I am an intermediate snowboarder who likes off-piste and piste boarding. I have visited Chamonix on two occasions in 2018 and 2019. It is no doubt one of the best places to visit if you are looking for big mountain skiing/boarding with incredible off piste descents with huge vertical drops. If you are a beginner or are visiting with children/beginners then I would recommend a ski in/out resort where you can easily take beginners to ski school. Cham is for intermediate groups and above unless you are planing to stay at Les Houches which is more of a typical ski resort at one end of the Chamonix valley.
You won't find bars in Chamonix each trying to offer the cheapest apres deals but you will find a huge amount of variety, due to the size of the town. This is the same for evening choices. Price of the average beer is 5-6 euros, fairly typical of anywhere else I have been in France. Argentiere and Les Houches have some good bars if you want a few apres drinks before bussing back into the main town. The town draws all types of extreme sports enthusiasts and is a honeypot location year round due to being at the foot on Mont Blanc meaning it has a different feel than being a dedicated ski resort.
Don't allow the talk of bussing to each ski area put you off, it is worth it and the bus system is fairly efficient. top tip (do not ignore!): Stay somewhere in town as near to a bus station/stop as possible, it makes things so much smoother.
Brevent/Flegere - accessed from the town, cable car is walking distance from the high street, amazing views down into town and of Mont Blanc, predominantly red runs with some blues lower down. Some varied blacks descending from the peaks with great off piste accessible from the lifts. All south facing slopes, sun all day, which makes for good visibility right to the end of the afternoon. I'd spend my first day here if it was my first visit, quick stroll into town at the end of the day for a few drinks. An airbag, boarder cross and small snow park here too.
Argentiere (Grands Montets) - accessed by free bus, 19 minutes from Chamonix. Highest lift accessed peak is 3,300 metres with a vertical descent down to 1200 metres (lift currently out of action due to burning down summer '18).
Le Tour (Domaine De Balme) - accessed on the same free bus as Grands Montets, five minutes further up the valley. I've never visited this area.
Les Houches - 19 minutes from Chamonix in the opposite direction. Great beginner area and tree lined. Pretty resort with some great views of Mont Blanc. The area is generally more popular with families.
Vallee Blanche - one of the world longest off piste descents, accessed via aiguille du midi cable car straight from town. Look it up!
Hope this is helpful.
