Alps same same but different ..

[Mossiebonbon]

This summer we had the best holiday - We did a 3 center trip to the French alps staying in Annecy (campsite) chamonix (Airbnb) and Samoëns (self catering with pool) . Would LOVE to do similar next year but reluctant to repeat same ! Any suggestions on places to base where we could do a couple of moves (up to 90 mins apart) - looking At French alps but Austria /Italy also appeals (as does Switzerland but think too expensive?!) TIA

Mayerhofen in Austria would be a good start base? Lots to do in the summer.

Thanks for suggestion Pottering .. yes ski resort bases seem to work well... please let me know if you’ve stayed - any accommodation recommendations ?

@Mossiebonbon No suggestions because Annecy is my favourite place.

Wanted to ask what type of things you do? Is it a summer
Holiday plan you're working on?

Saas Grund in Switzerland has lovely campsites. If you stay in the valley you get a pass giving you free bus travel and free use of all lifts in the valley, so if you self cater at the campsite it doesn't have to be that pricy.

There is also apparently a lovely campsite in Arolla. My stayed there, but had it recommended to me very recently.

^ Not stayed there, even

Lauterbrunnen has a campsite and a chalet village. Interlaken also has campsites.

Lech in Austria is pretty and has a summer programme.

Welsh moth- sorry should’ve clarified definitely summer hol plan! We enjoy Lots of hiking (all) and cycling (husband only, doing Tour de France climbs!) mixed with pool time- kids 12 and 9 .
Hill runner thank you for your suggestion in Switzerland I will definitely look into it.

Thanks for posting... will google both now!

The best of the campsites in Saas Grund is Camping Am Kappellenweg imo.

Les deux alps. And residence cortina. Self catering and usually reasonable in the summer ( at least compared to th ski season).
My daughters and dh did the mountain biking every morning, i hiked and sometimes did the longer climb and to the ski lift down. You can also ski on the top of the mountain and we had one or two ski lessons. It rained one day and we did the white water rafting at the bottom of the resort and is one of our favourite memories and was amazing - so if rain forecast book that! There is a lake at the entrance of the resort that you can swim in and an outdoor pool. Resort not as pretty as annercy but the alps and the views are wonderful.

This year we stayed at Saalbach-Hinterglimm and Kaprun - both have seperate summer cards if you stay at the right hotels/apartments which give you loads of free passes to ski lifts and attractions, and discounts at other places.

Was super family friendly and never felt overcrowded. Loved it

Rauris, Zell-am-See, and Salzburg in Austra in the summer will give you lots to see and do.... And accommodation is pretty cheap in the ski resorts int he summer (which you already know).

Interlaken is beautiful. Loads to do.

I went to Slovenia for 2 weeks this summer. We had a great time. We stayed in Ljubljana for a few days then spent 10 days in the mountains in Kranjska Gora. Lots of hiking and cycling options. We had a hire car and visited Lake Bled and Lake Bohinj and various other places around the mountains. It was very similar to our trip to Switzerland we did with Guides.

Definitely watching with interest. We missed France this year so are hoping for a mammoth 6 weeks next year. Will definitely do 2 in France but looking to drive further afield into other parts of Europe too 👍

Wow thanks all for your suggestions lots for me to follow up researching!

You could look at Ecrins, La Grave is a good base (has a nice campsite by the river, a Gite, a hotel) but much smaller and quieter than Annecy or Chamonix. Briancon nearby is an attractive small town. Could then easily go over to Italy from there (eg Parco Naturale Alpi Marittime) or stay in France and go to Parc Naturel Régional du Queyras.

Slovenia as suggested above, would be good too, combine with a city break to lovely Ljubljana.

The alps rock!. Also following for suggestions.
Mossiebonbon I’d be interested in where you stayed in Samoëns please? Was it close to the centre?

I recommend Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Germany and it’s close to the Austrian border you can visit Innsbruck in an hour. So beautiful and so much to do and see. We stayed in an Airbnb. Loved it.

Did you all hire cars or use public transport? I'm a bit scared of driving abroad but would love to go to these places in summer.

We hired a car but I think trains and public transport would work well too.

We love Serre Chevalier (close to La Grave). Loads of activities and lovely lakes at Roche du Rame and Embrun.

Switzerland is just stunning, have spent a lot of time there in the past and I love it but (having just had 2 days in Lugano) it is also stunningly expensive . Think 16 CHF plus for a pizza or bowl of pasta...Euro is about 1:1 and of course Euro:£ is already painful.

Any questions about Serre Che just pm, we know it v well!

How about Berchtesgaden? You can do a boat trip on the Königsee, there’s great hiking and you can also easily visit Salzburg. Berchtesgaden has some great places for food and nice beer too. We adored the Hotel Bavaria, lovely views of the Watzmann from the breakfast room.