Chamonix, verdict by verdict

Chamonix is the mountain town under Mont Blanc: a real valley town with a lively centre, where the Aiguille du Midi cable car, the Montenvers train to the Mer de Glace and the high trails put serious Alpine scenery within a short ride of your hotel. Skiers fill it in winter, hikers and climbers in summer, and paragliders circle overhead whenever the weather allows.

The caveats are weather and crowds. The high lifts are only worth their price on a clear day, queues build at the big sights in peak weeks, and rooms in the centre fill early. The valley is long, so where you stay shapes how much time you spend on buses and trains.

Treat the forecast as your planner and keep a flexible day for the summit lifts. Skiing has its own resort verdict; this hub covers the sights, the passes and the practical choices around them.