The French Alps - France 2014 - page 1249

views, are larger and brighter, and have little balconies...but also attract noise from le café
below, which closes at 20:00 (Db-€70-104, Tb-€90-123, Qb-€105-142, higher prices are
for rooms with view and balcony, breakfast-€9, Wi-Fi, 11 Rue de l'Hôtel de Ville, tel. 04
50 53 11 07, www.hotel-le-chamonix.com , [e-mail] ).
$ Hôtel Aiguille Verte* provides simple one-star comfort at appropriate prices in a
creaky 12-room chalet a 10-minute walk from the center of town, toward the village of
Les Praz. Rooms are clean and cheery; there's no elevator but only two floors to navigate
(Db-€67-72, 633 Rue Joseph Vallot, tel. [phone], [e-mail] ) .
$ Le Vagabond Gîtes offers the best cheap digs in Chamonix in a fun chalet just
south of the town center. Most rooms have four to six bunks, while the top floor is one big
dorm with 20 beds. All rooms have sinks. The owner is Welsh, the staff is a mix of other
British expats, and the feel is relaxed, with a bar and outside terrace (€31-35/person, in-
cludes breakfast, one-time €5.50 charge for linens, reception closed 10:00-16:30, 305 Av-
enue Ravanel le Rouge, tel. [phone], www.vaga.eu , [e-mail] ).
Near Chamonix
If Chamonix overwhelms you, spend the night in one of the valley's often-overlooked,
lower-profile villages.
$$ Hôtel l'Aiguille du Midi***, a mountain retreat, lies in the village of Les Bos-
sons, about two miles from Chamonix toward Annecy. It's run by the English-speaking
Farini family in a park-like setting with point-blank views of Mont Blanc and the Bossons
Glacier. This family-friendly place has a swimming pool, a clay tennis court, table tennis,
a massage room, and a laundry room to boot. The alpine-comfortable rooms come with
OldWorldbathrooms,manyhavedeckswithviews,andseveralaregoodforfamilies.The
classy restaurant offers à la carte and menu options, with menus from €26 (Db-€94-150,
Tb-€126, Qb-from €150, ask for these special Rick Steves rates for 2014 when you re-
serve, elevator, guest computer, Wi-Fi, easy by train, get off at Les Bossons, tel. 04 50 53
00 65, www.hotel-aiguilledumidi.com , [e-mail] ) .
$$ Hôtel Slalom*** in nearby little Les Houches makes a lovely, contemporary
mountain base. The rooms and public spaces are stylish, and the owners are friendly (Db-
€100, 44 Rue de Bellevue, tel. [phone], www.hotelslalom.net ).
Refuges and Refuge-Hotels near Chamonix
Chamonix has the answer for hikers who want to sleep high above, but aren't into packing
it in: refuge-hotels (generally open mid-June to mid- or late September, depending on
snow levels). Refuge-hotels usually have some private rooms (but mostly dorm rooms),
hot showers down the hall, and restaurants. Most expect you to take dinner and breakfast