Chamonix or nearby village?
 

I'll have 2-3 days in Chamonix after completing the Tour Mt Blanc walk, in July. I'd like to relax and do some day walks to explore different aspects from the walk just done. Can anyone please 1) suggest the most interesting day walks from Chamonix, 2) . a nice mid-range clean/comfortable hotel in Chamonix or 3) would I be better off staying in a smaller town/village close by, in which case any recommendations? Thanks.

hello
there are indeed great walks. I went to the office du tourisme / syndicat d'initiative
firme Chamonix is nothing more than a big village. With amenities

Try Hotel L'Arve. Leaving tomorrow to stay for our 4th time there. Don't hike so no help there. Train connections with surrounding towns not good IME. City itself is quite nice and good dining.

Chamonix is a bit too fancy and expensive for me. I stayed in Sallanches.

Thanks everyone, diverse thoughts on Chamonix, but for a couple of days it will probably work I'll check out that hotel, thanks.

I didn't pay.

Can I narrow the accommodation request down to La Tour, not far from Chamonix? I know there's Trip Advisor and 100 other 'advisors' out there but I've always had good success with Fodorite's personal recommendations.

oops, sorry I meant Argentiere. Any thoughts?

Argentiere is OK. Maybee you will check Vallorcine and Le Buet too, in order to stay outside the TMB trail that you will know already.

Thanks everyone for your help. I've settled for the Rocky Pop Hotel, near Les Houches. Must remember to travel out of high season next time, but looking forward to the trip nevertheless.

Hi, I see you've already gotten a hotel, so I'll just suggest some day walks. I was in Chamonix for a week last september, and did some very nice day walks. One

Mont Buet from Le Buet - long, but extremely nice hike. 1800m height meters up and down
Take the bus to Le Tour and hike to Col de Balme, Aiguillette des Posettes and back. You could use the gondola to shorten the distance
From Les Houches, take the gondola to Bellevue, and hike to Nic d'Aigle.
Take the tramway from Chamonix to Montevers. Explore the ice grotto here, eat luch at the restaurant just above the glacier, then hike to Plan de'Aiguelle and take the gondola down to Chamonix.
And of course the most classic and perhaps beautiful of the day hikes from Chamonix. The "Grand Balcon" from Flegere to Planpraz. But you will probably be doing this as a part of the TMB. But there are several options by using the gondolas to Flegere and/or Planpraz. You could do Flegere to Lac Blanc and back via Col d'Index. Or Flegere to Col d'Index, continue to Lac Cornu and then down to Planpraz.

Hi. I spent a week in Chamonix last september. If you still want advice on day walks, I might be able to help you with some suggestions.

Sallanches is a convenient place, easy connections; but not a lot of charm. It does have 3 inexpensive Ibis hotels, though.

Hi OlavE thanks so much - looks like one day isn't going to be enough!! That certainly gives me a guide though. I was also wondering about one of the via ferrata for something different - but would probably want a guide, also a bit wary of getting caught up with lots of people on the climb.