Category: Chamonix

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36 hours in Chamonix in Summer

My little boy in Plan Praz in Chamonix. Photo: The-Ski-Guru. 36 Hours in Chamonix in Summer.
Because of a technical glitch with the booking platform for our flat in Morgex, we got overbooked, and this summer we had to spend 36 hours in Chamonix.
 
This was not a bad thing. I’ve thought, as it was going to be a Saturday when we needed to cross the Mont Blanc Tunnel, it was better to stay next to it. Saturdays during the summer season, it get super busy to cross the tunnel.
 
We’ve booked our stay at the Wanderlust Motel. The hotel, an old Mercure, stands across from the Des Bossons Glacier, by the A40 motorway. It is better to pay the difference and have the glacier view. Not only because of the amazing view, but the rooms towards the motorway might get noisy.
View from the Wanderlust Motel in Chamonix. 36 Hours in Chamonix in Summer. Photo: The-Ski-Guru.
View from the Wanderlust Motel in Chamonix. 36 Hours in Chamonix in Summer. Photo: The-Ski-Guru.
 
The hotel itself was very nice. I’ve found the rooms a bit boxy, but the common areas are great. There was a couple of pool tables and football tables, as well as ping pong, and an indoor pool. The boys loved the freedom they had so they were all over the place.
Lobby at the Wanderlust Motel. Photo: The-Ski-Guru. 36 Hours in Chamonix in Summer.
Lobby at the Wanderlust Motel. Photo: The-Ski-Guru. 36 Hours in Chamonix in Summer.
The young staff was mostly from Argentina (as I am), which I found amusing. Looks there is a scheme that allows you to go to work in Chamonix for one year! And all the Argentines are taking advantage of it!
 
The day we’ve arrived, we stayed on the veranda having a drink and reading while the boys were having a splash. Then we had dinner in the hotel’s restaurant. Their menu was more of a diner, which was nice enough.
The View from Aiguille du Midi towards Grandes Jorasses. 65 x 50 cm. In my shop here.
The View from Aiguille du Midi towards Grandes Jorasses. 65 x 50 cm. In my shop here.

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Best ski resorts for a weekend trip

Le Tour - L'Alpage de Balme. OT Vallée de Chamonix. Photo: Salome Abrial. Best ski resorts for a weekend trip

Imagine yourself leaving your office on a Friday evening, gliding down snow covered slopes for the next two days and returning to your desk on Monday morning with a grin as wide as the mountains.

This unbeatable travel experience is none other than a weekend skiing trip, but it requires a lot of work and rushing around to make this type of a trip a huge success.

Mégève. Photo: Green/Pixabay. Best ski resorts for a weekend trip
Mégève. Photo: Green/Pixabay. Best ski resorts for a weekend trip

From choosing the perfect place to ski carefully and slopes that suit your style of skiing to resort owners willing to take bookings for just two nights, and that too during the peak rush days of the week,there are few ski resorts that are ready to oblige.

So here are a few resorts that not only cater to skiers who only have weekends to spare, but across a broad range of skiing tastes and abilities as well.

Our pick of best resorts to spend your ski weekends at – 

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The Must-Read Guide to the Rhône Alpes

Les Saisies. Photo: C. Martelet. Rhône Alpes Tourisme. The Must-Read Guide to the Rhône Alpes.

The Must-Read Guide to the Rhône Alpes

Here I have put together the must-read guide to the Rhône Alpes. It is pretty inclusive so I’ll do it as a bit of a bullet point. But it is a good start where to see all their ski resorts and which ones could tempt you for your perfect ski holiday.
The Rhône Alpes is an extensive area in the Central West of France. From west to east it offers the Auvergne Volcanoes to Lyon and the French Alps and Mont Blanc. This is the roof of Europe at 4,810 meters.
Pointe d'Ireuse. View on Mont Blanc. Chablais Massif. Photo: Christian Matelet. Auvergne Rhône Alpes Tourisme. The Must-Read Guide to the Rhône Alpes.
Pointe d’Ireuse. View on Mont Blanc. Chablais Massif. Photo: Christian Matelet. Auvergne Rhône Alpes Tourisme. The Must-Read Guide to the Rhône Alpes.
 

This article may contain affiliate/compensated links. For full information, please see our disclaimer here. 

How to get there: The Must-Read Guide to the Rhône Alpes. 

 

By Air:

 
  • Paris Airport- transfer to Lyon is 45 minutes.
  • Geneva Airport
  • Chambery Airport
  • Grenoble Airport
 

By Train:

 
  • Paris – TGV (fast train)
  • London with the Eurostar
  • Brussels with the Thalis
 

By Car:

 
  • Lyon airport: 1-3 hours
  • Geneva airport: 1-3 hours
  • Chambery airport: 1-1.5 hours
  • Grenoble airport: 1-1.5 hours.
Sunset on the Grandes Jorasses. Mont Blanc Massif. Photo: Carmen Villa/Auvergne-Rhône Alpes Tourisme. The Must-Read Guide to the Rhône Alpes.
Sunset on the Grandes Jorasses. Mont Blanc Massif. Photo: Carmen Villa/Auvergne-Rhône Alpes Tourisme. The Must-Read Guide to the Rhône Alpes.
 
 

The French Alps – The Must-Read Guide to the Rhône Alpes

 
The French Alps are the most renown ski mountains in the world. Here are some specs to explain why:
  • It has been three times host of Winter Olympic games:
    • Chamonix in 1925 (first edition)
    • Grenoble, 1968
    • Albertbille, 1992.
  • The 3 Valleys is the world’s largest ski area, with 600 km of ski slopes and more than 200 cable cars. Most of the terrain is above 1800 m altitude.
  • There are different connected ski areas, or if you prefer to call them ski carousels.
    • Les 3 Vallées
    • Paradiski
    • Val d’Isère- Tignes.
  • It has the longest snow season in Europe, from November (October for Tignes this year!) to May.
  • It offers summer skiing from June to August at
    • Val d’Isére-Tignes
    • Les 2 Alpes
 
This guide will pinpoint the unique particularities of the different main ski resorts.
 

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The Panoramic Mont Blanc gondola to re-open 15 June

The Panoramic Mont Blanc gondola to re-open 15 June

The Panoramic Mont Blanc gondola to re-open 15 June

The Panoramic Mont Blanc Gondola has been closed since January 2018, when storm Eleanor laid too much snow on the cables and that cause them breaking and  two gondolas falling down on the Glacier du Géant.

The lift connects the Aiguille du Midi (3,842m) in Chamonix, France to Punta Helbronner (3,466m) in Courmayeur, Italy, and the people that ride on the lift can see the marvellous Mer de Glace underneath. The ride takes 30 minutes to cross 5 km and is only opened in summer.

Around February the Compagnie du Mont Blanc found some more faults, but the company was still optimistic to open by the end of May. Now they are announcing its opening on 15 June. Last summer the gondola has to remained closed in order to change its power cable.

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L’Héliopic Hotel Sweet & Spa in Chamonix- a hotel’s review

Going back to L'Héliopic after a day out in the mountains. Review of L’Héliopic Hotel Sweet & Spa in Chamonix.

L’Heliopic Hotel Sweet & Spa in Chamonix- a hotel’s review

This article may contain affiliate/compensated links. For full information, please see our disclaimer here.

L’Héliopic Hotel Sweet & Spa is a four stars hotel next to the Aiguille du Midi lift in Chamonix. Very well located in Chamonix; it is ideal if you are going up to the Aiguille du Midi and 10 minutes from Chamonix centre.

We have been twice at the hotel with my kids and husband in the summer in our way to Italy. My kids called it ‘the best hotel in the world’ – mostly because it has a dedicated kids’ area with free sweets, juices and a virtual reality machine and computer…. No brainer! The only thing is that while you are having breakfast suddenly your kids -maybe yours are very well educated and don’t do that, but I can say I educated mine, but they still disappear from the breakfast room and suddenly are – where? – obviously in the kids’ area having more sweets than their little bellies can bear!

The bar at L'Héliopic. Review of L’Héliopic Hotel Sweet & Spa in Chamonix.
The bar at L’Héliopic. Review of L’Héliopic Hotel Sweet & Spa in Chamonix.

My kids would also say that the spa area is really good, which it is indeed! With a nice large pool, a jacuzzi, an ice grotto, an ice dive standing pool, a sauna and hammam, plus a lovely relaxation area with hanging cocoons, it is a very nice place where to finish your day. It can get busy, so choose your time during the early afternoon or a bit late, just before it closes in the evening.

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What’s new in Chamonix for the 2018/19-ski season.

Le Brevent in Chamonix - ski with the views to the Mont Blanc. OT Vallée de Chamonix - Photo by Salome Abrial. What's new in Chamonix for the 2018-19-ski season.

What’s new in Chamonix for the 2018/19-ski season.

Chamonix is the capital of skiing, and it does not cater only to the daredevil, extreme skier, but also to families and beginners. Its different areas have something for everyone. Chamonix is a long valley within tall mountains, with a series of ski resorts on both sides of this valley.

Ready for the adventure - Vallée Blanche, Chamonix- what is new for Chamonix's 2018/19-ski season - Never ski the Vallée Blanche without a ski guide. Photo: Salome Abrial. OT Chamonix.
Ready for the adventure – Vallée Blanche, Chamonix- what is new for Chamonix’s ski season 2018-19 – Never ski the Vallée Blanche without a ski guide. Photo: Salome Abrial. OT Chamonix.

With 13,000 inhabitants Chamonix is a lively town that caters to tourists in all seasons. 400 shops opened all days, all year round and 130 restaurants can entertain the most discerning client, and those who don’t want to spend their bonuses. There are plenty of options for everyone.

Located in the border of France with Italy and just very near Switzerland, one can stay in Chamonix and ski the three countries with the Mont Blanc Unlimited pass. If you want to only ski in the Chamonix Valley Ski Areas, then purchase the Chamonix Le Pass.

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How not being scammed when contracting your ski chalet holiday

One of the chalets at Crans Luxury Lodges. How not being scammed when contracting your ski chalet holiday. Photo Crans Luxury Lodges.

How not being scammed when contracting your ski chalet holiday

Each year there are lots of skiers and boarders that travel to the ski resort where they have chosen to take their holiday to find out that the ski chalet that looked so perfect and with such a great rate does not exist. These are tips compiled by our friends at Chamonix All Year so you don’t finished up being conned out of a booked ski chalet.

As Chamonix All Year says: … “if you feel that something just isn’t quite right, follow the steps below and check out your gut feeling before parting with your money, to give you peace of mind”

Auberge de la Maison - Courmayeur - another of the special properties offered by The-Ski-Guru TRAVEL. How not being scammed when contracting your ski chalet holiday.
Auberge de la Maison – Courmayeur – another of the special properties offered by The-Ski-Guru TRAVEL. How not being scammed when contracting your ski chalet holiday.

Chamonix All Year has been operating for 15 years, which makes them pretty knowledgeable in giving advice on what you have to look so you are not disappointed.

So, what to take into account when looking for your special ski chalet. Ask you these questions: these are all tips of Chamonix All Year

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Richard Branson got ‘seconds from death’ on charity Mont Blanc climb

Sir Richard Branson and his son Sam almost did not make it in a charity climb to the Mont Blanc. Picture PA. Nepal Herald.

Richard Branson got ‘seconds from death’ on charity Mont Blanc climb

“Three seconds earlier we would all certainly have been killed. I have never come so close to losing my son,” Sir Richard said.

From: Nepal Herald and Sky News.

The 68-year-old, along with Sam and his nephew Noah Devereux reached the top of the mountain on Saturday afternoon after completing the 33-day Virgin Strive Challenge – a 2,000km trek across Western Europe.

Sir Richard Branson climbs Mont Blanc in the Alps in the final stage of the Virgin Strive Challenge (Picture: PA) Nepal Herald.
Sir Richard Branson climbs Mont Blanc in the Alps in the final stage of the Virgin Strive Challenge (Picture: PA) Nepal Herald.

A core team of 13 hiked, climbed, cycled and even used sea kayaks to complete their journey from Sardinia to the top of Mont Blanc – raising money for the charity Big Change which helps disadvantaged young people in the UK.

After completing the climb, Sir Richard said: ‘God forbid, a few seconds earlier it would not have been as pretty – so I’m very thankful we got through it.

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QC Terme, the Italian spa experience arrives in Chamonix

A new QC Terme opened in Chamonix - a sauna surrounded by skis.

QC Terme, the Italian brand of deluxe spas has just opened in Chamonix, by the Mont Blanc. There has been for years another QC Terme on the other side of the Mont Blanc, at Pré de St-Didier.

In this new QC Terme spa, nature is the protagonist, offering an indulging experience of swimming amidst the snow and grassy meadows.

Infinity pool at the QC Terme in Chamonix.
Infinity pool at the QC Terme in Chamonix.

The spa has an unexpected combination of warmth and freshness, water and earth. Within the spa’s 3,000 square meters there are more than 30 wellness practices, offering a multi-sensory journey. An infinity pool with a reflection that merges with the water of the adjacent Alpine lake and the Bossons Glacier.

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