The Mayor of Vallorcine is worried. He would like to fill and attract more Swiss customers to his ski resort Balme/le Tour. "But this year ski pass price, 40€ per day (38.50€ last year and 37€ two years ago) to ski in Le Tour, for the same distance, the Swiss client prefers to go to Verbier. In Chamonix, the continued rise in prices is a big theme of debate in the all Valley, and in the City Council too. This year the day ski pass exceeds the amount of 260 francs ... The other ski pass, Mont Blanc Unlimited (MBU) reached the 49,50€ (325 francs). Eight years ago the equivalent ski pass, called the Cham/ski worth 40€ (23% less) to a similar offer (daily). An annual increase of 1,2€ (3%). It's true that this last product (MBU) offers a great off-piste (Aiguille du Midi & Grands Montets), unique in the world and the Compagnie du Mont Blanc (CMB) may argue its character exceptional. However the Chamonix Le Pass, that "offers" the ski in Chamonix below 2700m can be easily compared with all the neighboring stations, price/km of slopes. And the difference is obvious. 0.36€ per km of slope in Chamonix ... only 8 cents for Ski Pass Evasion (Saint-Gervais/Megève) which has an area three times larger. The legitimacy of the prices in Chamonix must be questionned. And also the quality of services provided with these prices. Runaway of the neighborhood customers? This year, the ski passes price rise can still be explained by the difficulty of access to sites, the Valley Transportation Management (funded in part by the CMB), the CMB give priority long stays ski passes, the financial issue with the Planpraz lift. All apologies, good or bad, they can be a lot. But this increase also affects Les Houches and its modest ski area. Price for this year 32.80€ (2€ more than last year or 6%) the ratio price/km of slope is similar to the value of a gram of caviar, 0.60€ per km slope. The Contamines offer a ski pass 1€ less expensive for an area twice as large. One thing is for sure, in times of savings the neighborhood customers could decide not to come to Chamonix and decide to ski lower and in other resorts. We will however offer specific Chamonix packages for locals or for persons that have here their second home. These prices remain attractive despite an 8% increase in price. The CMB is one of the last operators offer this discount. FACTS DAILY SKIPASS *Chamonix (le Pass) : 40 € pour 110 km de pistes *Les Houches : 32,80 € pour 55 km de pistes. *Domaine Evasion (Saint-Gervais, Megève, Combloux, les Contamines) : 36,50 € pour 440 km. *Les Contamines : 31,50 € pour 120 km de pistes *Les portes du Mont-Blanc (Combloux, Jaillet, la Giettaz) : 25 € pour 85 km PRESEASON SALES Chamonix le Pass : 520€ au lieu de 800€ (normal price) so -40% till 30 Nov (478€ last year). MBU: 750€ for the MBU contre 1250€ (normal price). The MBU offers Les Houches, all Verbier (Quatre vallées) & Courmayeur (Italie). Forfait Evasion: 486€ till the 15 Nov (474€ last year) au lieu de 661 € soit -25%. Les Houches: 246€, -50% par rapport au tarif normal en avant saison. PRIVILEGED SKIPASSES Chamonix: 500 € Chamonix Pass & 650 € for MBU, prices for adults, gens du pays & second home in the Valley (annual). Le Dauphiné
