Argentière, Les Houches & Vallorcine

Argentière is the other main resort centre, where there are more chalets. Commerce and resort life is based along one main road which is lined with ski and food shops, bars and restaurants. In contrast to Chamonix town it feels more like a traditional ski resort with more typical alpine charm. All facilities are within walking distance including access to the skiing. Les Grands Montets ski area is a 5 minute stroll from the ski resort centre while the easier slopes of Le Tour are an easy 10 minute drive away. There's a train link to Chamonix with a regular service running from early morning until early evening. Argentière has everything you need for a week's ski holiday except for a nightclub.

Vallorcine over the Col des Montets and 2kms from the Swiss border is growing in popularity with plans for a new resort centre and new property developments in the next few years. At present Vallorcine - and the neighbouring village of Le Buet - are embryonic ski resorts. Between them they have a couple of restaurants, a couple of local bars and limited accommodation in hotels and gites. The main attraction is the efficient and modern gondola lift link that takes skiers up to the back of Le Tour. Like Argentière both are linked to Chamonix by train, a sometimes essential connection when heavy snowfall shuts the Col des Montets and cuts off the villages from the rest of the valley.

Les Houches at the north end of the valley, before you reach Chamonix on the motorway from Geneva, has been on the map for slightly longer. Its linear resort centre develops year on year and it is home to many of the younger year-round residents who can't afford Chamonix's high property prices. The [name] main lift out of the ski resort was upgraded for the 2006/07 ski season - at a cost of several million Euros.

Visitors can also stay in the satellite villages of Le Lavancher, Les Praz, Les Bossons, Les Tines and Montroc.