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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

Alps summer holidays with two young boys!

105 replies

Padn123 · 29/09/2023 21:58

Hi everyone, thanks in advance for your time! We're thinking that in summer 2025 we may take our holiday abroad with our two boys who will be age 7 and 4. The Alps looks like it could be perfect, but I'm struggling to work out which specific area will be best and provide easy access to the various activities we'd be looking for. Advice much appreciated.
Key criteria and interests:

  • Less than 1 hour from airport.
  • Self-catering accommodation
  • July or August 2025
  • Good chance of warm weather (above 20 degrees celsius).
  • Easy access (under 45mins drive/public transport) to a wide range of activities that work well with very young children. Things I reckon that would work really well with our boys include adventure playgrounds, summer tobaganning, beach, swimming/kayaking, short but scenic walks, cycling (on easy level ground), anything animal/wildlife related
  • Restaurants/pubs/cafes ideally within walking distance or short drive of accommodation
Once we have narrowed down the area, then I'm wondering what the best route to finding the accommodation is. AirBnb? Certain websites you'd recommend? Many thanks
OP posts:
Shouldbedoing · 29/09/2023 22:01

I once had a lovely week at Alpe d'Huez in France. There was a luge, an ice rink, a pool, gondola lift, and trails to walk. I saw many families though I was child free at the time. Trips to a glacier were good too

Notimeforaname · 29/09/2023 22:28

Annecy is beautiful. Fly to Geneva.

Not the Alps so more than likely useless to you but,Andorra had the best alpine toboggan coaster thingy I've ever been on! Lots of fun things to do.

FraterculaArctica · 29/09/2023 22:30

We just did a big tour of the Alps. I'd suggest you head to the Tyrol from Munich. Loads to do - cable cars, outdoor swimming pools, zoos, mountain playgrounds. We stayed in an apartment we found on one of the big search engines.

cocksstrideintheevening · 29/09/2023 22:30

Annecy

SoSad44 · 29/09/2023 22:35

FraterculaArctica · 29/09/2023 22:30

We just did a big tour of the Alps. I'd suggest you head to the Tyrol from Munich. Loads to do - cable cars, outdoor swimming pools, zoos, mountain playgrounds. We stayed in an apartment we found on one of the big search engines.

You can also fly to Innsbruck

PrimaniTu · 29/09/2023 22:36

Seefeld

staying at

Princess Oasis should tick your boxes. About 30 minutes from Innsbruck airport.

FraterculaArctica · 29/09/2023 22:37

True but direct flights to Innsbruck are rare and tend to be much more expensive.

FraterculaArctica · 29/09/2023 22:37

(We drove all the way from the UK so didn't route through either airport, but drove past Munich - wasn't far beyond that)

gazingatgoats · 29/09/2023 22:38

Lake Annecy is a fantastic base for a holiday. The town of Annecy is lovely with a fab street market and castle to explore. The lake itself is lovely to swim in with access at many places. Lots to do in the area including tobogganing, paragliding, gorge walking etc.
We've been 3 times and stayed in campsites and in a lovely mountain chalet overlooking the lake.
Always driven there ourselves but think it's not too far from Geneva airport.

Londonscallingme · 29/09/2023 22:38

Another vote for Annecy, super easy to reach from Geneva snd thd lake gives extra options for activities. It’s also spectacularly beautiful.

FraterculaArctica · 29/09/2023 22:39

We also went to Lake Annecy as part of the same trip - of the two regions we preferred the Tyrol, overall. And the ice cream is much cheaper in Austria - almost always 1 euro 80 per scoop, compared with 2 euros 50 in France !

Notsoadmirablecrichton · 29/09/2023 22:41

Another vote for Innsbruck. Fantastic public transport. Outdoor swimming. Alpine coaster. Mountain carts. Cable cars. We stayed in an air bnb at Mutters just outside Innsbruck. I’d recommend driving from Munich but you might get lucky and be able to get a flight into Innsbruck.

Londonscallingme · 29/09/2023 22:41

FraterculaArctica · 29/09/2023 22:37

(We drove all the way from the UK so didn't route through either airport, but drove past Munich - wasn't far beyond that)

We’ve flown to Munich and got the train to Innsbruck, it was super easy.

PrimaniTu · 29/09/2023 22:48

FraterculaArctica · 29/09/2023 22:37

True but direct flights to Innsbruck are rare and tend to be much more expensive.

My flights were £120 return per person I booked EJ on the day they were released. It's a short flight and flights are quite cheap.

gotomomo · 29/09/2023 22:50

South of Munich is great, I stayed in Fussen famous for castles but the summerbob was good too. We drove. Titisee is good option too, again we drove

IThinkIMadeItWorse · 29/09/2023 22:58

Saalbach Hinterglemm in Austria is lovely with loads to do for families (Montelino's Adventure path, Berg Kodok etc.) We flew to Salzburg and I think the transfer was about an hour and a half.

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

Family summer holidays | Saalbach Hinterglemm

Your family holiday should be unforgettable, which is why we are always coming up with new attractions and offers for the whole family in Saalbach Hin

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

Original poster
Padn123 · 30/09/2023 07:06

Thanks so much all for your ideas and suggestions. I've taken those on board and it's really helped narrow down the search!

OP posts:
Tumty · 30/09/2023 07:13

We liked the Bernese oberland area of Switzerland. (Interlaken, grindelwald etc) it’s very well connected with trains. Everything is expensive though.

annecy looks nice I am off to research that too

disappearingfish · 30/09/2023 07:13

Tignes. You buy a pass for about 30 euros and get cycling, archery, trampolining etc. all included. Lots of marmots just hanging around! Don't know about distance to the airport though.

disappearingfish · 30/09/2023 07:15

en.tignes.net/activities/summer

Newtothis12345 · 30/09/2023 07:18

We’ve just been to Morzine with our young children. Was amazing. Playground, swimming pool, pony trekking, lake with paddle boarding and kayaking. Lots of lifts open giving easy access to mountain restaurants etc.

calimc83 · 30/09/2023 08:11

@Newtothis12345 Morzine looks stunning! Seriously considering booking this for next year - can you recommend any child friendly accommodation? Thanks

PixiePirate · 30/09/2023 08:15

Sorry I’m not knowledgeable about the Alps in summer but if you struggle to find something there you might like the look of Lake Garda instead.

BuggertheTabloids · 30/09/2023 08:17

Try Chamonix. Lots of walks, cycling in the valley, high ropes courses, climbing, outdoor pools, all walking distance from centre
Also 2 nice lakes to swim in if you have a car
Loads to do there!

Londonscallingme · 30/09/2023 08:20

Newtothis12345 · 30/09/2023 07:18

We’ve just been to Morzine with our young children. Was amazing. Playground, swimming pool, pony trekking, lake with paddle boarding and kayaking. Lots of lifts open giving easy access to mountain restaurants etc.

Oh yes, Morzine is also super easy from Geneva, good shout.

the OPs kids might be too young but there’s great mountain bike trails there.