grand montet is the best ski area in the world.
