Chamexpress offers transfers from Geneva to Vallorcine

Great news for visitors to the Bellevue Alpine Lodge is that specialist transfer company, Chamexpress, now go operate to Vallorcine.

Chamexpress now offers transfers from Geneva to Vallorcine

Chamexpress are widely regarded as the Alps' most reliable scheduled transfer service.  They have been rapidly expanding their operating routes over the past year and the latest hot destination is Chamonix's secret, secluded village of Vallorcine.

The Chamexpress services operate every 30 minutes from Geneva airport and the standard fare is €31.39 HT. 

The Flexi-fare is a little more expensive (€36.59) and gives you the opportunity to get on the next transfer with available seats if you miss your reserved transfer. Standard fare holders would have to re-book.

Chamexpress operate transfer services year round and recognised the potential of Vallorcine as a year round destination due to its climbing and hiking in summer, winter links into Le Tour ski area and its nature reserve that attracts visitors at any time.

Accommodation in Vallorcine

For more information about staying in Vallorcine, please contact Mandy and Mike at the Bellevue Alpine Lodge - we are a traditional gite style B&B with 5 bedrooms and can accommodate up to 15 people.  

Please call us on +33 (0)4 50 54 60 43 for more details.

Keep the air in the Chamonix Valley clean and pure!

One of the best things about any trip to the Alps, and the Chamonix valley in particular, is the wonderful clean and pure air.

At the Bellevue Alpine Lodge we'd like to keep it that way, which is why we back the 'Inspire' movement for 'De l'air pur au Pays du Mont Blanc'.

You can view the English language video by Inspire, explaining about their campaign:



Changes that can help

There are various suggestions they make including avoiding journeys by car where possible and driving more slowly - 70-80kmh is most efficient.

Key changes include:

1. Load the most polluting trucks onto the railway during winter months
2. Increase awareness of the causes of pollution
3. Support car pooling
4. Encourage cycling

Sign the petition

You can sign the petition online at Change.org

We love Vallorcine and the Chamonix valley and we want to keep it as pure and beautiful for all residents and visitors, all year round, so everyone can appreciate it at its best.

Great video of the Balme Ski Area

We came across this great video by the Compagnie du Mont Blanc on their YouTube channel.

It highlights the Time Trial area, an ARVA training zone, and all the other great features for families including broad and well-groomed slopes.

On top of that it's south-facing with great views, so get yourself along to Vallorcine and visit us at the Bellevue Alpine Lodge.

Vallorcine gets ready to open for winter 2013/2014

This weekend sees the ski areas in Argentiere and Les Houches open for the first time this season and next weekend they will be joined by Vallorcine, La Balme and the other ski regions of the Chamonix valley.

Stay at the Bellevue this winter

Snow conditions are extremely good for this time of year, so we look forward to welcoming you at the Bellevue Alpine Lodge for your trip to the Chamonix valley this season.

The snow is looking good

Here's how the top of the Vallorcine gondola at 1850m looked earlier today:

This is the view from start of the Autannes chairlift in Domain de Balme:

Late availability and great early season prices

We have some late availability for Christmas due to a cancellation, plus we have some great early season prices.  For more details, just give us a call on +33 (0)4 50 54 60 43 or send us an email.  

We look forward to meeting you during the season!

Safe Driving in the Alps – Tips from the Locals

There’s no escaping the fact that driving in and around the Alps is a wholly different experience than bumbling around your local town in the family people-mover. 

Whether or not you accept and interpret this difference will directly impact not only the enjoyment of your trip, but also the safety of you, your family and anyone else that happens to be on the roads at the time.

So rather than thinking you’ve got it covered and will take to the ice like a penguin, listen to and heed a few tips from the locals to make your Alpine driving adventure one to remember in a positive light:

Ask and Listen

First and foremost, before heading out on a journey of any kind be sure to ask the pros about the route. It could be the locals, it could be your tour operator or it could be a local tourist information website. The point being that there are always advisable and wholly inadvisable routes to take across the Alps and it’s not always obvious which is which. So, do yourself a favour and ask, but most importantly, listen!

Allow Excessive Time

If you think you need 30 minutes, leave an hour. If you think you need an hour to get there, allow two hours. Get the point? It’s human nature that the less time you have, the quicker you’ll try to get there which in the Alps can be a pretty risky way of driving at the best of times.

Take Maps and GPS

You could lose your paper maps and you could easily find that your GPS has crapped out on you. However, there’s not much chance of BOTH happening at the same time so always be sure to back up your primary navigation method with at least one more. And don’t forget, extreme weather can play hell with your GPS system’s signals.

Stock Up Well

It’s not likely you’ll end up stuck by the side of the road for a day or two, but you can’t rule it out. So, be prepared for anything and make sure you’ve got enough food, water and warm clothes/blankets to ride out a breakdown or a sudden change in the weather.

Don’t Go Off-Road

The back-roads and secluded villages across the Alps are more beautiful than you’d ever believe, but this doesn’t mean it’s a good idea for you to try driving them. Not only can the smaller Alpine roads can become 100% impassable in a matter of minutes, but they’re also much more dangerous at the best of times.

Consider Taking the Bus

If you’re thinking of driving for the same of airport transfers, you could save yourself time, money and serious stress by taking the bus. There are so many cheap Geneva transfers on offer it’s often not even worth bothering with the car – no matter where you’re going you’re talking a much lower price than the equivalent petrol cost and priceless peace of mind to boot.

Tell Someone Where You’re Going

And finally, make sure that someone knows where you’re going and when you should arrive. It could be the accommodation owner where you’re heading, a friend at the resort or even a person back home – just be sure there’s somebody that can raise the alarm if you don’t turn up where you’re supposed to be at the time you’re supposed to be there.

This is a guest post by Alps2Alps - the friendly ski transfers provider. They cover all Alpine destinations and ski resorts with private and shared transfers from and to Geneva, Chambery, Lyon, Grenoble airports.

Transfers to Vallorcine to stay at the Bellevue Alpine Lodge are available from 35 euros per person.

Photo sources: flickr.com/photos/alexhung - topgearrules.org - commons.wikimedia.org

30% Special Offer for Chamonix for December 2013

If you needed any more reason to go skiing before Christmas, then how about this discount offer for Chamonix?

From 14 to 21 December, the resort is offering a special 30% off deal on ski school and ski hire. 

And have you seen the snow?  This is looking like a vintage winter.  Grands Montets and Les Houches will be opening on 07 December with the rest of the resort fully open on the 14th, in time for this offer.

Special Offers - Save 30%

The 30% off discount applies to Ski School from the ESF, ski hire and parapenting - just use the code 2013cham30 when you book.

Lift passes are also at a discount - with the Premiere Neige offers at only €219 for six days compared to €282 usually. 

Stay with us in Vallorcine

Vallorcine is the perfect location for a quiet stay in the Chamonix valley, away from the crowds.  You can access the Le Tour/La Balme area quickly and are only a short 10min drive from Argentiere if you want to ski on the Grands Montets. 

The Bellevue Alpine Lodge is a charming gite bed and breakfast in Vallorcine in the Chamonix Valley. Rooms are available from €65pp.  

Call us now on +33 (0)4 50 54 60 43 to check availability.   

Article by Iain Martin

New Lifts in Chamonix

Compagnie de Mont Blanc have announced proposals for a new €477 million investment plan for lifts in the Chamonix valley. 

Under proposal at present are three new telecabines, two chairlift upgrades and two new beginner areas - all to be created over the next six years. 

CMB may invest $477m

The proposed schedule is outlined below:

2014: Plan Joran telecabin (Grands Montets ski area)

2015: Plan Praz beginner ski area (Brevent/Flegère)

2016: Parsa Chairlift (Brevent-Flegère)

2016: Argentiere beginner ski area

2017 Charamillon telecabin (Le Tour/La Balme)

2019: Tabé/Marmottons Chairlift  (Grands Montets)

2019: Improved access to the Flegère lift 

There is a meeting of the town council in two weeks' time when the proposal will be discussed and possibly confirmed.

Chamonix takes more revenue on its lifts than any other resort

This follows hot on the news that Chamonix is now the no.1 grossing resort for ski lift revenues in France.  This article is in French, but explains that CMB now has a turnover of over €70m.

Chamonix Lift Opening Dates Winter 2013

The season is bearing down on us, so it's time for a reminder of just when those lifts open.

When does Chamonix open for skiing?

Early snow has been encouraging and if it continues go well, we can expect a partial opening of Les Grands Montets and Les Houches from the 07 December 2013.

Brevent, Flegere and La Balme/Le Tour will open from 14 December, again subject to conditions. 

The full area is scheduled to open on 21 December 2013. 

When does Vallorcine open for skiing?

Vallorcine lifts will also open on 14 December and are scheduled to close on 13 April.  

The Bellevue Alpine Lodge will be open and while we already have limited availability for Christmas and New Year weeks, we do currently have space for the first week of the season. 

For details and to check availability, please call us on +33 (0)4 50 54 60 43 or email to bellevuealpinelodge@gmail.com

Article by  Iain Martin

Gabriel Loppe Exhibition in Chamonix

At the Bellevue Alpine Lodge, sometimes we like to take a quiet day and visit one of the many cultural events in the Chamonix valley.

One of our current favourites is the ‘Gabriel Loppé –Artiste au Sommet’ exhibition taking place in Chamonix.

Centenary of the artist's death
The Valley has been paying tribute to Loppé, who lived from 1825 to 1913, to mark the for the centenary of his death.

In addition to his paintings, his career as a photographer and mountaineer is also examined.  Loppé was a talented photographer and some of his work was acquired by the Musée d’Orsay in Paris in 1989.

Open until 17 May 2014
The exhibition has been open since 26 June 2013 and will run until mid-May.  You can find it at the Maison de la Mémoire et du Patrimoine.

The Bellevue Alpine Lodge offers great value B&B and half-board accommodation in Vallorcine, just 20 minutes drive from Chamonix.

Article by  Iain Martin

Les Ecuries de Charamillon in Le Tour / Vallorcine comes highly recommended

At the Bellevue Alpine Lodge, we are often asked by our guests for advice on where to take lunch.

Les Ecuries de Charamillon is never far from the top of our list. 

This will be the second winter season for this fullyrenovated restaurant, located along the slopes of Le Tour-Vallorcine ski area.

There’s always a warm welcome, followed by the chance to enjoy local-sourced, quality cuisine prepared with fresh products.   

Photo fournie par TripAdvisor

The design is typically Savoyard, with rustic interiors, and on the terrace there’s an unrestricted view to the Mont-Blanc range and the Chamonix valley.

The chef’s specialities include ‘croûte aux fromages’ (made with cheeses from the Balme side of the mountain).  These are made even tastier with morilles or chanterelles – local mushrooms.

Chanterelle mushrooms

The restaurant is 200 meters away from the top of the Charamillon cable car and can be reached by skis or snowshoes.  Reservations can be made by calling +33 (0)4 50 54 17 07 

Article by  Iain Martin

The train comes back to Vallorcine

Great news from the Tourist Office is that after two years’ work on the railway, the train will be returning to Vallorcine.

The route from Chamonix to Chatelard (Switzerland) includes a complete renovation of the tunnel in Les Montets, and a SNCF train travelled between Chamonix and Argentière last summer.

This winter, the 'Mont Blanc Express' will be back on the rails and will take again passengers to and from Vallorcine to Chamonix and the border with Switzerland.

There is no charge for travel on the entire line between Servoz and Vallorcine as long as you can produce your guest card.

The Bellevue Alpine Lodge is a B&B and Gite in Vallorcine. Please contact us for more details. 

Article by  Iain Martin

New 'Step into the Void' view opens at the Aiguille du Midi in Chamonix

This is definitely not one for anyone who suffers from heights or nerves...!

As if the height of a visit to the Aiguille du Midi (3842m) was not enough, from this winter it will now be possible to look directly downwards for over 1000m.

Installing the glass panels

Opens on 21 December 2013
The 'Step into the Void' feature will open on 21 December and will allow visitors to step into a glass box and look 1035m below them.

Each of the glass panels have been specially designed and are 12mm thick.  The structure will be able to withstand winds of up to 200 km/h.

Not for anyone who suffers from heights

Inspired by the Skywalk
The creation was inspired by the Skywalk at the Grand Canyon in the States.

This video explains more about the design and how the idea came about:



Accommodation in Vallorcine
The Bellevue Alpine Lodge is in Vallorcine, just 20 minutes from Chamonix and offers great value gite and B&B accommodation.

Please visit our website for details.

Article by  Iain Martin

Chamonix valley awarded the prestigious 'Flocon Vert'

Earlier this month, the resorts of the Chamonix Valley were collectively awarded the environmental award the 'Flocon Vert'.

The award was given by the Mountain Riders organisation, which focuses on sustainable development in mountain regions.

In operation for twelve years now, Mountain Riders encourages visitors to choose a resort that takes positive action towards sustainability.

The valley is the third region to receive the award, after Rousses (in the Jura) and Villars in Switzerland.

The 'Flocon Vert' applies for three years
In presenting the award, the 'pioneering and sustainable' activities of the Chamonix valley were cited, particularly in the areas of housing, transport and waste management.

The 'Flocon Vert' label applies for three years and has to be re-verified during that period.

So, if you needed convincing, yet another reason to visit.  The Bellevue Alpine Lodge is based in Vallorcine, 20 minutes from Chamonix and would be delighted to welcome you for a stay in this wonderful valley.

You can find more details on our website.

First Snow in Vallorcine: October 2013

We had to share these photos from our great friend and highly recommended mountain guide - Asmus Norreslet.

They were taken in Vallorcine at the end of last week - there's a long way to go, but fingers crossed for an another great ski season!

Follow Asmus on Facebook and if you have any queries about accommodation in Vallorcine, then please contact us. 

A Day Trip to the Barage d'Emosson

No visit to Vallorcine is complete without a day trip to the magnificent Barage d'Emosson.

This dam is actually located over the border in Switzerland.  Constructed in 1925, the dam itself is fascinating to look at - this huge man made structure, contrasting with the giant peaks and valleys around it.

Travel by Train

An interesting way to access the site is by the funicular and panoramic train which goes from Chatelard.  You can take the train from Vallorcine to Chatelard.

'The name's Bond, James Bond'

Although famous for featuring in the James Bond movie 'The World Is Not Enough', the dam is worth a visit for a journey into the past, as dinosaur fossils can be found there.

Dinosaurs

Sandstone slabs reveal evidence of dinosaurs from the Triassic era (150m years ago), when this area was the sea floor.  The Alps are youngsters in comparison at only 10-15 million years old.

It's a 90 minutes walk to see the dinosaur footprints, which can only be seen after the snow had melted.

Walks

There are many other walks from the top, ranging from a simple 30 minutes to 2h30m.  All can be taken from the top and are accessible easily.

Cycling

And of course, if you were so inclined you could cycle up there.  It's a steep climb, but offers amazing views. This great blog post gives you more info about the ride.

Bed and Breakfast and Half-Board Accommodation

The Bellevue Alpine Lodge is a great place to stay for exploring the Barage d'Emosson and the rest of the valley.  For more details and to check availability, please check our website.

Article by Iain Martin

Making Pasta at the Bellevue Alpine Lodge

We are a friendly lot at the Bellevue Alpine Lodge.  So much so, that sometimes even the guests get the chance to work in the kitchen!

Mandy - owner of the Lodge - takes up the tale: 

Riccardo & Veronica (pictured below) are staying with us for a couple of weeks.   

The other day Riccardo asked me to show him some of my recipes and, of course, my answer was yes...but only if you teach me a pasta recipe! 

So, last night he cooked a typical pasta dish from Bologna: 'Gramigna alla salsiccia' with sausage meat, olive oil, red wine, thyme and parmesan.

We shared this delicious meal with our other guests, and followed a wonderful dinner with a few games of cards.

For your chance to work in our kitchen, or even just to holiday and let us cook for you, please check our website for details of accommodation and how to contact us.


Interview by  Iain Martin

La Cascade de Bérard in Vallorcine

No visit to Vallorcine is complete without a visit to the magnificent 'Cascade de Bérard'.

We love to take the dog for a walk to this wonderful spectacle.  It's only a short walk from Vallorcine.

Simply go to the Buet end of the village, where you can park your car.  Then cross the road and follow the dirt track.  It takes about 25 minutes, over a 100m ascent and is a walk suitable for all ages.

On arrival there is a lovely cafe, plus you can explore behind the waterfall via a secret path!

This video (in French) tells you more about the walk and what's involved in keeping the access open:

Gite and Bed and Breakfast in Vallorcine
If you are looking for accommodation in Vallorcine, then why not come and stay with us at the Bellevue Alpine Lodge.

We offer bed and breakfast and half-board options.  Please contact us +33 (0)4 50 54 60 43 or via our website to check availability. 

Article by Iain Martin

Fete des Guides comes to Chamonix

It's less than two weeks now until the 2013 Fete des Guides in the Chamonix valley.

This annual event celebrates, and raises money for the mountain guides of the valley, awarding prizes to those for outstanding achievements and remembering those who have died in this sometimes dangerous profession.

The Fete des Guides runs from 12-15 August in 2013, with events in Argentiere and Les Houches and culminating in a spectacular 'Son et Lumieres' finale at Lac des Gaillands.

It's yet another reason to come to Chamonix in an action packed summer of events.

For great value accommodation in the Chamonix valley, why not stay with us at the Bellevue Alpine Lodge. We are located in beautiful Vallorcine, just outside Chamonix.  We offering B&B and half board options.  

Call us to check availability on +33 (0)4 50 54 60 43 or visit our website.




Article by Iain Martin

Col des Montets Nature Reserve, Vallorcine

No visit to Vallorcine is complete without a trip to the Col des Montets nature reserve.

Just 4km from the village of Vallorcine, the Col des Montets is part of the Aiguilles Rouges Nature Reserve. This was created in 1972 as the first nature reserve in the Mont Blanc area.

Covering 3279 hectares and covering a range in altitude from 1200m to 2965m, spending time in the reserve will give you a real insight into nature in the mountains.

Pay attention and walk quietly and you can see marmottes, black grouse, ptarmigan, Alpine hare and even golden eagles.

The flora is equally varied with dwarf juniper and rhododendrons and beautiful Alpine flowers.

 

The Bellevue Alpine Lodge is located in the centre of Vallorcine.  We are a hotel and gite, offering B&B and half board options.  

Give us a call to check availability on +33 (0)4 50 54 60 43 or visit our website.




Article by Iain Martin

Cosmo Jazz festival comes to Vallorcine

This week the Cosmo Jazz festival is taking place in the Chamonix valley.

It started on 27 July and runs through to 04 August and sees live concerts in a number of amazing locations, including the top of the Aiguille du Midi, the Grands Montets and Lac Blanc.

On Saturday, the festival came to Vallorcine for a surprise concert.  The festival continues this week.  You can check the full schedule here.

If you are looking for accommodation in Vallorcine, then the Bellevue Alpine Lodge is an excellent choice. We are a bed and breadfast gite, very near to Chamonix, with rooms from EUR75 pn.  

Give us a call to check availability on +33 (0)4 50 54 60 43 or visit our website.



Article by Iain Martin

Chamonix Adventure Festival adds even more to a summer in the Chamonix Valley

There are so many events going on in the Chamonix valley, both in summer and winter.  We've already blogged before about the brilliant European Climbing Championships and the UTMB.

Last week the valley hosted the Chamonix Adventure Festival from 15-20 July.

The Festival brings together all people from all across the outdoors world of activity and adventure including athletes and adventurers.  It brings together photography, art and film into one place over four action-packed days.

There are also courses on photography and film-making and plenty more events going on.

If you are looking for accommodation in the Chamonix valley, then why not join us in Vallorcine.  The Bellevue Alpine Lodge is a traditional gite, just 20 minutes drive from Chamonix, with rooms from EUR75 pn.  

Give us a call to check availability on +33 (0)4 50 54 60 43 or visit our website.



Article by Iain Martin

Kilian Jornet sets new record on Mont Blanc

We all like a walk in the mountains.  We can even understand those who run in events like the famous UTMB and other trail running races.

To us mere mortals, a 168km mountain race sounds tough enough, but for three time winner Kilian Jornet that's just a long day out.

Last week he set a new record for the fastest ascent and descent of Mont Blanc by foot - a mere 4 hours, 57 minutes and 40 seconds.

The 25 year old Spaniard started at 0446 from the established starting point - the church in Chamonix.  It took him 3h30m to get to the top and 1h27 minutes to get back down again.

Jornet is planning more record climbs for later in the year including the Matterhorn and Everest.  We wish him luck!

If you are coming to Chamonix for your own trail running - or simply some walking - and looking for somewhere to stay, then please contact us to check availability online or by calling +33 (0)4 50 54 60 43

The Bellevue Alpine Lodge is a traditional gite style hotel situated in beautiful Vallorcine, just 20 minutes drive from Chamonix.


Article by Iain Martin

France win at the European Climbing Championships in Chamonix

Last week Chamonix hosted the European Climbing Championships as part of its 15th International Climbing Festival, so we popped along to watch some of the action.

It was an incredible atmosphere with more than 25000 people turning out at Place du Mont Blanc to cheer on the best climbers in Europe over the three days of competition.

There were several different competitions.  Russia dominated in the youth speed climbing events held first. There were also some 'Handi-Climbing' competitions, with separate categories for the blind, amputees and neurological illnesses.  This was the first European championships in this category.

The 'speed' events were incredble to watch, but even more impressive were the 'difficulty' events. Several climbers fell while clearly pushing it to the limits, but the 'ambience' when Frenchman Romain Desgranges took a very demanding route was incredible.

By then the organisers estimated that there were 16000 people in the square by the time of the final climbs!

If you are coming to Chamonix for any event and looking for a hotel, then please contact us to check availability online or by calling +33 (0)4 50 54 60 43

The Bellevue Alpine Lodge is a traditional gite style hotel situated in beautiful Vallorcine, just 20 minutes drive from Chamonix.

Article by Iain Martin

Bellevue Alpine Lodge is a perfect hotel for the UTMB

It's now less than two months until the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc - the world's leading ultra running event comes to Chamonix for its annual competition.

This 11th edition will feature 4 races, 74 countries represented and 50,000 people coming to Chamonix to watch or take part.

The operation is immense with over 2000 volunteers, 15000 way-markers, and 300km of routes.  Amongst the more bizarre facts are that 48,000 TUC crackers will be eaten, along with 7500 bananas, 2600kg of cheese and 8500 litres of soup!

The four races happen from August 26 to September 01 and start with the Petite Trotte a Leon (300km, team event) on Monday 26th August, Traces de Ducs de Savoie (119km) on Wednesday 28th August and then on Friday 30th August the CCC (100km) and the main event the UTMB (168km).

If you are coming to Chamonix for the event and looking for a hotel for the UTMB or any of the other events, then please contact us to check availability.

The Bellevue Alpine Lodge is a traditional gite style hotel situated in beautiful Vallorcine, just 20 minutes drive from Chamonix.

By Iain Martin

Climbing in Vallorcine in the press!

Last month the Bellevue Alpine Lodge was delighted to host a number of journalists here, and show them the delights that Vallorcine has to offer.

So it was great to see the first write up about climbing in Vallorcine appear this week.

This article appeared on UKClimbing.com, in an item by their Chief Editor, Jack Geldard.  As he puts it:

"If you are more interested in climbing perfect granite than posturing in a bar, then a quick trip to Vallorcine and its surrounding crags could be the perfect antidote."

You can read the full article here, which includes some fabulous photos:

© Jack Geldard

Earlier this month The Bellevue organised a Press Trip in conjunction with Vallorcine Tourist Office.
The journalists had fun in the Vallorcine valley - Canyoning, Mountain Biking, Hiking and Climbing.
Here is the first article published by UK Climbing.
.http://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/page.php?id=5586

 

Great reviews for the Bellevue Alpine Lodge in Vallorcine

It's always nice to get some positive feedback.  Even more so when people post their comments publicly on a site like TripAdvisor.

Take a look at these lovely comments from some of the customers who have stayed at the Bellevue Alpine Lodge - a traditional bed and breakfast and guesthouse in Vallorcine in the Chamonix valley:

For more info on availability and prices, please contact us on +33 (0)4 50 54 60 43 or via our website.

 By Iain Martin