The Chamonix area is made up of Chamonix town and a string of villages along the Chamonix valley floor, most of which are clustered around a ski lift.
All of these are often collectively referred to as Chamonix, and each has its own character.
They are linked by a network of buses and trains, so it's easy to get around.
All of them have spectacular scenery, and each has its own appeal.
I've put together an overview of the different areas to help you get a feel for them.
LES HOUCHES At the gateway to the valley, Les Houches is a small, pretty village with plenty of restaurants, bars and shops.
It's a more family-orientated place with a tobogganing area and ice rink.
The good + Excellent on-slope food - the best in the valley.
+ Tree-lined runs - good when visibility is poor, especially as it's lower and can be beneath the clouds + Less expensive than the other areas + New terrain park this year + Characterful village + Has some ski in/ski out accommodation ...
and the not so good - Village doesn't get much sun in winter - Some parts can have road noise - Difficult to get to and from Chamonix at night - Not much nightlife (though there are plenty of restaurants and some bars) - Not ideally placed for accessing the other ski areas - Flat spots can be a pain for snowboarders Skiing and snowboarding from Les Houches Les Houche's pistes are gentler than elsewhere in the valley and it has more tree-lined runs.
It's very popular with families, and can get quite crowded during school holidays.
There is some challenging terrain available at Les Houches though, and the Kandahar World Cup black run is superb.
It also has some good high altitude cross-country skiing on the plateau, and a snowshoeing path at La Coupeau opposite.
CHAMONIX TOWN Central Chamonix is the place to be if you want to go out a lot - there's a huge choice of nightlife and the town is very lively.
Most accommodation in central Chamonix is apartments.
Chalets tend to be located in the villages or towards the outskirts of town (though there are some lovely ones very close to the centre) The good + Lots of bars, restaurants and clubs.
+ Lively, atmospheric, beautiful town + Some parts are very close to the Brevent lift.
+ Central to all transport to lifts ...
and the not so good - More expensive accommodation - Not often with outdoor space - Can be noisy Skiing and snowboarding from Chamonix town centre - Brevent The Brevent lift (on the outskirts of Chamonix town centre up a short but steep hill) accesses Brevent/Flegere, Chamonix's biggest linked areas.
Brevent has a good range of pistes including the Charles Bozon black run from the top, which is among the most scenic pistes in the Alps.
Anyone can come up to the Panorama restaurant at the top and take in the views, as the two gondolas are also open to pedestrians.
Nice big rolling blues and reds here, and some very good off piste too (for which you need a guide) CHAMONIX SUD Universally known as Cham-sud, this is a district of Chamonix with less appealing architecture, typically blocks of apartments.
However, it's also where a lot of lively bars are, and several excellent restaurants as well as the Aiguille du Midi cable car.
The good + Good bars + Inexpensive accommodation close to the town centre ...
and the not so good - Not very pretty - Apartments can be small - Can be noisy - Quite a walk to the Brevent lift LES PRAZ DE CHAMONIX Sunny and charming, Les Praz is the first village after Chamonix.
Home to the Flegere lift, which links with Brevent to make Chamonix's biggest pisted ski area, it's also got several very good restaurants, and is not too far from Chamonix for a walk (15-20 minutes) or a quick cab ride home after a night out.
The good + Charming Alpine village + Mostly flat, walking distance to Flegere ski lift + Central position in valley, good for accessing other areas + Sunny + Good restaurants ...
and the not so good - Not many bars Skiing and snowboarding at Les Praz: Flegere Flegere's sunny slopes and bowls are a fantastic natural playground, ideal for mixed ability groups as there's so much variety of terrain.
The Trappe lift accesses a couple of easy greens which are a great place for beginners to learn in unparalleled scenery, while the Floria accesses beautiful rolling reds and challenging blacks as well as very good off-piste (take a guide to access Flegere's hidden gems).
It's worth getting up there early as the lift from the base at Les Praz can get very busy at peak times.
ARGENTIERE Home of Les Grands Montets, one of the most famous ski areas in the Alps, Argentiere is a lovely place to stay.
It's a good sized village with plenty of shops, restaurants and bars and a more relaxed atmosphere than Chamonix.
The good + Close to Les Grands Montets + Attractive village with traditional architecture + Good bars and restaurants, quite lively at night + Train station in the centre ...
and the not so good - Long, expensive taxi ride back from Chamonix if you want a big night out - Not ideal for beginners (although it does have its own nursery slope with lots of family activities) Skiing and snowboarding at Argentiere: Les Grands Montets One of the most famous ski and snowboard areas of the Alps, the huge drops and sweeping runs of Les Grands Montets are unmissable.
The black runs from the top lift are unlike anything else, with their huge expanses bordered by wildly crevassed glaciers.
A day out with a guide is highly recommended to access some of the world's most spectacular lift-acessed off piste.
Also has a very good terrain park and some lovely forested areas.
Good learner slope at the base, with play area for small children LE TOUR At the head of the Chamonix valley, Le Tour is a quiet and pretty hamlet - just a few streets and a couple of restaurants around the lift.
The good + All accommodation is very close to the lifts - there's some ski in/ski out places available + Very peaceful and quiet + Tiny but very pretty village + Has some very gentle slopes + Getting to other areas is surprisingly easy on the bus as you are going against the main crowd + Often quiet in the mornings as no-one's got there yet + Generally gets good snow as it's very high ...
and the not so good - Not a big choice of accommodation - Very quiet, no shops, just a couple of bar/restaurants - A long taxi ride back from anywhere after a night out - Train station is a long way from the lift - Quite exposed if the weather is bad Skiing and snowboarding at Le Tour Le Tour is best known for wide rolling blues and reds, but accesses varied mountain terrain including some great tree runs off the back and natural half-pipes.
It's linked to Vallorcine (see below) VALLORCINE Vallorcine is at the end of the Chamonix valley, just a few km from the Swiss Border.
A quiet and traditional Savoyarde village, it's recently been opened up more by the new, fast lift that runs from the town.
Even so, it still has the lovely peaceful feel of an undiscovered gem - for the moment...
The good + Traditional, low key, attractive village + Some very good restaurants + Train station is central to lifts and village (and has a super restaurant) + Excellent tree runs ...
and the not so good - Very quiet at night (though of course this may be a plus for some!) - A long way from Chamonix (20km) - Road can occasionally be blocked by very heavy snow (though rail access is always maintained) Skiing and snowboarding at Vallorcine Vallorcine remains one of the quieter areas of the valley - a good tip for peak times is to get on the lift here if there are queues at Le Tour - and has a nice mix of pistes including some super tree runs.
Peak times There's a huge variety of accommodation of all types, so you should be able to find exactly what you want in Chamonix - though remember it's important to book early for peak times like Christmas, New Year and half term.