Hotel guide to Chamonix

Chalets and apartments are usually the most popular accommodation options when it comes to ski holidays. They tend to offer more room, more flexibility in terms of catering and, sometimes, better prices. However, hotels are also a great choice for those visiting Chamonix, especially when you're not coming for a full week.

Why book a hotel room instead of a chalet or an apartment in Chamonix?
If you aren't planning on a full week ski holiday, hotels can offer much more flexibility on dates, plus many can't be beaten in terms of extended services and facilities such as gourmet restaurants, spas, swimming pools, fitness rooms, tennis courts, childcare, bike and/or ski hire, flexible catering options...the choices are endless. And even though some apartment and chalet companies have recently made their booking requirements more flexible, the reality is that many can only be booked for six or seven days especially in peak season.

Chamonix has a great choice of five-star hotels offering plenty of grandiose glamour, palatial premises, and beautiful bars and restaurants. As you'd expect, most of them have their own spa facilities and quite a few have their own ski hire shops in-house too, so you don't have to travel far to pick up your gear when you arrive. This also means that there's somewhere to store it at the end of the day. From chic, elegant and modern designer establishments to the more traditional chalet-style hotels, Chamonix has plenty to offer at this end of the market.

Our favourite luxury hotels in Chamonix
These are the Chamonix hotels that stand out from the rest thanks to their top-of-the-range facilities and services:

1. Grand Hotel des Alpes
   A luxury boutique hotel in the heart of Chamonix, the Grand Hotel des Alpes has been welcoming discerning guests since 1840. This stunning traditional establishment offers only 30 rooms overlooking either Mont Blanc or Brévent, a wellness centre and spa, an elegant, terraced lounge bar and a cosy library.
   
2. Hotel Mont Blanc
   Extensively refurbished in 2013, Hotel Mont Blanc is a chic establishment with a contemporary-meets-traditional design. Its 40 rooms have been devised by Sybille de Margerie who's worked on world-renowned luxury hotels all around France. There's a swimming pool, a spa, a lounge bar and a restaurant here.
   
3. Hameau Albert 1er Hotel
   Home to the only two-Michelin-starred restaurant in Chamonix, the Hameau Albert Premier offers an oasis of peace and tranquility just metres from the town centre. With suites and rooms furnished in a traditional style, a spa offering an extensive programme of health, fitness, beauty and massage treatments and a second restaurant with a more relaxing feel, this is Alpine luxury at its best.

Chamonix has a good selection of aparthotels (apartment buildings with hotel facilities) that are great for groups or families sharing accommodation. Many of these apartments can accommodate small groups and, for larger parties, you can rent more than one.

Top group-friendly aparthotels in Chamonix
These are our favourite apartment residences with hotel facilities and services in Chamonix, offering spacious accommodation for groups.

1. La Ginabelle
   Part of the Pierre & Vacances Premium range, La Ginabelle is a located near the Montenvers train station and the slopes at Les Planards and Brévent. This three-star residence not only offers fully-equipped apartments sleeping up to eight people, but also a spa and a fitness room.
   
2. Chamois Blanc
   Only 100m from the Aiguille du Midi cable car, Chamois Blanc has apartments that can accommodate up to five people. Pets are welcome here upon payment of a small fee, and your beds will be made before you arrive.
   
3. Residence Vallorcine
   Situated in the charming village of Vallorcine, Residence Vallorcine is a five-star mountain eco-resort providing some of the best apartment rentals in the Chamonix valley. Inside the building, you'll find a spa with a large swimming pool, two saunas, a steam room and various treatments, whilst outdoors there's an ice-skating rink during the winter months and a mini-golf course on the terrace during the summer. Apartments here sleep up to eight people.

Most hotels in Chamonix are more than happy to welcome young children and many of them offer family rooms. However, there are many other things to consider, such as distance to the pistes, amenities and services within the hotel and facilities in the neighbouring area.

Best family-friendly hotels in Chamonix
This is where we'd book a room if we were travelling with young children.

1. Hotel Hermitage Paccard
   Opened in 1920, the charming chalet-style Hotel Hermitage Paccard has been run by the same family for three generations. This cosy and warm establishment is perfect for families with its large triple rooms and free buffet breakfast for children aged under 10. Kids will love the games room while adults will appreciate its spa and lounge bar.
   
2. Le Refuge des Aiglons Hotel
   A contemporary mountain refuge just steps from the Aiguille du Midi cable car, the four-star Refuge des Aiglons Hotel is a great base for families coming to Chamonix. A dedicated games room and reading sections with comics and books for all ages will keep the little ones entertained – or they can take part in their unique Escape Games and figure out who stole Carrington's jewel. The spa even has child-friendly beauty treatments and massages for those aged six to 14.
   
3. Aiguille du Midi Hotel
   Located just outside Chamonix in the quiet town of Les Bossons, the family-run Aiguille du Midi Hotel is a more budget-friendly alternative. As well as a sauna and jacuzzi, the hotel has table tennis, table football, pool and a selection of board games, plus an outdoor pool and tennis courts open in the summer.

There are plenty of cheap hotels in Chamonix offering decent quality rooms at reasonable prices. Many are located in the town centre, making them a good place to base yourself on your mountain biking or ski holiday while saving some money at the same time.

Top best-value hotels in Chamonix
In our opinion these hotels offer the most "bang for your buck".

1. Le Vert Hotel
   Overlooking the beautiful Les Gaillands lake and the Mont-Blanc mountain range, Le Vert Hotel is an affordable boutique-style hotel in a tranquil setting within walking distance of Chamonix centre. This eco-friendly establishment is also well-known for its gastropub where you can enjoy a chilled pint of beer at après-ski while you listen to live music or an authentic Sunday roast.
   
2. Rocky Pop Hotel
   Located in the family-favourite town of Les Houches, just in front of a bus stop that'll take you to the slopes in no time, the Rocky Pop Hotel is a funky establishment offering budget-friendly rooms accommodating up to 12 people. The hotel is packed with plenty of things to keep you entertained throughout your holiday, including arcade games, a photo booth, several activity corners, table tennis, darts and a boules lawn in the summer.
   
3. UCPA Holiday Centre
   The UCPA hostel is just around the corner from the central square in Chamonix with all its bars and restaurants. They offer affordable, all-inclusive activity holidays in Chamonix where you'll get ski hire, pass and lessons with the price of your room.

If being based close to Chamonix's ski slopes is your priority, then finding a hotel within walking distance of the valley's lifts is a must.

Our favourite hotels near the lifts
If we were to choose, these would be our favourite hotels in Chamonix with ski-to-door access.

1. La Folie Douce Hotel
   The Brévent ski area offers some of the most easily accessible beginner and intermediate skiing in the Chamonix valley and La Folie Douce Hotel is located right at its foot. Famous around the world for its unique brand of après-ski, this hotel is not only the place to be when coming down from the slopes but also a great place to stay when coming to Chamonix on holidays. Kids will love its Kid's Palace and spacious family rooms while adults will enjoy the après-ski atmosphere, cocktail club and wide range of restaurants. There's also a spa, gym, yoga lessons and in-house ski hire.
   
2. Les Lanchers Hotel
   Located in the upmarket village of Le Praz, Les Lanchers offers easy access to the Flégère pistes. This charming hotel offers 19 ensuite rooms and a popular restaurant amongst locals and guests alike.
   
3. Le Montana Hotel
   Perhaps the most famous of all the ski areas in the Chamonix valley are the pistes of Les Grands Montets and, if you want to be as close as possible to some of the most challenging skiing in Europe, then booking in at Hôtel Le Montana would be a wise choice. It's only 100 metres from the base of the lift! There's an infinity pool on the rooftop as well as a jacuzzi with fantastic views of Mont Blanc, as well as a lounge bar with fireplace to unwind after a day on the slopes.