Chamonix

Inside guide to the French Alps – OUT OF SEASON

November… a cold winter season perfect for a ski trip to the french alps. WRONG! Its actually perfect for an expensive nothing to do break in the snowy mountains of Chamonix.

Ski Season

All ski resorts in the French Aps are partially open from the 8th December and fully open from the 15th December – 22nd April. From May till November all ski resorts are closed. (yes, that does include cable cars)

So what is there to do between May and November in the French Alps?

We would highly recommend visiting Mer De Glace (Sea Of Ice) – €30 will get you a return journey where you can hop on a little red train leaving from the centre of Chamonix to Mer De Glace. Its a 20 minute ride through the beautiful forest where you can take in the panoramic views up to Frances largest glaciers.

At the top you will find a small gift shop and cafe where you can enjoy hot chocolates and toasties. Honestly their toasties are delicious!

Unfortunately the Ice Cave is closed between May – November. Disappointed? Yes, me too. But closed attractions go hand in hand with cheap travel.
On the plus side the train runs every hour and there is no time limit, so spend as much time taking it all in from 1913 metres high.

Relaxing In Chamonix

QC Terme Chamonix Spa. We personally didn’t visit this spa because the hotel we stayed at had its own, however having spoken to many locals we was told that QC Terme is the place to be and judging by the pictures I’ve seen… well, the locals definitely know what they’re talking about. This spa provides breathtaking views of Bossons Glacier as you relaxe in a hot steamy pool. A spa day here could cost you between €40-€70 per person – www.qcterme.com

Chamonix Town Centre

You can have a wonder through the town of Chamonix, whats wonderful about visiting the town out of season is that you can take your time walking around and snapping photos without the normal hustle and bustle you’d expect from a town centre – shop without any crowds and find some of the most divine restaurants and dessert shops France has to offer.

Must Try Food:
Creme bruleé
Tartiflette
Cheese fondue
Macaroni

If your doing cheap travel, then I’d avoid eating at restaurants everyday as this can set your budget back by quite a bit. We paid €70 for 2 beef burgers, chips and a drink so I’d stick to McDonald’s.

Where to stay?

We stayed in a unique, cosy, rustic 4* spa hotel called Le Refuge Des Aiglons. This hotel is a 10 minute walk from the town centre of Chamonix and the bus station is just across the street making it easy to travel around. This hotel has a happy and trendy atmosphere with plenty of board games and a cocktail bar to keep you “hydrated”. This is where we spent most of our evenings competing at games and winning free drinks. Do you like to be pampered? I know I do! You can enjoy a heated outdoor swimming pool and Jacuzzi or unwind in a artificial starry sky steam room or the sauna cabin. Guests have free access to the spa and visitors are charged a €25 entry fee for a 2hr session.
https://aiglons.com

Summary

So overall Chamonix is a beautiful place to visit – filled with character and delicious food, we’d definitely recommend coming in-season to get the full experience of what this place has to offer. Unless you want to avoid the crowds and just relax, then we’d say out of season is the time to go. With all said and done, we absolutely love Chamonix and would definitely be back when we have some more cash to splash!

You can find out what to pack via our Packing Essentials section.