Alpine Interface: Alps Travel Links

Many of our guests who come to the Alps for an Alpine Interface trip arrive there either a few days earlier, or stay on after their hike.
And often, we get the same questions regarding where to eat, where to buy trekking shoes/rucksacks etc., what else there is to do in town, etc.

The following list is a quick summary of our favorite hotels, restaurants, sport shops, and internet portals that will help you make your time in the Alps as enjoyable as possible.
We will update this page regularly, and welcome any comments/information you might have regarding our links.

We have divided them into following locations:

CHAMONIX MONT BLANC, FRANCE
COURMAYEUR, ITALY
ZERMATT, SWITZERLAND
BOZEN, SOUTH TYROL/ITALY
SALZBURG, AUSTRIA

CHAMONIX MONT BLANC

How to get there?
By air, the nearest airport is Geneva International Airport. It takes approx. 1h15 from the airport to Chamonix. There are several companies that offer shuttle services to and from the airport,
calculate approx. 40 € one-way per person, the easiest is to book a transfer ahead of time online:

ATS (Airport Transfer Services):
Shuttle services from several airports to the main tourist areas in the Alps.
Mountain Dropoffs:
Minibus shuttle-services from and to Geneva airport.

No-Frills airlines to Geneva:
There are several airlines that offer cheap flights to Geneva from many bigger European destinations:
Easyjet:
UK airline, cheap flights from London, Paris, Nice, Amsterdam to Geneva and more.
Swiss International Air Lines:
Cheap flights from Zurich, Paris, and other cities

By train:
For trains from Switzerland, to the Chamonix Valley:
Swiss Rail
For trains from other parts in France:
TGV (bullet train)
SNCF (French National Railway)

Getting around within the Chamonix valley:
Getting around by train and bus is very easy. If you have a carte d'hote, a secondary residence card or a 'gens du pays' card, the train service is free of charge within the valley of Chamonix (Servoz to Vallorcine).
The carte d'hote should be given to you by your hotel, auberge, appartment owner, or campsite owner. Get the train schedule at any train station or tourist office, or on the internet:
SNCF time table from St. Gervais to Martigny. (The Mont Blanc Express)

The buses also run on a regular basis, however, the only run from Servoz to Argentiere and Le Tour. There is no bus service to Vallorcine.
During the summer months, there is a bus from Chamonix to the Col des Montets, several times daily. Please ask at the Tourist Office for more details.

General information for Chamonix:
Following websites offer general information for the Chamonix valley:

Chamonix Tourist Office
The official Tourist Office website in the valley.
Chamonix.net
Premier English language portal for all there is to know about Chamonix.

Weather Forecasts/Information regarding mountain activities:
Meteo Chamonix :
This is the link to the website that gives a daily/weekly weather report for the Chamonix valley and the mountains. The weather forecast is also printed out daily in the tourist office, the maison de la montagne, bottom stations of cable cars, and the main pharmacy in town.

Maison de la Montagne
The 'Hiking and Mountaineering Office of Chamonix' .
If you need any advice regarding conditions of routes, weather, safety, ideas about where to spend the day, this is the place to go to.

Our favorite sport shops in Chamonix:
Snells Sport:
They are part of Cham 3S, three different sport shops. Snells is the biggest.
If you can't find what you're looking for at Snells, you probably won't in the whole valley.
Patagonia:
The store in Chamonix exists since 1987, it was the first Patagonia shop in Europe.
Sanglard Sport:
Another sport shop, but they have an expert bootfitting team. If you have any problems with your hiking boots or ski boots, this is where to go!

Favourite Restaurants / Bars:
MBC
Microbrasserie de Chamonix: Micro-Brewerie, run by 'our' local Canadians.
Good food, excellent atmosphere. This is THE restaurant/bar for locals and tourists.
If you want to go for dinner, please reserve ahead of time to make sure you get a table.

Hameaux Albert 1er :
The Albert 1er is a 'Relais & Chateaux' four-star hotel, family-run by the Carrier family since 1903. There are two restaurants:
- The Albert1er restaurant, which has been a gourmet institution in Chamonix since 1935.
- The Maison Carrier is set in a farm dating back to 1794. It has an authentic pork smokehouse and old furniture made of mountain wood.

The Jekyll:
The Irish bar/restaurant in Chamonix. Great food, great beer!

Hotel Eden:
Discover classic french cuisine with a comtemporary twist where the emphasis is on the quality of the dishes, freshly prepared by the chef. This is also our favorite hotel in the valley, guests will stay here for the first night, and enjoy one of the delicious dinners as their welcome dinner.

Auberge La Bagna:
The restaurant is run by friends during the summer season, and their food is absolutely delicious. A mix of French traditional cuisine and some more exotic dishes. All freshly prepared! Book ahead of time for dinner during the summer season, as the place is very popular.

Favourite Hotels

Hotel Eden**
The Hotel Eden is the one we use for our alpine departures starting/ending in Chamonix. It has Swedish owners, and the chef is Swedish as well. Completely renovated, the hotel has a luminous, charming feel to it, and, as already mentioned, the food is absolultey delicious. The Hotel is situated in Les Praz, just outside of Chamonix, away from the busy busy city center.
Chamonix can be reached by bus, train (the station is 1min walk from the hotel), or by foot (approx. 20 minutes).

Hotel Labrador***
The hotel is beautifully located on the Golf course of Les Praz de Chamonix. The views of the Mont Blanc Range from here are stunning.
Staff is very friendly, and the hotel has a very charming, cozy feel to it.
The restaurant adjacent to the hotel is called La Cabane, and the food is traditionally French, and very delicious.

Hotel Aiglon***
Nestled in a breathtaking natural setting, the Best Western Hotel Les Aiglons is just steps away from the Aiguille du Midi cable car and the pedestrian city center. 56 rooms, outdoor, heated swimming pool, open winter and summer, sauna and Turkish bath, restaurant and conference facilities.

Hotel Morgane***
Just footsteps from the Aiguille du midi cable car and resorts pedestrian area, discover a charming hotel located on a prestigious site with breathtaking views and intense luminosity.
59 rooms with balcony or terrace, an indoor heated swimming pool, sauna, Turkish bath,
Le Bistrot : restaurant of Wines and Gastronomy, conference facilities
Hotel Oustalet***
Delightful Savoyard style hotel, situated just a short walk from the centre of Chamonix and next to the Aiguille du Midi cable car. The 15 bright sunny rooms all offer views of Mont-Blanc, balcony or terrace, ensuite bathrooms, satellite TV and room safes. This family run hotel reserves a warm and personal welcome for all its guests.

Hameaux Albert 1er****
The hotel is the first address in town, with the one of the longest tradition of family-run hotels.
It is located in lush green gardens, two minutes walk from the Chamonix town centre. It offers two styles of luxury rooms in the Farmhouse or at the Albert Premier; a gourmet restaurant, the Albert Premier and a regional restaurant, the Maison Carrier; also a swimming pool and health spa 'Le Bachal'

COURMAYEUR

How to get there?
By air, the nearest airports are Geneva, Milano or Torino. It is approx. 1h30 from Milan Malpensa Airport and Geneva International Airport, and approx. 2 h from Torino.
The easiest to get to Courmayeur from any of these airports would be from Geneva, since transfers are cheaper than from Milano and Torino.

Following companies offer shuttle services to Courmayeur:

ATS (Airport Transfer Services):
Shuttle services from several airports such as Milano and Geneva to the main tourist areas in the Alps.

Otherwise get a transfer to Chamonix, and then taxi a taxi or the bus through the Mont Blanc Tunnel to get to Courmayeur (the tunnel is only 14km long).

There are other companies offering shuttle servicees from Milano to Courmayeur, but all of them are fairly expensive.
Another option would be to take the train from Milano to Aosta, and then the bus to Courmayeur.
Unfortunately, Courmayeur does not have a train connection.

Transportation within the Aosta Valley
The Savda buses run regularly during the summer and winter season to all villages in the Courmayeur valley. Of the most interest would be the bus services to and from the Val Veny and Val Ferret in the summer months.
Savda bus schedules within the Aosta Valley

By train:
For trains from Switzerland, to the Chamonix Valley:
Swiss Rail
For trains from other parts in France:
TGV (bullet train)
SNCF (French National Railway)
Italianrail

General information for Courmayeur:
Following websites offer general information for Courmayeur and the Aosta Valley:

Vale d'Aosta
This is the general Internet portal for the Aosta Valley with lots of information regarding accommodation, transfers, restaurants, what to do, etc.

Weather Forecasts/Information regarding mountain activities:

Weather Forecast Courmayeur
The weather forecast for Courmayeur for the coming week.

Mountain Guides Courmayeur
This website gives information regarding weather, conditions, advise of any mountain activity.

Our favorite shops in Courmayeur:
There are several really nice cooperatives in Courmayeur, selling arts and crafts of the Aosta Valley. Most of these shops can be find in the pedestrian zone of Courmayeur.

Favourite Restaurants / Bars:

Bar delle Guide:
The guides' bar is located beside the Courmayeur Guides' office beside the church in the pedestrian zone. During apéritif hours, all kinds of little snacks, olives, crackers etc. are for free.
Good beer, good atmosphere.

Pizzeria du Tunnel:
Our favourite restaurant in town. The pizzas are enormous, hard to fiinish, and absolutely delicious. This is a favourite spot for locals and tourists alike, so book a tabler if you would like to go for dinner.

La Maison du Fillipo:
The restaurant is famous on both sides of Mont Blanc. It is located in a charming, old farm house, with several kitchens and restaurants, 'open plan' in the little village of Entreves. (This is where you go through the Mont Blanc Tunnel).

The restaurant 'only' serves one menu, although, if you go for the total, with approx. 30 courses(!).
The appetizers are all served together, after that, one can choose which main courses to try. There is a huge selection of meats, fish, pasta, polenta, you name it.
Make sure you're real hungry, and don't eat too much of the appetizers.
Booking a table is mandatory.

Le Pavillon:
The Pavillon is not to confound with the four-star hotel in town.
'Le Pavillon' is the restaurant at the mid-station of the La Palud cable-car.
Take the cable car up on a sunny day all the way up to Helbronner. If there is not too much wind, you can even take the 'eggs' over to the Aiguille du Midi and French side, from where you get an incredible view of Mont Blanc as well as Chamonix. Then take the lift back 'over' and down to the mid-station, and stay for lunch.
Authentic, Valdostana cuisine, hearty and plenty.

Favourite Hotels

Le Vieux Pommier
Simple, but very charming hotel. Apartments are available as well. Right at the Place Mont Blanc, easy walking distance to the pedestrian zone.

Hotel Walser***
We use the hotel Walser frequently whenever we are in Courmayeur. Very friendly hotel owners, and the hotel is perfectly located for a quick stroll into town.

Hotel Croux***
The Hotel Croux is also one of the hotels we use while hiking in Courmayeur. It is a bit more modern than the Hotel Walser (newly renovated), and is even closer to the pedestrian zone.
The hotel owners are friendly, but not quite as charming as the Hotel Walser.

Villa Novecento****
A very charming, stylish four-star hotel, still in walking distance to the pedestrian zone.

ZERMATT

How to get there?
By air, the nearest airport is Sion, which is a little, national airport,
or Geneva International Airport.
The easiest way to get to Zermatt from any of the airports is via the excelllent train/bus system.
For prices and schedules, click here.

Otherwise there are several companies offering airport transfer services, although more expensive:
Alphubel Taxi Parking
Taxi Fredy

Transportation within the Valais
All of Switzerland is perfectly connected via train and bus.
The buses are run by the post, and will bring you to the smallest little hamlets.
SBB - check out their site for travel passes, schedules, and much more.

By train:
For trains from Switzerland, to the Chamonix Valley:
Swiss Rail
For trains from other parts in France:
TGV (bullet train)
SNCF (French National Railway)
Italianrail

General information for Zermatt:
Following websites offer general information for Courmayeur and the Aosta Valley:
Zermatt Tourismus
THE internet portal for any kind of information on Zermatt and surroundings.
If you can't find it on this website, it doesn't exist!

Weather Forecasts/Information regarding mountain activities:
Alpincenter Zermatt

Meteo Schweiz
Just enter any location in Switzerland, and the website will give you a detailed forecast for the next week.
Meteo CH
Meteo CH will also give you detailed information like snow reports, avalanche reports, etc.

Our favorite shops in Zermatt:
Hard to say. There are plenty of shops, jewellry, clothing, accessories, sport shops, you name it.
Just stroll through the 'Bahnhofstrasse' and keep your eyes open.

Favourite Restaurants / Bars:
Hotel Burgener
The Burgener has an authentic, homely cuisine, appreciated by locals and tourists.

Favourite Hotels
Hotel Burgener**
A simple, but clean hotel right in downtown Zermatt.

BOZEN

...coming soon...

SALZBURG