http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/ Welcome to Been there. Your tips on the places you know - that you love, live in or have just visited - are what make this guide. http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/20051
Catered or self-catering, its covered. I went catered and everything was awesome. The guys will come out riding with you if they have time, so you get to ride some sweet spots you'd probably never find, they'll have everything sorted for you for when you arrive (lift pass, equipment etc) you get picked up and dropped off at the airport and to and from the slopes each day...

I honestly can't say anything bad about my time with them!]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/20051 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19941 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19941 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19380
The couple who run the place were very helpful - they recommended an excellent ski instructor who was great with the kids.

We're definitely going back next year - I miss the hot tub!]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19380 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18067
It's family-run with amazing service, modern luxuries/facilities and excellent cuisine and wine - I cannot recommend this place enough. Simply the best week's skiing my friends and I have ever had. Will definitely go back again.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18067 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17432
Use the lifts to get your elevation, then work out of ski area boundaries for fresh snow, long descents, beautiful views, challenging skiing/boarding and solitude.

Or better yet, use skins to climb up where there are no lifts. Or hire a helicopter or a ski-plane to drop you on a nearby peak.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17432 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14618
It's close to the Flegere ski lift and within staggering distance of some good bars and restaurants (though we spent more evenings in, lazing on the sofas with the playstation or Scalextric!). Lovely views from the balcony and garden too.

Sleeps ten, including a double in the cute mini-chalet in the garden.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14618 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/10243
At the foot of the lift that will bring you back down from this fantastic experience is the South Bar, which I recommend as the best après-ski in the area. The fact that it's a Swedish run bar means that it's full of attractive women and men and there is always quality live music. But best of all is sitting in the downstairs bar watching all the Scandinavians falling and making a fool of themselves whilst coming down the very steep stairs in their ski/board boots. We counted 6 in one hour, one evening. Great fun!]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/10243 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/9962 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/9962 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/9870 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/9870 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/9868
There are two ski hire shops close by which offer discounts to guests. The free bus stops right outside the hotel so access to the rest of the Chamonix Valley ski areas couldn't be easier. To top it off, there is a truly lovely tree-lined snowy walking trail between Les Praz and Chamonix central (25mins) which winds it's way along the banks of the River l'Arve and is well lit at night - a terrific way to ease those weary legs at the end of the day as you head into town to party.

If you don't want the nightlife, the Hotel Eden (50 metres walk) offers a really good restaurant with a fine wine list. Parking is easy at the Hotel Les Rhododendrons or the hotel staff can organise a pick up from Geneva.

Prices: 53 euros single, up to 118 euros for a quadruple room. Booking is easy, efficient and reliable using the web.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/9868 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/9606 the staff at Marmotte Mountain made the whole trip. Great skiing and snowboarding is guaranteed and the hospitality was the best I've ever come across.

Without doubt book and go - you will have the time of your life in the most serene environment with a nightlife to get the most party-hungry excited. I can't recommend it highly enough. It is God's back garden.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/9606 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/9472 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/9472 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6230 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6230 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2593 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2593 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2580 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2580 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2579
But if you're willing to wait for service and don't mind paying over the odds for Evian (water has to be hiked up the mountain), it really is a beautiful spot.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2579 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2573 Rooms at the front have wonderful views towards aiguille du midi.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2573 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2557
They offer everything from lift passes and airport transfers to great meals and hot tubs for very reasonable prices.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2557 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2525
"We got to the flats of the glacier and stopped to change into walking mode. I looked up the steeps of the Chardonnay Glacier, light twinkling off cravases in blue shards, and I could make out the thin zig-zagged randonnee path we were to follow to the col. I undid my binding, pulled off the steel pin which held my bindings onto the board, tugged at the binding which eventually slid off, split my board into two skis, hooked on the skins, added crampons, levered a binding onto each ski, and then bashed the steel pin back in..."]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2525 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2517 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2517