UKC

As this is our first year of having to go away during school holidays, was looking at the alps as an option during the summer holidays. We were in Sardinia last summer and it was just too hot to sit on a beach or do some sightseeing, so looking at places further north, where we can still swim (in lakes rather than the sea), there's sights to see (not fussed about museums) and options for kids' activities (2 & 5).

Obviously "the Alps" covers a lot of options, but you're a knowledgeable bunch so wondered if you had any suggestions?

Not really looking at getting any climbing in, maybe a day of bouldering max. 

My preference would be either Switzerland or Austria but they seem to both be exorbitantly expensive?

Chamonix gets good reviews but is it going to be silly busy? Just looking for week, maybe two, of some adventuring, chilling, entertaining...

Usually Airbnb/HomeAway - but could do a hotel if it had things like a kids club to actually give us a break and it wasn't too Butlins-y.

Any/all advice welcome - appreciate it's a wide brief!

As you say, the Alps are quite large. Worth remembering that the weather varies considerably, and within France, the southern Alps are much drier than the north. Large lakes are rarer than mountains but what about somewhere near Serre Poncon ?

I used to go to the Alps with my kids when they were young.....best place was Morzine! Lots to do, good facilities and excellent public transport.....

Over the last few years we have had summer holidays in the French Alps staying around Chamonix, Les Deux Alpes, Maurienne and Briancon.

All proved great places to base ourselves, there are even some superb guidebooks for just this sort of thing, such as.

https://www.cicerone.co.uk/mountain-adventures-in-the-maurienne

We have found some of the ski accommodation is very reasonably priced and have stayed in apartments with Peak Retreats that costs thousands in the winter for sensible money.

It's a great way to have fun with kids whilst enjoying a holiday yourselves.

Annecy.

Stayed here. Hire car let’s you get around the local area as well as places like Chamonix

https://www.eurocamp.co.uk/campsites/thealps/al013-la-ravoire/ataglance.htm...

I don't have kids, but I go to the Briancon valley a lot and think it would fit the bill for a generally adventurous (but not all climbing) destination. Especially if you're planning to take/hire a car.

Many towns have swimming lakes (Salle des Alpes, Briancon, Roche du Rame) and there are loads of ski season apartments on airbnb let out as self catering for the summer.

Plenty of adventure scope for grown ups too, there are easily accessible sport routes around the valley and it's only a short drive to Ailefroide if you want more. There are 20+ via ferratas with an app that tells you where they are, some would be easy enough for kids, but probably not a 2 year old. There are great rivers for kayaking/rafting and plenty of road and MTB riding too. 

Depending on your preferences eurocamp etc have campsites in the Alps, we did one a few years ago. enjoyed it, got cold at night so 2nd day we visited decathlon in the nearest town to buy thermals!

Lake Annecy area is really good, but had some great summer holidays in Font.  Gites are fairly inexpensive and day trips to Eurodisney and Paris.  swim at Butheirs or Bois de Roi 

Another vote for the Briancon area.  Have you thought of camping.  The Ailefroide campsite is great for families.

Some of the ski accommodation is really good value to rent in the summer. I appreciate you are stuck with the kids school hols but if you can sneak in before Bastille Day it's a whole lot cheaper.

We went many times through an agency called Peak Retreats. The apartments were always fantastic.

We went to Les Carroz, and Les Houches both reasonably close to Chamonix.  We also went to St Foy near Tignes.

Brilliant holidays,  loads to do and generally far better weather than our Cornwall camping hols which we fell out of love with after 3 consecutive wet July holidays!

Try the Salzkammergut area. Lots of lakes, some very nice walks, childrens climbing, some real climbing, easy VF, caves & ice caves. 

Slovenia?

Pyrenees (maybe Val d’aran?)

Tatra?

We have done Morzine 3 years in a row and are going again next year as we love it so much. Kids are now 9 and 6 and every year we have found plenty to do

We stay at a catered chalet with a kids club (chilly powder) which is excellent and has a tiny bit of bouldering 10' walk away and some good single and 2 pitch bolted routes 15' drive away. Kids are in the club some days and it with us on other days so it's a good mix

We are looking at the dolomites for something similar but different in 2021 and there seem to be lots of hotels with kids clubs there.

Is that the new name for the Ariege area?

Maybe John is planning a takeover, but the Val d'Aran is an odd part of Spain, where the local patois is related to French rather than Spanish & is on the north side of the watershed. Worth a vist even if John Arran isn't there

We went to a catered chalet with a pool in Les Gets once. Marvellous holiday, plenty for the kids and adults including some very easy kids sport climbing. French ski resorts do seem to market themselves quite well in the summer and Les Gets is a short drive from uk

Oberstdorf in the Allgäu, right on the German / Austrian border - perfect for walking, cycling, sightseeing, fantastic lakes, great huts, plus excellent food, sevice and beer - and all at about half the price of Switzerland or France. A trip to the Breitachklamm (easily walkable from Oberstdorf) is a must, the buses (and some lifts) are free with a guest card, and the train stops right in the middle of town. It's really just a big village with nice shops if you just want a mooch as well. Job done!

Thanks all for the replies - I timed asking the question with going off on leave and not checking internet, wasn't ignoring you!

Plenty to look at, but Morzine seems a popular choice, and I'm intrigued by Val d'Aran and Oberstdorf  as always up for some place new.

 lt may be worth looking at Tui lakes and mountains or Ingham's for a package holiday. I've been a few times with a young child and it has been extremely good value. If you carefully select a resort and hotel that give you a free visitors card you can get on buses, chair lifts,  pools/waterslides, swimming lakes etc for nowt.

Two examples of places we went.

https://www.schladming-dachstein.at/en/summer/summercard

https://www.oetztal.com/oetztalcard-en

Lech or Engleberg are both pretty cool. Bit different, nice and laid back. 

Keep looking at Ötztal, is the aqua dome as good as it looks..?

Aqua dome is great. We got one free visit during our stay. Must be amazing in the winter with all the snow around. 

Visits further down the valley to area 47 are also included but the activities there would have been too extreme for our 7 year old I think.

Cool. Thanks. Definitely one on our list now. 

We have stayed in Saalbach and Hinterglemm Two years in a row now with our kids (aged 4 and 6) and had a great time:

https://www.saalbach.com/en/summer

If you get accommodation that includes the Joker Card there is a lot of stuff included (4 x lifts, splash park, mini golf, bus up and down valley etc - full details of all items on website) plus discounts for other stuff. Lots of walks to do along the valley or higher up  by connecting the cable cars.

Ötztal is great, but can be busy in the summer: https://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/destinations/otztal_-_austrias_outdoor_...

Chris

How are you planning to get where you go? If you're driving then then just pick the closest suggested place. If you're flying then Slovenia is cheap as chips compared to places further west. Austria is historically popular with Brits so may be a good option if you're worried about language etc., however anyone working in tourism invariably speaks English nowadays.

Open to either. If we drove, which we'd probably prefer not to as it'd require overnight stops for the littluns thus taking time away from the actual "holiday part", it would open up camping as an option. 

Flying is pretty convenient, however un-eco-friendly, but we do have to pay for both kids now!

We trained across France and Germany this xmas as our youngest now pays for flights - saved £350 for the 4 of us over flights to Gatwick then Munich. Had to overnight each way due to ferry times, but it's worth considering if it's an option. German long distance train prices are dropping 10% too.

I suspect many places may be worth a visit because I'm not there

Isn't it a dialect of Occitane they still speak in the Val d'aran? I looked into Occitane a little a while ago and it's a fascinating language with a big history.