France
I booked my ski holiday to Chamonix with Blue Altitude and they were fantastic! They organised everything from our chalet and ski-passes to the transfers from Geneva to Chamonix. We had a great holiday and will definitely be using them again.
This is a great service that acts as a booking agent for transfer companies in the Chamonix Valley from Geneva Airport. The best thing is that they will find a transfer that is closest to your arrival time and also the cheapest.
Just got back from a week in Cham staying with the guys at Arctic Beaver. If there's a group of you heading out then I totally recommend these guys.
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!
Arctic Beaver Ltd
Chalet Holidays in Chamonix, France
www.arcticbeaver.com
info@arcticbeaver.com
tel: 00 33 621 85 41 31
Skiing the Agui De Midi on the foot of Mont Blanc is possibly one of the best skiing/boarding experiences that any intermediate or advanced can accomplish.
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!
Bottom of the Agui di midi lift station. Go into the Cham Sud apartment area and it's next to Spar supermarket.
www.southbar.se
My money saving idea - lunchtimes on the Alps can cost you between £8 and £25 per day! If you're on a budget ski holiday then make the most of your half-board chalet. 1. drag yourself down to breakfast. 2. add several extra slices of french bread, ham & cheese to your plate 3. create a selection of ham and cheese rolls 4. when no one is looking, take out your serviette and wrap around (discreetly) your freshly made rolls, and hide quickly in a pocket or bag... et voila, enjoy on an uncrowded rock, with a view of your choice... ALL FOR FREE!
The glaciers are retreating, the snow is falling later and more lightly and melting sooner in the spring. If you're going skiing in the alps - TAKE THE TRAIN - it's at least ten times less polluting. And you get an extra day on the slopes...
For the best ski or snowboard holiday look no further. I spent last season there and
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.
Marmotte Mountain Retreat, Argentiere.
Tel : +33 (0) 6 82 89 15 23.
www.marmottemountain.com
I stayed here last season and loved it. The chalet is surrounded by beautiful pine forests and the Grands Montets, Chamonix's best resort, is located really close to the chalet. You can't go wrong.
Chamonix is a one-hour transfer from Geneva. Marmotte Mountain Retreat is located at the base of the world-renowned resort of Argentiere.
www.marmottemountain.com
Great new hotel in Chamonix with shop for kit rental, beer garden with it's own climbing wall and a cool bar and restaurant downstairs. Open year round with regular events/parties in the bar.
964 Routes Des Gaillands, on the South side of Chamonix by the lake and climbing wall. www.verthotel.com
Tel +33 0450 531 358
Chalet Lounge is a beautiful old savoyard chalet, with hot tub and sauna and all the luxuries you want after you've been skiing. Tom and Sarah who run it look after you really well and Sarah cooks amazing food. It's in a really great location, about half way along the valley, so you get really good access to all the different ski areas. We can't stay away!
Three powder fields at the Grands Montets often untouched by the masses, which connect the top and the bottom of the mountain so you can ride/ski for 12km (2km vertical) non-stop; nice! See how many you can do in a day.
From the Les Grands Montets Cable Car, the Hearse Chair, or by traversing from the Bochard Bubble, drop towards Argentiere high on the glacier wall (stay high at all costs). Keep left at the little restaurant/hotel, and then drop towards the trees keeping your direction (if not go left), and then connect back to the home run.
An off-piste / glacier ski itinerary. From Grands Montets, ski down to the Argentiere glacier, cross it, and climb up below the Chardonnet, then left up a short couloir. From here it's all down hill to Le Tour.
A small and popular UK owned company providing catered and self-catered snowboarding holidays. They'll chauffeur you around the valley in minibuses and their knowledgeable guides will help you get the best the mountain has to offer. They're also hosting the Animal Rider Camps (26th March - 9th April 2006) where you can hang out and ride with Animal's UK pro team.
Argentiere, Chamonix. Tel: 020 7419 0722 www.boardnlodge.com
Chamonix's best snowboard shop. It stocks a huge range of quality kit and all the staff are experienced snowboarders. If you plan on renting any equipment it's the best place in town bar none, and it's also does a good line in repairs and servicing.
134 av Ravanel le Rouge, Chamonix. Tel: +33(0)450535844
The winding cat-track from the top of the Index lift offers endless opportunities for getting airborne. It's at its best on a sunny afternoon when the snow has softened up, or pretty much all day long in spring.
La Flègere, Chamonix
Basically a natural snowpark, Snowboard heaven! Check out the mini-tit jump, on the right side of the run about 200m down, Usually heavily sessioned by snowboarders...
Flegere
Based in Argentiere, a stone's throw from the Grand Montets, McNab provides accommodation, various levels of coaching and back country tours. The programme is run by qualified high mountain guide and pro freerider Neil McNab (he's also an ex British Snowboarding champion and ski racer!), and the chalet has a hot tub with a great view of the mountains.
Argentiere, Chamonix. Tel: 01546 830243 www.mcnab.co.uk
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