can anyone with a bit of knowledge of the area advise the best place to stay, planning on going in the summer for the first time and dont want to end up booking a chalet miles from anywhere with a 2 hour climb to get back at the end of the day.

The town below the mountain Bourg St Maurice loads of places & camping. Fumicular train from behind the station takes you to the peak in 15 mins.

I’d be stopping in Bourg, if you stop in LA and miss the last lift back up its a long old climb.

excellent, thanks chaps.

Stay in Bourg St Maurice plenty of cheap places to stay and the funicular runs t0 Arc1600 till 1900hrs in the summer so you can still get runs down to Bourg if you want.