I’m not 100% sure. I only found out because I happened to stay at le vert hotel as most campsites were still closed and the guy behind the bar was into his biking. The chair was open for bikes above the gondola at le tour but the lifty said it was still very wet and a bit icy at the top of the chair so we just got off at the top of the gondola. It was completely dry from the gondola down. The flegere lift was also open to bikes and as far as I know les houches was open. It might be worth calling the tourist office to check if you are planning a visit. I guess they close the lifts at some point for maintenance before the full summer season. It felt like the middle of summer apart from the folk walking about town in their ski gear.

I reckon the best campsite for walkable distance to the bars and restaurants is Camping Mer de Glace(http://www.chamonix-camping.com/uk/welcome.html). The other campsite suggested is in Argentiere by the looks of things. The web addresses are very similar. Camping mer de glace is very close to les Praz and is about 10-15 mins walk from the MBC bar or another 5-10 mins into the centre of chamonix. I’ve stayed there on several occasions. Even when busy there’s plenty of showers etc. I had to queue for 20 mins for a shower this past weekend at a campsite elsewhere in France.

Chamonix has opened the lifts to bikes already this season due to the lack of snow. I was up on the le tour just this past weekend. Be careful if you plan to use the trains to get access to further up the valley. They try and limit each train to 5 bikes which in the height of summer is a joke.

Enjoy!

Balbirs for a great curry
http://www.balbirsrestaurants.co.uk/church_home.html
or
Crabshakk for fish
http://www.crabshakk.com/