Alps - Summer Chalet Options

[DaveyBoyWonder]

Morning all. Thinking about next summer already and fancy spending a week or two in the Alps with the family. Not too fussy where but was thinking northern Switzerland/Annecy/Geneva sort of area. Ideally want a house with its own pool thats within easy striking distance for big mountains, maybe some travelling around by train, seeing some cities etc.

Had a quick look on Airbnb but couldn't find anything that fit the bill (albeit it was a VERY quick look) - does anyone have any recommendations for sites to use for chalet bookings in the Alps?

Cheers,
Dave

[Bill]

We tend to use Airbnb or VRBO and have found pools are rarer in the Alps particularly in smaller properties. I suspect it's due to the expense of overwintering them.

[DaveyBoyWonder]

Bill said:

We tend to use Airbnb or VRBO and have found pools are rarer in the Alps particularly in smaller properties. I suspect it's due to the expense of overwintering them.

Yeh, I've found that (although you wouldn't believe that was the case as you fly into Geneva!).

[//j17]

Yea, unlike say the south of France the usage window for a pool just doesn't make sence with the costs involved, building/running/and in France at least I believe tax so they are harder to find.

Hot tubs are more likely so maybe look for a chalet with one of those plus a near by municiple pool (remember your budgie smugglers) and rivers/lakes.

[Harpoon]

We rented a house in Crolles for a week in summer 2023. I'll have to dig out the Airbnb listing for it but IIRC it was five or six bedrooms with a pool. Crolles is 20km to Grenoble, with Annecy an hour's drive up the valley. Mrs Harpoon & sister took the coach to Annecy one day when we drove (to save taking two cars). You could also use the train via Chambery. Bourg-d'Oisans (the bottom of Alpe d'Huez) is also an hour away in the car if you want the big mountains.

Much closer is the Chartreuse regional park which is very pretty and very quiet. There is a funicular railway to climb out the valley near Crolles but it's still being repaired after winter storm damage in 2022 (reopens 2027 apparently!). A quick look up the valley on Google Maps with the satellite layers shows pools are pretty common - it was hot the week were there.

Anyway, Gites de France can be a good place to look

https://www.gites-de-france.com/

I searched around Crolles and spotted this place 5 with a pool which is in the Chartreuse.

https://www.gites-de-france.com/en/auvergne-rhone-...

[DaveyBoyWonder]

For anyone interested, I had a look on vrbo and found a few options around Annecy but in the end got a big apartment in central Chamonix with pool for next summer. Looks like theres a lot going on in the Chamonix valley so loads to look forward to.

Just need to decide on which way to go down there now. Currently thinking tunnel on the Friday and an overnight stop near Reims followed by a much shorter drive the rest of the way on the Saturday with maybe a leisurely stop for lunch somewhere. Coming back, tempted to go all the way to Rotterdam and jump on the overnight ferry to Hull so I wake up with an hours drive home vs a 5 hour one including the M25!

[WhiskyDisco]

Try this https://www.ovonetwork.com/en/home

[MarkJS]

DaveyBoyWonder said:

For anyone interested, I had a look on vrbo and found a few options around Annecy but in the end got a big apartment in central Chamonix with pool for next summer. Looks like theres a lot going on in the Chamonix valley so loads to look forward to.

Just need to decide on which way to go down there now. Currently thinking tunnel on the Friday and an overnight stop near Reims followed by a much shorter drive the rest of the way on the Saturday with maybe a leisurely stop for lunch somewhere. Coming back, tempted to go all the way to Rotterdam and jump on the overnight ferry to Hull so I wake up with an hours drive home vs a 5 hour one including the M25!

Both lovely places. I'd still recommend a visit to Annecy even though you're not staying there - it's only an hour or so drive-wise.

[Bluerange39]

I can recommend Beaune as a really nice stopping point en route to Alps or the South. It’s a bit more of a drive on day 1 but if you want anything more than an overnight, the old town is really lovely. You can come off the autoroute at Dijon and drive through some lovely vineyards…

Did it last month based on recommendation having previously stayed in Reims and didn’t regret it

[shirt]

The Swiss are big open water swimmers and the majority of their lakes and rivers are safe. We regularly swim in Lake Geneva through the summer, there are pop up bars and cafes by the main access points and it’s quite a big area thing in Bern and Basel for people to commute by swimming along the river.

I find it far more invigorating than a pool swim. I’ve even started naming the ducks.

[DaveyBoyWonder]

shirt said:

The Swiss are big open water swimmers and the majority of their lakes and rivers are safe. We regularly swim in Lake Geneva through the summer, there are pop up bars and cafes by the main access points and it s quite a big area thing in Bern and Basel for people to commute by swimming along the river.

I find it far more invigorating than a pool swim. I ve even started naming the ducks.

Theres a great looking lake a short drive from Chamonix - Lac Passy or something? Usual French setup with a "beach", cafe etc.