Back in November, I finally got to set out on a solo journey that I had been planning for quite some time to Chamonix, France. I found out about Chamonix last June when I started working more seriously on my blog. I had joined a bloggers group on Facebook and the admin of the group was always sharing her website with us. While scrolling through her posts, I found one about Chamonix, France. Trying to remain calm, I thought this place is too good to be true. It was so beautiful in my eyes. So I turned to Google and Instagram to search for photos of the magical Alpine village and well, it was all true. I had found one of the most perfect places on earth.Now before you read too much further, I have to be honest. I am a considered the “weird” one among my group of friends for my seasonal and weather preferences. A nice, hot day at the beach? PASS. I prefer low and cold temperatures, snow, and everything winter. Playing outside in the snow (yes, I am a child) and then cozying up on the couch in a big, warm blanket with hot chocolate in front of a fire is one of my favorite things in life. Therefore, naturally so, Chamonix in the winter was my dream destination for 2017. But don’t worry for all of your summer lovers, I am sure it is just as great in the warmer months of the year.

What wasn’t there to love about Chamonix? The village is filled with traditional Alpine architecture, surrounded by snow capped mountains as far your eyes can see, and has a blissful and serene ambiance that radiated throughout the whole town. It is also the home of Mont Blanc, the highest peak in the Alps and in Western Europe. The center is filled with a wide range of shops, restaurants, and cafes that make for a relaxing evening after a long day of hiking or snowsports.

What to do?

Chamonix is most popular for being a hotspot for winter sports. Being as I am not a skier or snowboarder, I went to Chamonix mostly to hike in the Alps. Maybe the next time I will try snowsports while I am there, but I didn’t want to break my leg on a solo trip. Despite being popular for winter sports, there are many other activities to take advantage of. Many people love to take the cable cars up to the top of the glacier and to the top of Mont Blanc. *WARNING* Check the Chamonix website before you visit if you plan on using the cable cars. When I visited they were doing maintenance and many tourists were disappointed that they did not have the opportunity to use them. I hadn’t planned on using them because they were a little expensive (Hello, reality of solo traveling) for the budget I had.

I only had one full day in Chamonix but it is a place I would love to go back and visit. The hike that I did was up Le Brévent and it was a great hike to complete in such a short time visiting Chamonix because it was relatively easy and it also had great views of Mont Blanc.

If you would like more information on Chamonix, what to do, and when to go; check this out.

How did I get there?

Courtesy of very cheap budget airlines in Europe, I got a flight with EasyJet from Santiago de Compostela, Spain to Geneva, Switzerland. Switzerland? Why did I fly into Switzerland? While you can connect to Chamonix from Paris, it is completely unnecessary to do so. I recommend getting to Geneva and going from there. On the way to Chamonix, I took a Bla Bla Car, which was about one and half hours. “BlaBlaCar” for all of my American friends is a ride sharing company that is used widely throughout Europe and is honestly a life (and money and time) saver. If you can pull it, I would say just rent your own car because in and around Chamonix there’s a lot to see. There are also buses and trains. I took a Ouibus back to Geneva at the end of my trip and it was great quality for the price and a very comfortable ride with WiFi.

Where to stay?

Though it is small, Chamonix is a fairly touristy spot and there are many places to stay from hotels to Airbnbs. Due to that fact that I was (and usually am) traveling on a tight budget I resorted to HostelWorld to find my accommodation for the winter getaway. While doing so I ran across Chamonix Lodge. The lodge was more of a bed and breakfast than a hostel. I rented a single room for about 30 euro per night! It was surprisingly affordable and great quality; and I even had a balcony with great views of the Alps. The lodge had common areas inside and outside on the lawn equipped with hammocks and a hot tub with views of Mont Blanc.