Summer in the alps ideas please.

[Lifeisforlivingkatie]

Please give me ideas of a great summer destination in the alps with a seven year old. My DP is a keen athlete and does not fancy a lazy beach holiday. It does not need to be a budget holiday. Help

Go to Zug am Arlberg in Austria - tiny village just outside Lech. Really really beautiful. Check out the Rote Wand Hotel, they have some special summer offers where the price includes food, drink, lift passes, guided hikes etc.

johnogroats we go to Serre Chevalier, just up the road (50mins) from Embrun, it is fabulous in the summer. Road biking (tour de France mountain stage routes), mountain biking, jungle park, white water rafting, tennis, paintballing, kayaking, hiking, mountain climbing, a beautiful natural spa in Monetier les Bains, picnics, fabulous weather, good restaurants. Lakes at Embrun and Rocher du Ram are gorgeous. Fantastic holiday.

Zug

Food is better in Austria than in Zermatt, btw ;-)

I worked in the Italian alps in a village called Villenuve for a company called acorn adventure. It was camping so probably not luxury enough for you but you could do the activities privately through the companies we used
Climbing, high ropes course, hydro speeding, white water rafting, cable car up mont bland, hiking etc etc. Lots of gorgeous alpine villages and nice resturants.

Allinafankle please report on Laurerbrunnen when you're back.
DC are 6 & 10. We are reasonably fit but not used to long treks.

Hi Sleepwhenidie...I know Serre Che well. In fact we camped there during the last Royal Wedding when I was about 10. It was a holiday I never forgot, and I feel I am very lucky to be able to have all my holidays in the region now! Friends keep telling me to go to Monetier for the spa!

And this year the Tour de France finish is in Risoul....also nearby. however, we will be in Yorkshire for a change

Samoens is lovely - and one of the most accessible resorts either by car or from Geneva Airport. Real French village rather than a purpose built resort. Plenty of stuff for children to do.
In Switzerland, Grindelwald/Murren/Wengen are nice but very busy in the summer. Scenery there is Alps at its most spectacular and there is plenty to do.

Its gorgeous isn't it - we should probably be keeping it secret, not shouting about it here . Deffo get to the spa, its lovely, especially magical in winter when you can sit in the hot pool outside surrounded by snowy mountains as it gets dark!

1. Grindelwald
2. Chamonix
3. Zermatt

All fab. Loads of marked trails, loads of playgrounds, beautiful scenery.

We love Bavaria in there summer. We have done Kinder hotels, but I don't rate them. We loved Zel Am See which is in Austria with a very quick train (20 min) to Innsbruck. We are booked to go to German Bavaria in early Septmeber. To a place called Ruhpolding. We are staying at a fairly luxurious hotel in two suites next door to each other - one for the kids and one for us. The hotel is called Alpen Hotel Wittlesbach.m I have already had loads of email communication with the owners (we had complicated room requirements) and they were lovely and helpful.

chamonix!!!

What about going on the Bernina Express train from Chur in Switzerland to Tirano in N Italy and haveing time at each end, or Lake Como or somewhere. It's absolutely amazing round there

Zermatt is lovely in the summer. If you go across the valley, you can go up the gornergrat (walk or train) to the glacier, and walk on it (wear many socks!)

The Findeln alp is nice, and I think there are places to rent over that side.

Hello Wiffitmama, were in Zal am see did you stay? The pictures on google look lovely, have you been to chamonix? If so how do the two compare?

We honeymooned in Muerren and have visited the Alps - Switzerland , Chamonix and St Anton/Lech - summer and winter many times. Favourites would be the Bernese Oberland (Wengen is a good mountain base or Kandersteg, Lauterbrunnen itself is a bit of a non-place, sorry, more a junction for accessing other resorts) or on the Lake Thun/Brienz for easier access to a variety of places and attractions across the area, Saas Fee for its variety of family and children's activities and spectacular position, Engelberg quiet but active and varied, easy ride to Lucerne. We stayed in the Sapiniere in Chamonix , then with Esprit but now run by Inghams iirc.

Can I just thank everyone that's contributing, I will be an expert soon.

The choice now is chamonix or zel am see. All vote now! Please

If you take me I can show you around....

Chamomix

Mayrhofen is lovely with really short transfers and super family friendly.

Crystal have a whole brochure of lakes and mountains holidays. We've always had good experiences with crystal.

Surely Zell am See is closer to Salzburg than Innsbruck ? Both have a Mc D's btw ! Tough choice tbh - Zell is probably more typically alpine with footpaths through rolling flower meadows and the echo of cow bells, Chamonix more dramatic scenery and tougher walking.

Bikerunandski you are so funny, Lizs which one have better accommodation and sweeping for my 8 year old son?

? sweeping ? Chamonix is the bigger resort of the two , more concrete and functional buildings than classic wooden chalet style. Very busy road tunnel to Italy too.

We have stayed in chalet hotels in Lech and Saalbach. Saalbach had the edge over Lech for children's facilities, just for the games at the end of the valley, and Captain hooks water park. The price of the holiday included a summer pass that gave entrance to the pool, unlimited mini golf , buses and ski lifts.