JUST AS CHALLENGING AS THE SKIING — AND AS MUCH VARIETY

There is a huge variety of bars and nightclub in Chamonix and, in particular, young skiers and riders imbued with stamina will be likely to find the après-ski element of their holiday as tiring as the ski/board element. Market forces and fashion tend to mean that the bar scene here changes rapidly, with bars suddenly closing and re-opening with new identities on a regular basis. Apologies, therefore, if this guide is not always up-to-the-minute.

The après-ski partying begins around 5.00pm in town at bars such as the Chambre Neuf and the Choucas and Driver video bars. After dinner the focus of the action moves to Wild Wallabies (a bar inspired by St Anton’s famous Krazy Kanguruh), the Mill Street Bar , the Bumble Bee , La Cantina (which sometimes has live music) and the Bar du Moulin .

In the early hours Arbat, which has the best live music in Chamonix, and Dick’s Tea Bar are popular for drinking and dancing. (However, a fire in Winter 05/06 has meant that Dick's has remained closed though rumours abound as to whether it will open its doors again.) Real night owls always end up in Blue Night , which doesn’t close until 5.00am.

For those who want a quiet, civilised drink the Cocktail Bar of the Hotel Mont Blanc, which sometimes has live piano music, can be recommended.

Up in Argentiere the Office Bar is the unchallenged centre of all après-ski activity, but there are also a number of other bars.