France
Boule de Neiges is a really great little bar and hotel in the centre of Chamonix town. A great bar, excellent decor and a warm, welcome atmosphere. The Boule de Neiges is run by Brits and all in all is a darn good find for those that want value accommodation close to the ski slopes!
Recommended is the vin chaud, Pete's chicken caesar salad, the house burger, sitting in the sun with a view of Mont Blanc from the upstairs terrace (residents only). Happy hour is a two-minute clomp from the slopes in ski boots.
Hotel Boule de Neiges
362 Rue Joseph Vallot
Chamonix
74400
0844 81 53 530
www.hotelchamonix.co.uk/
This sweet and chocolate shop on the main street of Chamonix is delightful with free chocolate samples and gorgeous-tasting white and black chocolate, fill your bag with as much as you want - it's all good, but be warned it's not cheap!
Avenue Michel Croz.
This large area of parkland and forest stretches from the eastern edge of Chamonix up to the Argentière valley. It's a peaceful haven for family picnics and strolls. It's a popular spot for hikers and cyclists as they continue towards Argentière and Vallorcine. You can also watch the paragliders take off and land on the parkland which surrounds Lac du Bouchet, there is also a fountain just beside the main road from which you can sample free and fresh-tasting mountain water.
From Chamonix train station go straight ahead down Avenue Michel Croz, then at the end of this road turn right onto Rue Whymper. Go straight across the roundabout. Pass the library on your right-hand side and keep going straight for about 500m and Lac du Bouchet is on your left-hand side.
We just wanted to spread the good word about the marvellous chalet we stayed in last winter. Fantastic chalet with the most stunning location. Perfect for families - kids played outside safely on large chalet grounds whilst us adults enjoyed the wonderful hot-tub, situated just to one side of a mountain stream that flows by the chalet. Food was superb and the chalet staff were very happy and friendly. We are going back next season. Can't recommend the place enough.
Argentiere, Chamonix, France - www.marmottemountain.com - +33 (0) 6 82 89 15 23
Vallorcine is a tiny, unspoilt Savoyard village about 20km up the valley from Chamonix and Argentiere, and one of the few remaining 'secret' Alpine resorts. Great because it's easily reached from Geneva, you avoid the crowds of Chamonix, (which is near enough for fun in the evening if desired) but still within reach of Les Grands Montets and La Vallee Blanche.
There's a brand-new fast lift up to Le Tour, which gives great family skiing (reds and blues mainly), but with tricky off-piste for advanced skiers. When we first went there two seasons ago, we walked from our hotel 2km into the centre of the village and didn't pass a single soul on the way. At first it seemed a bit odd, but we soon realised we'd stumbled across a gem – empty, beautiful, with clear non-light-polluted skies at night, a couple of small restaurants and hotels and not much else. Perfect!
www.vallorcine.com/
www.chamonix-montblanc.net/ermitage/index.htm
Last season, we found some superb family friendly accommodation in Les Houches, a village just a short drive from Chamonix centre. There is a great garden for sledging and snowman building, the children loved the ski school and Helen (the owner) was very helpful in organising lessons,ski passes etc. They supply everything from baby alarms, cots, high-chairs even toys (which anyone with any experience of packing with little ones will know these things are priceless) and what's more they didnt cost extra! We had such a great time we already booked again for this winter.
Search Been there