UKC

What's the best campsite in Chamonix, most used by uk climbers? Whats it cost? Do you have to pay for nights when you're not actually there?

In reply to Willy: I've stayed at Les Chosalets near Argentiere, lots of Brits, dunno about leaving stuff there, got eaten by horse flys, didn't go back.

Then stayed at Les Arolles, 10 mins from Midi, lots of international climbers, really sociable, dunno about leaving stuff there but think you can for about 3 roonies, you need to take you tent down and bung it all in a cupboard.

Also stayed at Les Molliasses, 15 minutes from Midi, run by same bloke as above, loves his steam machine, larger, less climbers, more tourists, less sociable, cheaper, can leave your tent and stuff in basement for about 3 roonies a night.

In reply to Willy: hi willy, i liked Les Chosalets near Argentiere, the owner is a bit funny,but its a nice site, not quite level unless your lucky,there's a nice place to stay out of the rain to plan your days out, you get a free travel voucher for the bus and train to chamonix which lasts all week.
cant remember the costs, but its reasonable, you do have to pay for nights when your away though, unless of course you remove your tent , but then you may come back to a full site!
this is the site for the conville course, so you may recognise some faces.
there is a hut/reception, where you can buy fresh bread etc.
the local village has a nice bar with happy hour and the best pizzas ever, and a very fine lady too.

In reply to douglas: We stayed at Les Arolles, quite a lot of brits, friendly, felt safe, close to town, shops, lifts. Nothing to say against it really.

In reply to Willy: Les chosalet is a ski field, which says it all really. Anywhere you camp you get a free transport card thing. Mer de Glace is nice, and free internet, Les Arolles is cheaper and good atmosphere also convenient for Chamonix Sud, not camped anywhere else so don't know.
Sam

In reply to Willy: Stayed at Les Chasolet this last time, not going to go back, to start with it's a nursery ski slope so it's on a slope. The chap that runs it is a bit of a nutter and you do have to pay when your not there. Facilities are pretty good though.

In reply to Willy: Stayed at this one quite a few times:

http://www.campingmolliasses.com/

Owned by the same guys having les Arolles (as mentioned in previous posts)..

See webpage for prices etc.

Lindholm

In reply to andy_b135:

The guy that runs Les Chosalets is great if you make an effort to speak some French. He speaks perfect English but pretends that he doesn't.

Camping Les Ecureils seems like quite a nice place and is quite handy for Chamonix. Not sure of the prices though, but usually plenty of climbers there.

Camping Mer de Glace is nice and has good facilities and there was a good atmosphere when I stayed there. It's a bit far out though and can be a pain to get around if you don't have a car.

Like somebody else said, if you want a campsite with lots of Brits then go to les chosalets as it will be full of students doing the conville course. Argentiere is 2 mins walk away and has a few good bars, restaurants and shops and it's also close to the Grand Montets lift if you want to do anything in that area. Just make sure that you're nice to Bernard and you will have a great stay.

In reply to Phil Payne: Tried and failed, saw the guy be particularly nasty to one girl, wasn't pleasant at all. I would avoid, but that's just my experience.

In reply to andy_b135: It wasn't his daughter was it?

In reply to Willy: We always used to camp in les moliasses never had a problem there. Despite even our teenage drunken antics.

There's a story about the guy who owns Les Chosalet. Could just be an urban legend but sort of makes sense. Apparently he was the head pisteur in grands montets back in the 70's & 80's, which was a very prominent job in the valley at the time. At one point in the 80's a controlled avalanche turned out to be unexpectedly large & wiped out the plan joran restaurant. He was made take the fall & lost his job & has apparently been bitter ever since. Since then they built a huge avalanche wall at the top of the 2 chairlifts from there to stop it happening again.

In reply to Frank4short:

I heard that story too.

I started teaching last year and showed the kids a video about Alpine tourism that my PT had given me. Imagine my suprise to find the Ravanel family including 'mad dog' himself were the stars of the show, complete with a dodgy BBC english translation!

In reply to Phil Payne: No, his daughter seemed alright and his wife for that matter, just another girl on the campsite.
I heard that story about the avalanche too, I also heard one about him taking pot shots at a para glider that landed in his field. Though I'm not sure I believe that one. Seems to have quite a reputation.

In reply to andy_b135: We found Bernard perfectly nice. He was happy to jump start our car off his with his jump leads, he offered before we asked him. Shame my french isn't good enough to have a good chat with him, i'm sure he has some intresting stories...