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/hut up high for a night. Walking in everywhere, unless I can get disctounted lifts, and might not use huts if I cant get it discounted.

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

In reply to zimpara:

See http://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/t.php?n=646831

In reply to zimpara:


Yes, you can reduce mobile data costs by not posting the same thing twice.

In reply to zimpara:

Aguillie du midi lift pass for one day is 60 euro, but a week is only 130 euro. If you want to do some high routes, thats a lot of hiking, unless you stay up high. Not sure if you're climbing or just hiking though.

Have fun mate.

In reply to Chris Huntington:

Thanks man, I did post this topic twice by accident.
Are those lift prices with any discount added? Alpine club etc? Do they give BMC discounts?
How does it work? The higher you go, the more you pay kind of thing?
Nice one

In reply to zimpara:

Hi mate,

You won't get any discounts for BMC membership or alpine club, and yes the lower the cheaper. Are you climbing or planning to be on the glacier? If so I would strongly strongly recommend paying for the weeks pass. It just gives you access to so much more. The 130 euro pass takes you right to the top of the aguilles du midi at 3800m right into the Vallee Blanche glacier

In reply to zimpara:

"What don't you want to be buying from Chamonix?"

Anything from Norrona.

In reply to Chris Huntington:

Thanks for the advice Chris and everyone else

In reply to zimpara:

Chamonix is not *that* expensive if you avoid the town centre Casino supermarkets, do the short walk to the Carrefour by the Midi, or the Super U in Les Houches.

Hostels *are* a ripoff. To me they seem very overpriced. Take a lift up the midi (return ticket) and spend 3 or 4 days on the plan du midi and do a load of routes up there.

In reply to zimpara:

One last thing, if you do eat out one night, find poco loco burger (it's opposite snell sports which is probs the biggest outdoor gear retailer in chamonix) it's tiny, serves amazing burgers and is cheap. A lot of the touristy restaurants are mega expensive.

In reply to Chris Huntington:

This ^^^

In reply to plyometrics:



Is that because of quality or expense?

Have seen Norrona stuff on ebay and wondered about it.

In reply to zimpara:

If you have to buy kit, see if technique extreme do it, the decathlon of Chamonix. On the right after the bridge on the way to the midi lift from beluga burger.

In reply to Timmd:

Just the expense! May well be superb kit, but seems inordinately expensive.

The suggestions of Poco's and Technique Extreme get my vote.

In reply to jonnie3430:


Or just go to the Quechua shop 50m from Technique Extreme, an actual decathlon, in Chamonix.

In reply to Chris Huntington:

Midnight express, 2 doors down, same price, better food

In reply to plyometrics:

I've got a pair of norrona softshell trousers that look the same as the day I bought them and I must have spent 200 days climbing in then, Inc a fair few nights out.

Free wifi at McDonald's in town and at the midi base station (whilst open). Good gear shop in sallanches which has a cracking sale rail.

Ditto what the others said about maxing on the lift pass, we regretted that (and ended up spending more for three days than for a week...)

In reply to zimpara:
Some alpine camp sites won't charge you for leaving a tent if you spend a night on the mountain.

Can't recall specific terms, but if you camp for week on some sites they hand out free valley wide bus passes.

In reply to summo:

Mer de glace do free pass from one night.

In reply to Alex Riley:
Cheers for all the tips guys! Had a blast! Learnt a lot too.
Did a lot of walk ins-WOW! I would have bought a multi day lift pass STRAIGHTAWAY after the first walk up to brevent, if my bank card hadn't of stopped working. Mega fit now though. Did end up buying an axe and crampons mind.
Nice one, cant wait to go back

In reply to zimpara:

Haha glad you had a good time bud. The world of winter and alpine climbing where the walk-ins get you fit more than the climbing.

Got into the dirtbag lifestyle a few years ago, living in the car and boiling up pasta every night on a camping stove is the way to go. Cheap which means more climbing jollies throughout the year.

In reply to zimpara:

Midnight Express. I know it's been said already but, Midnight Express.

In reply to Strachan:

It closed down bud

In reply to David Staples:
Yep, not there. Not impressed with Poco Loco, two tiny burgers lost inside a big bun.

In reply to zimpara:

Camping a village or two further away is cheaper. You will get a free public transport pass from the camping. Bring a powerbank which you can charge at camp toilet outlets, cafe, etc.