Thanks for the responses everyone. After doing the CCC last year the wife met me at Champex, just after halfway and although I was welcome of some dry clothes, a friendly face and some homemade pasta and potato soup, I had to hang around a bit longer than I wanted and got quite cold, and quite frankly I just wanted to get on with running the race so I think with a well-stocked drop bag I would be better to manage myself. One of my goals is to spend less time in aid stations this time.
In reply to dj_brigham05:
> Me and a few of my pals are in the TDS as well. Thinking of trying to stay in Cham, although proving difficult to find at the minute.
Yes, its ridiculously expensive. Last year I found a decent AirBnB place who then cancelled my booking (apparently they made a mistake with dates) about 6 weeks before the event forcing me to pay an absolute fortune for another one.
I learned my lesson and booked a 'free cancellation' apartment in Chamonix on booking.com a couple of months ago just in case I got in. I live a couple of hours drive south of Chamonix so am not planning on hanging around too much either side of the race (I've watched the UTMB as a spectator and enjoyed the spectacle before).
Good luck with finding a place and enjoy (and good luck with) the TDS.