Few ski resorts are as evocative as Chamonix-Mont-Blanc ... Originally a mountain hut, it’s accessible only by foot, ski (down the famous Vallée Blanche off-piste run) or funicular railway.

Pair this with a mammoth alpine heritage that ... gastronomic temple to humble roadside hut cooking up waffles with whipped or chestnut cream since 1965, Chamonix’s foodie experience is memorable.

Here's what not to do when you first visit Chamonix: 1. Don’t blindly grab an old alpine guidebook off your dad's shelf ... you’re a good enough skier to jump straight on the Vallée Blanche as soon as ...