From: jtb@vxcrna.cern.ch (John Baines)
Subject: Re: Skiing in Argentiere(sp?), France
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Organization: European Organization for Nuclear Research, CERN
Date: Sat, 12 Sep 1992 05:19:00 GMT

>We are planning our winter holiday at the moment and our favourite is
>Argentiere(sp?) in France. This town is supposed to be close to Chamonix,
>Mont Blanc area. My questions are:
> 
>Has anybody ever been there for skiing? What is your expierience? From the
>ads it seems to be a lovely place with good skiing possibilities up to
>3500m. Will there be enough snow and good wheather during Christmas/New
>Year period? Is it cheap, or lets say not as expensive as in Austria?
>Anyone a better idea where to go to for skiing (in Europe :-)?
>
Yes Argentiere is about 5km from Chamonix, linked by a ski bus and
you can buy a ski pass that covers the entire Chamonix valley, four
areas in all I think. It certainly is very scenic and Argentiere has one 
very good run (unpisted black) that runs beside a glacier, spectacular views.
But apart from that there are only a few other runs. Having said
that enthusiasts never tire of the resort. But cheap it is not!!
The lift pass is one of the most expensive in europe, and on top 
of that you have to pay a suppliment for the lift up to the
top of the glacier run (50FF a go I think). 
If you add in the other resorts in the valley, there is enough 
skiing, but its not very convenient,
you'll have to use the bus to get from one bit to the next.
Argentiere village is very quiet. Again you will need a bus trip to
get to Chamonix for restaurants etc.

Other suggestions?
It all depends what you want, for great skiing and skking convenience
you can't beat the purpose built french resorts like Tignes and 
Meribel/Val Thorens They have kilometres of piste and skiing right up to 
your door. These are very cheap if you stay in a self catering appartment
(we go in Janurary for about 1350FF per person including lift pass
- the lift pass is worth about 850FF), but
more expensive if you want a hotel. A chalet holiday is a good
compromise (chalet accomodation with a Chalet girl to cook for you - these 
are mainly run by British companies) we got a last minute bargain last year.
The down side is they are a bit bleak, all concrete, and theres nothing
much to do other than ski (Meribel is supposed to be the least bleak,
but Tignes is where we have stayed and its ok). 

For alpine charm, scenery and mountain restaurants Zermatt and 
Wengen (and Chamonix/Argentiere) are hard to beat, but are pricey and not 
good for skiing convenience, though the skiing itself is good.
I would have thought Autria was cheaper, but maybe I'm out of date.
Zermatt and Chamonix also have reasonable sized town centres.

The weather at Christmas is un-reliable. Often there is some
early snow at the beginning of December, then it all disapears
for Christmas. On the other hand blizzards are also more likely then.
ie. its generally less reliable.
Later in the season you are more certain of snow and nice long sunny
days, but then there has been less and less snow these last few years.
Best to choose somewhere like Tignes or Zermatt with a glacier, although
Argentiere is probably ok. Its high, but you arn't skiing on a glacier.	

If you can possibly avoid the period Christmas to new year, do!! The
queues will be horendous!!! If you have to go then, choose on of the
purpose built french resorts like Tignes that can cope with the capacity. 
The queue for the Argentiere glacier will be over an hour I guarentee you 
(literaly). 
The best time to go is after new year but before mid february when the
french school holidays start. This period is the cheapest of the year
and the pistes will be empty. The snow and weather arn't as reliable
as the end of the year, but again if you choose somewhere with a
glacier you can't loose.
           Hope this helps
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