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Top 5 Ski Towns to Spend a Winter Abroad: #3 Chamonix, France | Chamonix, France | 12/31/08, by Catherine_Parker

Chamonix: #1 ski town to spend a season abroad

Chamonix has a huge amount of perks that makes it stand out to me as a top place to do a season. Firstly accommodation is cheap and very close to the town centre. The Chamonix Sud apartment village - or 'The Ghetto' as it is fondly known as locally ( try and ignore that!) does not look overly appealing, but it affords you the opportunity to live in town, without paying out all your wages. It is actually filled with loads of like-minded workers and is a great community to live in with something going on all the time. You are also plus right on the doorstep of the Aiguille de Midi lift, which can't be bad.

Chamonix has plenty of down to earth, cheap bars and pubs for workers. Some resorts can be done in one night but you will have done pretty well to have hit all the bars here in your whole season. In fact, consider that a challenge.  There are also some amazing events like The Boss des Bosses , the longest running season workers' competition in the Alps. Teams and coach loads of supporters arrive for the day from Val d'Isere, Meribel, Courchevel, Zermatt and Val Thorens for what is one of the best on-slope parties of the season.

Chamonix also has a number of neighbouring mountains such as Courmayeur and Les Contamnies so you can get a very varied ski experince whilst on your season. It is a great resort to improve your skiing (which is the the point really) and have lots of fun doing it.

Pros  Cons
Incredible ski mountaineering history
Nearly impossible to get a job on the mountain if you're American
Good events throughout season    Expensive rent
Super long, easily accessible backcountry routes
 Expensive living costs
Mountains within driving distance Unpredictable weather
 Everyone speaks English


Short hours of sunshine in town because you are living in a deep valley
 Several Resorts in a close proximity



Relatively cheap mountain pass


Chamonix View
Chamonix View


Resources:
http://en.wiki pedia.org/wiki/Chamonix

http://www.seasonworkers.com/Forum/forum_posts.a sp?TID=44

http://ww w.snowworkers.com/resort/chamonix

Chamonix Town
Chamonix Town


* Have you spent a season in Chamonix? 
* Would you like to? 
* Do you think it belongs on this list (and in the #3 spot)???

Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below...








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