UKC

Anyone have some thrifty tips for two weeks in Chamonix?

What don't you want to be buying from Chamonix? I don't drink or socialise much

Will probably be taking a rucksack of flapjacks, couscous and corned beef (bully beef?) Because that'll be cheaper from Aldi or the like, compared to cham? I don't know.


Will have jetboil, tent camping or possibly hostels in chamonox, with maybe one or two excursions with a bivvi up high for a night. So will be walking in, no lifts and probably no huts. But with a discount huts or lifts would be nice.

Would prefer a hostel in cham to charge phone, gopro etc but would prefer to camp for my own space to lay about.
Thanks

In reply to zimpara:

I don't drink or socialise much

Be a proper dirtbag Socialise lots and lots in the campsite. You'll get people's left over food at the end of their trips and potentially days remaining on their lift passes. Also get a cigarette lighter charger for your phone (you can get them in a pound shop) and all that socialising will allow you to plug it in, in other people's cars.

In reply to deacondeacon:

>and potentially days remaining on their lift passes.

They following is definitely true for some other French resorts and probably for Chamonix. It contravenes terms of use to use someone else's lift pass and some resorts now 1. automatically photograph you on first-time ticket use 2. use face recognition software to check nobody else uses the pass 3. burly lift attendants will appear from nowhere to drag miscreants away.

In reply to Dogwatch:

Bastards lol

In reply to zimpara:

Depends on what you call being fleeced, really. Chamonix is expensive. To save money as much as possible don't eat or drink out (coffess quickly rack up the money) and check the prices of what you buy in the supermarket.

In reply to deacondeacon:

The two campsites I've visited in the valley have both had electrical sockets available for use at no extra charge

In reply to mrphilipoldham:

Thanks

In reply to zimpara:

get one of those battery power bank things that you can charge multiple device from at the same time, but you only have to charge from the mains that one thing. and remember a travel adapter

In reply to zimpara:
We stayed at camp site in Argentiere in June. http://www.campingchamonix.com/ Nice rural feel (if you like cow bells), free (slow) wifi and charging sockets in wash room and the the upstairs rest room. Lots of climbers and box for left over food you can use. Good supermarket in Argentiere centre, 10 mins walk away

If you are staying at camp site or hostel make sure you get the free bus pass.

In reply to zimpara:

Couscous is generally cheap everywhere, wouldn't take that much of it with you, same with pasta.
Vegetarian food generally cheaper to make than meat stuff.
Bread is "expensive" to buy in France every day.

I tried walking in from the valley floor, when younger and fitter, we soon learned to use lifts but good luck

Wild camping is possible, just pack up in the morning and then head along to Les Gaillands to chill out

Buckets of wine way cheaper than drinking beer, avoid buying the "bargain" Panache, its not beer (as one of our party once found out)

When going high its also possible to "wild camp" as opposed to staying in huts, a lot of people seem to forget this - just watch out for any raids by the gendarmes!

When looking for a hostel don't stay in Cham, one of the other villages (a short bus ride away) will have cheaper hostels (and cheaper bars/supermarkets)

Don't forget to shower when you staying in a hostel, after a few days of camping/dossing and then walking/climbing you will need a shower

Have fun.

In reply to zimpara:

The campsite in Vallorcine is cheap and gives a discount or the nights you stay in huts etc. Use the free train and bus. Beer is cheap from the supermarkets. You can charge your phone at the sites. Cook your own food at huts. Use the lifts but do a couple of routes each time. Its only expensive if you go to pubs restaurants etc. Enjoy

+ 1 on this ... you'll waste loads of time trying to save money by avoiding lifts.

Still mourning the loss of Snell's Field ... happy days

In reply to exiled_northerner:

+2 We once spent three days doing a route that takes 3hrs from the lift.

In reply to zimpara:

Get a free bus pass and stay in Argentierre. Available in campsite and probably elsewhere.