You need to know this Before Selecting an Apartment
Chamonix Ski Resort

Searching for an Apartment

Chamonix... so many... and all the ads say the same thing.

...wonderful central location.

…and of course, the Chamonix apartment will be advertised close to a lift.

...they are all snow covered.

...and, they are all close to transport.

But, what exactly are those lifts? What is that area of town really like? What if it turns out to be in a dank dark budget location?

The thing about the Chamonix resort is that it is huge, massive, enormous and so spread out that it takes an hour to get from one end of the resort to the other end. So, it really does make a difference where your short listed apartment is located and if you consider that location desirable.

Here's the checklist to help you with your selection of a Chamonix apartment:

Checklist of considerations for selecting an Apartment
Chamonix France

• Name of the village or hamlet
• Where is this along the Chamonix Valley? 
  

Read:  Chamonix France: Resort Orientation

• What is the closest ski region?
• Is this region where I'd choose to explore?
• Is this suitable for the family/ friends?
• If not, why would we stay in this locality?
  

Read: Review of Chamonix Groomed Regions, Chamonix Lifts

• Is the pass valid here?

Read: Review of Chamonix Pass

• Ok, so we have to commute. Is this close to free public transport - train or bus?
• Where is the closest train stop?
• Where is the closest bus stop?
• Must remember to ask the host for a carte d' hote for our non-skiing friends
  

Read:  Getting Around Chamonix

Check out:

Ski Bus Route
Bus Schedule
"Le Mulet" Route and Schedule,

• Are there shops nearby the shortlisted Chamonix apartment?  Where to purchase groceries? I'd like a supermarket with a good selection of familiar English goods.
• Are there decent restaurants nearby? Coffee shops? Where does one go apres' ski?
• What other amenties and entertainment is there in the village? Cinema, ice skating, alpine paths for walks through the forest, guided tours?
  
• Where do we go to party?

Read : Chamonix Mont Blanc, Chamonix Town Center, Argentiere

• Is there transport at night?
• When does the night bus terminate operation?

Read: Night Bus Schedule

• The bottom line - is this village charming enough for our tastes?
• Is the Chamonix apartment ski-in ski-out? Does it matter?
• Would we prefer to be in a bustling location?
• Would we prefer to be in the beautiful part of the resort?
  

I've been there, readers, searched for ages trawling through ads that all say the same thing, and the worse thing is, there does not seem to be any site that's sufficiently independent to say it like it is.

I've seen the actual locations and now report on their relative closeness to the center of town and to the type of skiing.

After an enormous amount of research, we selected our "apartment Chamonix" which was right in the middle of town, as it turned out, the beautiful part of town.  We paid a premium for this location but it was well worth the cost and the effort as it made for a truly happy fun and memorable vacation.

I was also very glad not to have selected some other apartment. These had been “written up” and I was close to selecting an apartment described as within steps from the cable car terminal. While it sounded attractive, it turned out the terminal, the Aiguille du Midi cable car is NOT a lift to groomed pistes. What a fortunate escape.

More on Accommodation in Chamonix: