I have gone to chamonix.com, but am having lots of trouble trying to understand the methods of going up to Mont Blanc. Can anybody tell me approx. how long is the tramway or lift or whatever method is best to get up there. Can you come down the same day or are there accomadations high in the mountains. I need help...Thanks

Yes, you can go up and back in one day. Takes about 45 minutes each way, I believe. I didn't see any lodging near the upper parts of the tram, maybe someone can tell you if there are some mountain huts. Try a google search because there are several sites for Chamonix.

I recently was in Chamonix. I parked at the parking lot near one of the lifts. It was a short walk to the lift, about 5 minutes. It costs about CHF 15 to go roundtrip all the way to the top of the lift. Its about a 10-15 minute ride up one lift. (This is the lift i went up) and i ended up eating lunch at one of the restaurants up on the mountain. this particular lift looked out onto mont blanc. i dont know what season you are going in, but the summer was fantastic. its great to watch the hang glider people ride the wind. then a fighter plane came in and did a huge loop in one of the valleys. what a site.. its very beautiful there..

PS. There is a second tram that goes to the Italian side of the mountain.

Take care! Don't mix up the "téléphérique" to l'Aiguille du Midi and the "tramway du Mont Blanc". The highest point you can reach by téléphérique is 3842m. When you go back to the first station (le Plan de l'Aiguille), you can go down from there on foot. We went up and down on a morning.Make shure you start early (at 8 am for instance), because there can be a long queue.
The Tramway of the Mont Blanc is a gear-wheel train from "Le Fayet"(a village nearby) to "Le Nid d'Aigle". From there you can walk to the Glacier (calm hike),or if you want to make a serious hike you can also go down on foot. (take a whole day) The views are even more spectacular than the hike from L'Aiguille down to Chamonix. Another tramway is the one to the "Mer de Glace" , a glacier that you can visit inside. A hike back is also possible. But one of my favorites is the téléphérique to "Le Brévent" at the opposite side of the Mont Blanc (start in Chamonix. This is really spectacular because you have a beautiful view on the Mont Blanc all the time. The hike down is a bit difficult in the beginning because of rolling stones,good sticks are recommended, but it is worth while...

To be precise, you can not reach the summit of Mont-Blanc (4807 m) by ropeway or any other means of mountain transportation. Even though Mont-Blanc is rather a easier mountain to climb for the experienced climbers, you can reach there only on your own foot.

As Martinewezel already mentioned, l'Aiguille-du-Midi(3842m)is the one you could reach the closest to M.B. and the price of the ticket is EURO 34.-/round trip. Le Brévent(2525m) should be slightly cheaper.

Thank you all for your replies. I now have a better understanding. Perhaps I will try what Martine suggests and do the Brevant. Anybody have recommendatations for restaurants or budget hotels in area.
Thanks again.

A very good restaurant, but not very cheap: "La Calèche" rue Pacard 18 (it is in the Main shopping street, you can't miss). There is a good ambiance, wooden walls style Swiss Alps and every Thursday night a folkloric musicgroup. They have good "fondue savoyarde" (cheesefondue). At the opposite side of the same street: restaurant "Le National" where you can have a menu for around 11 euros/person is simpler, but not bad at all and the service is very friendly.
As for budgethotels, I can't help you with that, but if you are looking for a very good appartment, even for 3 nights...I know a good adress at 3 min on foot from the center and with a magnificent view on the Aiguille and the M.BL.