Group and private lessons	Ski schools	Private instructors	Guides
Lift passes	Ski equipment	Ski areas	Transfers

Booking group lessons

Group lessons in comparison to private lesson are much cheaper and if you have a good instructor and the group size isn't too large they can be very good value for money. If you're skiing during the school holidays (and remember the French school holidays run for 4 weeks starting early Feb) it is worth taking advantage of ski schools that offer smaller group sizes. If you're outside these holidays then usually the group sizes are much smaller anyway.There are three things to look out for when comparing group lessons and ski schools: 1) number of hours 2)the comparative price 3) maximum group size.

Private lessons

Private lessons are expensive, but if you have a great ski instructor they can be very good value for money in that you often learn - in a couple of hours - what it might take you a week to learn in a busy group lesson. If there are a few of you at a similar level then we would definitely recommend private lessons, especially if you're here during the peak weeks. We work with several excellent ski instructors whom we highly recommend. These ski instructors work for different ski schools, so although for planning purposes it is best to contact them direct you will then have to book them through their ski schools. Please see the individual ski schools below for the prices.
Please note: These Ski Instructors are very busy during the high season so it is important to book them well in advance.

There are several ski schools in the valley. We have worked with the following three on a regular basis: Ecole Ski Francais (ESF), Evolution 2 (Evo 2) and The British Alpine Ski School (BASS)
All 3 ski schools offer group lessons for children and adults and private lessons.

ESF - Ecole Ski Francais.

Group Lessons The ESF group lessons are good value and flexible but groups sizes can be up to a maximum of 10 (though they are usually only full during school holiday weeks) Lessons can be booked by the day, (although it is recommended that you do book in for the first day) and run from 9.15 to 11.45 or 14.00/14.30 to 16.30/17.00 or you can book morning and afternoon and children's lunch if required. For children who can ski well, the ESF also offer competition courses - training in giant slalom and slalom. These run from 9.15 to 13.45 for the competition starter course and 9.15 to 16.30 for the competition class and competition elite. The ESF also offer lessons in Cross country skiing and snowshoeing.
Private lessons. ESF offer private lessons for 1 hour & 2 hours for 1-2 people and 3-5 people. They also offer 4 hours (half-day) or 8 hours (full day) for up to 6 people. The prices vary low and high season. (Winter 2010 prices: 2hrs 1-2p 85-120euros & 3-5p 110-135euros). The half and full day are good value for large groups. (4 hours 160-185euros & full day 260-305euros)
Further information click here and scroll down to the bottom of the page.

Evolution Two

Group lessons Evolution 2 are more expensive than ESF and offer slightly less hours, but they also offer smaller group sizes. Beginners can take group lessons of 5 x 2 hours from 12 to 2, maximum group size of 6. (Winter 2010 price €145 pp) For the intermediate and advanced they offer 4 lessons of 2.5hours from 9.15 to 11.45 (weekdays except Wednesday) maximum group size: 8 (Winter 2010 price €145 pp). They also offer all mountain courses and women only courses. Private lessons Evolution 2 only offer private lessons for 4hrs or 8hrs (Winter 2010 price for 4 hours: 175euros for 1-2 people and 199euros for 3-6 for 4 hours)

BASS

BASS offer group lessons for Children and adults. The children's group lesson are 4 x 3 hours per week with a maximum of 6 to a group (Winter 2010 price £162.00pp). The adult lessons are 2 x 3 hours (winter 2010 price £99.00) also with a maximum group size of 6. BASS also offer family lessons which are for families who want to learn together, the group size is 8. 2 x 3 hours (Winter 2010 price £85.00pp)

Private lessons BASS offer 1 hour, 2 hour, 3 hours (half-day) and 6 hours (full day) private lessons. Based on Winter 2010 rates, a 2 hour private lesson for 1 - 2 people is £125.00 and for 3-5 people £155. For up to 6 people 3 hours is £220 and 6 hours £395.

All the instructors we recommend are english speaking.
Magali Cretton is french and works for the ESF. email
Patricija Raffaelli. Patricija is Swedish and works for the ESF email
Caroline Watters. Caroline is english and works for Evolution 2. email

If you'd like to go off piste then we strongly recommend you hire a guide. The ratio of skiers to guide depends on what you would like to do. Normally a guide can take up to 6 skiers for example on the Vallee Blanche. If you wanted to do something more extreme he would reduce the number at his descretion. We have been working with guides from the Chamonix valley for the last 10 years and are happy to recommend one to you.
Further info: email us and let us know what you'd like to do.

The Compagnie du Mont Blanc is the name of the company that runs the lifts in Chamonix. There are two types of lift pass available, one for those who prefer to ski on piste and a second one that includes more lifts for those who want to do some off-piste skiing as well.
Chamonix Le pass
gives you access to Chamonix's 4 main ski resorts these include Le Tour, Grand Montets, Flegere and Brevant. It does not include access to Les Houches or the top tickets at Grand Montets (off-piste run -recommended to do with a guide) or the Aiguille du midi (cable car for the start of the off-piste vallee blanche). If you are not planning on doing any off-piste and would prefer to stick to the pistes then this pass is the best pass for you. If you decide mid week you would like to do either the top tickets at the Grand Montets or take the Aiguille du midi cable car up just for the spectacular view then you can pay extra to do this.
Mont Blanc Unlimited
This pass offers you access to all the lifts that Chamonix Le Pass does, as well as the "top tickets" at the Grand Montets, the aiguille du midi cable car, Les Houches and skiing in Courmayeur, Italy (a 45 minute drive from Chamonix).

Prices
Passes can be bought for 1 or multiple days or for 4 hours,(and DO NOT require photos) but there is not a lot of difference between the full day and the four hour pass. Passes for Children aged 3 and under are free and are cheaper for childen up to the age of 16. They do offer a very good deal for families, two adults pay the normal rate, but the first child is half price and any other children are free.
Winter prices 2010: A six day adult Chamonix Le Pass is €200 and a Mont Blanc Unlimited is €240.

We use two ski shops for ski rental. The first is called Stamos Sports and is within 5 minutes walk from the chalet on route to the Grand Montets ski resort. The second, Sanglard, is at the foot of the Grand Montets ski resort. Both offer a very good service. Sanglard also offer ski lockers if you wish to leave your skis there overnight and will if you order on line they will, following your inspection of the equipment in the shop, deliver it to the chalet.

There are lots of transfer companies in the Chamonix valley. For the best value we recommend the following companies. If you find a better deal do let us know and we'll put them on.
For one to four persons:
Cham Van : €25
Alpy Bus : €25

For a minibus for 5-8 people we recommend:
Mountain Drop Offs : €180 one way or €320 return

For a minibus for up to 13 people we recommend:
Alpy Bus : €240 each way

The Chamonix valley is famous for its high mountains, breathtaking scenery and its skiing and snowboarding. With 5 separate resorts in one valley, 87 miles of rideable piste, an incredible 2850 meters of vertical descent and some of the most breathtaking views the alps have to offer, it is no wonder so many people return year after year and those of us that live here never feel the need to go elsewhere.

Grand Montets

Directly opposite the chalet and just five minutes walk away the Grand Montets ski resort is one of the best known in the valley. Famous for its extreme skiing, it is most revered by the extreme skier who can enjoy one of the many long black runs or easily head off piste into some of the bowls. The Grand Montets also has many blue and red runs and a great home run and can be as easily enjoyed by an intermediate skier.

Chosalets

Two minutes from the bottom of the Grand Montets is Chosalets. Chosalets has two pummels, one small for complete beginners and one longer for intermediates. It's a great place for children, begginers or advanced. The more advanced can take advantage of the great hidden ski paths through the woods that have been made by local children and send you over jumps and in between the trees.

Le Tour

Five minutes drive up the road from the chalet and at the very end of the valley, Le Tour is a great resort for all levels of riders. At the top of the Gondola you can take the 4 man chair which gives you the option of two blue/red runs or a cat track which takes you over the otherside of the mountain. A lovely long run through the forests takes you down to a lift on the other side of the mountain, where you have the option to head on back to the top of the mountain or thanks to a new lift installed last year you can now carry on and ride all the way down to Vallorcine near the Swiss boarder.

La Vormaine

At the foot of Le Tour La Vormainne is another great place for beginners or intermediates. With three pummels, one short and two long, you can start from scratch or work on perfecting your skills before heading up the Gondola to the rest of Le Tour. Vormainne also has a run through the woods (though this time pisted) which is great for children.

La Flegere

La Flegere is half way between Chamonix and Argentiere. It has a huge expanse of pistes, the majority of them being blue/red with some black and one green which is a nice run but it starts of slightly steep. Flegere is the first resort to get the sun so it is a great place to start in the mornings. Flegere is good for both intermediate and advanced and is a favourite for snowboarders who wish to make the most of its natural kickers.
Not quite as much extreme or easily reached off piste (although the start of some great backcountry hiking and riding if with a Guide) as the Grand Montets but with as many runs and more due to its link to Brevent.

Brevent

Brevent lies directly above the town of Chamonix, and is linked to Flegere. With beginner slopes at the base of the mountain, the resort itself is a mixture of intermediate and advanced. South facing like Flegere it gets a lot of sun during the day and has a spectacular cable car that links one side of the mountain to the other.

L'Aiguille du Midi

L'Aiguille du Midi is world famous for being the gateway to the extremes. It hosts the highest cable car in Western Europe that rises to a staggering 3842m. It is also the start of the Vallee Blanche, an unforgettable 20km guided trip down fro the top of the midi to Chmonix town some 3000 vertical metres below.

Piste Info

There are 62 lifts in the Chamonix valley, of which:
Cable cars: 7
Chair lifts: 16
Drage lifts: 33
Gondolas: 6

Levels of Runs (%)

Beginner (green) 35% Intermediate (red) 45% Advanced (black) 20%