Alpine summer holiday

[goingtobefree]

We have been to Lake Garda on MN suggestion and really enjoyed it.
Have two children 14 and 7 and would prefer self catering, could hire a car, not bothered having kids club as tend to do our own things.
Pool would be a real bonus for possible rainy days, some organised activity for teenager would be nice too.

Please can you suggest somewhere that suit our needs.
Zell am see or Morzine?

Serre Chevalier. Bike riding, hiking, via ferrata, jungle park in the larch forest, white water rafting, paintballing, horse riding, tennis, mini golf, a big pool with a flume in Briancon and amazing spa baths in Monetier - all this within ten minutes of each other and two big lakes, one fed by a hot spring so lovely for swimming in, 40 and 50 mins drive away, the larger one has windsurfing, pedalloes and a huge bouncy castle affair in the centre of the lake. Weather usually amazing.

Closest airport is Turin (1h 15 away), Lyon is just under 3 hrs away.

Not been yet, but this summer we are going to Samoens after seeing lots of positive recommendations - about an hour from Geneva, looks like lots of activities on the doorstep and a lovely little town. Fingers crossed it lives up to expectations !

Thanks for the suggestions, easy jet flies to geneva so it is a possibility to go to Samoens.
Has anyone had experience of zell am see?
Would love to visit Salzburg on a day trip have been to Geneva before.

We stayed near Zell am See with our 3 a couple of years ago. I think they were 16, 15 and 11 at the time. We visited Salzburg although it was quite hot that day. You can swim in the lake and there were diving platforms and trampolines in the water. Nearby there is a mountain bike place. We self-catered and did things all together. So we walked in the mountains etc. One day we went to some ice caves nearby. We really like Austria.

We went to Zell when DD was 7. We had a great time and she still reckons it was one of the best holidays she has ever been on.

We went out on the lake both on the organised boat tours to the other villages and then also hired small motorboats which she was allowed to drive.

We used the bikes from the hotel and cycled round the lake - found some great play areas on the way which helped to break up the ride.

There is an outdoor pool right by the lake which is great and you can go out on rings behind a boat which DD loved and did several times. There is also a mini golf setup next to it. There is a leisure centre with an indoor pool as well.

We also did walks through the mountains, used the cable cars as well and always seemed to end up at a cafe for hot chocolate and strudel/ice-cream.

We went on a day trip to Salzburg as well as the waterfalls, Kaprun to go on the glacier and other places. You can get the train to loads of places as well.

If you go in August then they have a festival most Wednesday evenings with local bands, food,drink etc. all good fun and very traditional. You will see locals in the traditional clothes and the shops are shut on Sundays apart from the petrol station.

We will be going back again which dd can't wait to do and is one of the few places we have wanted to go back to (tend to try different places each time).

We've had some great family holidays in Morzine (before our dc were born but with dBro and his dc when they were primary school age).

Annecy?
Chamonix ?

Grindelwald is great in summer and cheap for Switzerland. Good but not essential to have a car.

Forgot to say we also went into Germany to visit the salt mines and Eagles Nest. Well worth a visit especially the salt mines.