Chamonix, La Cluzaz, Megeve, Annecy and summer cards

[kevby88]

For the past two years, we (DH and 2 x DD - 5 & 7 next year) have been to Morzine in the french alps and loved it. It was pretty much perfect in terms of mountain views (and cooler altitude temps), LOADS of activities for kids, pretty great value accommodation options, the amazing multipass card that gave us access to all the lifts and activities. We're pretty much seeking similar for 2 weeks this year - just craving somewhere new to explore.

We almost landed on Saalbach-Hinterglemm in Austria, but we cannot find any accommodation even close to as good value as in Morzine. For reference, 2 weeks in a lovely and perfectly appointed 2 bedroom apartment in Morzine was about £1800. I can't find close to that in Austria without paying a lot more or taking a big step down in niceness.

So we're finding ourselves back looking at the French Alps. We're quite excited by the idea of a split holiday in Chamonix and Annecy and other mumsnet threads suggest this is a nice option.

My question is, has anyone who's been to Morzine able to comment on Chamonix in terms of:

1. Is there any entertainment/activities put on by the tourist board for kids, families in the town square or similar? We spent so much time in the sandpits/kids stuff set up in Morzine and it was a good place to meet other kids.
2. How does the multipass work out. It looks like it's not as good as Morzine and it's the Mont Blanc Multipass to cover lifts etc. But does it also cover buses or any other activities? It's quite hard to work out. Again, I think Morzine spoiled our expectations as the multipass gave access to the public swimming pool, ice rink and discounts on loads of stuff.

And then I suppose any other recommendations of other places in and around Geneva/Annecy that might be good for the altitude part of our trip as an add on or alternative to Chamonix. I keep stumbling across La Cluzaz and Megeve and wondering if they're worth looking into.

I suppose I just want to find somewhere with a similar volume of stuff to do as Morzine, not ridiculously more expensive and a break from the hotter lowlands of europe as our kids are not fun in a heatwave.

Thanks in advance.

We love Chamonix. We don’t have DC yet but have been going most years since 2018 and will definitely take our DC when they arrive.

To my knowledge, there aren’t things like sandpits set up in the town squares, but there are free activities like permanent orienteering courses in Chamonix itself and the villages up and down the valley, and I’m sure there’s more run by the tourist board (have a look at the Chamonix Mont-Blanc website or instagram for more).

There’s a lovely climbing centre in Les Pelerins (I think) with low ropes courses suitable for little ones. And there’s also summer festivals like the Fête des Guides and Cosmo Jazz. I’m sure there’ll be more children-focused ones too.

You also get free train travel up and down the valley for the duration of your stay with a Carte d’hôte, which you get if you stay in a campsite or hotel in the valley. You used to get free bus travel too, but now it’s changed to something like 50% discount on the buses but the trains are still free.

We usually stay in Les Bossons which is a little further out from the centre of Chamonix. Les Houches and Argentière are also lovely (and Argentière has the most amazing bakery - L’Al’Pain). All three are on the free trainline (the included area goes from Saint-Gervais up to Vallorcine).

Oh wow, thanks so much @eachbreechpearplum that Carte d'hote is a great bit of info as hadn't stumbled across that.

And the info on the festivals is great too. We managed to time our Morzine hols with their 'Children's Week' both times and it meant there was just a great buzz around so was after that kind of thing.

I've never been to Chamonix in winter or summer. But my husband has and am I right that you sort of need to get buses and trains to get to the lifts and into the mountains?

And have you ever bought the Mont Blanc Multipass and think it's worth it?

Thanks again.

One warning, we went to Chamonix or Annecy about 6 years running in the summer holidays. And it was always hot. 30 plus some of the time. When the dc were younger although we escaped to the mountains, it was sometimes a sticky struggle getting there.

I feel awful for saying that as I think the Annecy campsites are amazing for younger kids, but the heat has limited us in the past. Are you taking the car or relying on public transport?

@GoingNorth dont feel bad. I totally get it. I bet lots of kids don’t do well in the heat but I know my eldest especially hates it. She’ll start moaning for winter if it’s over 25 ha.

It’s why Morzine was great. We’ve been lucky when we’ve been as it’s been mostly fab weather, between 20-30 degrees but lifts to get up to higher altitudes on the hot days (and the pool, ice cream and beer of course).

I’m hoping chamonix would be similar but I had heard Annecy can be subject to the European heat waves. I was thinking to do 4 days max in Annecy, before heading up into the hills, as it looks so gorgeous, and we could cool off in the lake, without running out of stuff to do if it got too hot. I see it recommended time and time again.

How did you find Chamonix to be for the kids? Was there loads to do? And was the lift and transport system pretty good?

In Morzine we went car free but think we might take the car this time for some extra freedom for day trips etc.

I love Chamonix and we usually spend most of our time hiking. When the dc were little we visited the summer luge, the anmusement park and the great swimming pool. But it was too hot to spend time in the town itself. The lifts and buses are very good and whisk you away in no time. There is a really good app we used this year - will find it.

If you’ve got the car then I think a week in Chamonix and a week in Annecy would be perfect. Look at the campsites for the latter - our kids made friends and we never really saw them!

We have been to other Alpine resorts as well which actually sound more like Morzine with kids activities but I’m struggling to remember the names! Dh is a cyclist so we tend to base ourselves accordingly,

You’ve probably found this already but this is the link - https://www.montblancnaturalresort.com/en/montblanc-multipass

And the app is simply called Chamonix
In previous years we used the Carte d’hôte a pp mentioned all the time, but it’s not so good now with the bus changes

@GoingNorth amazing, yes to the campsites and friends for the kids. Communal parenting is always a winner.

DH is a mountain biker hence the alps being a draw. We're hoping to take all our bikes on the car next year for some more leisurely family rides too.

If you end up recalling the other alpine resorts I'm all ears. We've been researching so many. Got very close to landing on Saalbach Hinterglemm in Austria. But accommodation options were mostly hotels which are so much more expensive (I sort of feel like I'm missing something as every one I checked is about triple the cost of the place we stayed in Morzine) and it generally result in having to share a room or family suite which doesn't appeal as much.

Annecy is lovely in the summer, and has the lake plus some great playgrounds and outside spaces. Boat trips which are fun with kids and some great restaurants.

Chamonix is good for families too, although I’d think more stuff for slightly older children than yours. Good tourist office activities, nice hikes, lots of outdoor space etc which is great.

If you’re used to Morzine I think that you might find Chamonix a bit pricy, and a bit more faffy with kids - it’s not all laid out round a central square like Morzine is.

Have you looked at Les Arcs? Or Tignes? Both have those cooler temperatures and plenty of child friendly activities. Although neither quite as well set up for young kids as Morzine in my opinion.

I'm in exactly the same dilemma. I've done so much research on Saalbach and it looks ideal with the joker card but I also can't find affordable accomdation there or in nearby regions.

I did consider Morzine but I've not looked into too much but it sounds great. Did you fly to Geneva and then get public transport for the whole holiday or did you have a car? Are there any accommodations you would recommend?

Thanks

Are you sure that what you're looking for isn't actually another trip to Morzine?!

If you've previously gone car free, then taking the car this year would give you the opportunity to ring the changes with some different day trips, while still enjoying everything that Morzine has to offer. I don't think there is another resort quite as well set up for the summer season?

We went through a similar dilemma only with the winter season - we found a resort that suited us perfectly as a family, and I spent literally hours on snow heads trying to find the same combination of attributes but somewhere new. In the end I admitted defeat and we are happily heading back yet again!

Ps I assume when you say Morzine you also spent time in Avoriaz, Les Gets, Lake Montriond etc?

We’re going to Saalbach-Hinterglemm next summer. I booked our accommodation through the tourist board website and didn’t find it too expensive:
We’re staying half board in a Hotel for £1350 for a week (but we are all sharing a family room), but they have lots of self catering apartments on there too for less.

Oh wow, really. That is very reasonable.
Would you mind sharing the name of the accommodation please?

We’ve been to Annecy twice and love it- swimming in the lake, cycling, exploring etc.

We went from Annecy to Chamonix for the day, they’re only an hour apart.

Such great info.

You could look at Samoens. It's a really pretty village and well connected to others. 45 mins from Geneva, easy reach of Annecy and you should be able to get reasonably priced accommodation (try a company called Alps Accommodation).

www.samoens.com/en/summer-activities-2/

@Catsdogsfish we’re staying at the Landhotel Oberdanner, it has really good reviews and includes the Joker Card.

We were in Annecy and then up in the mountains in La Grave this summer, with two older teens. Annecy - campsite, lake swimming was absolutely gorgeous, but I did find it too hot to do much else. As long as we were under the trees in a shady spot on a lakeside beach, or swimming in the lake, the weather was perfect. We went into Annecy for the day and it was lovely in the morning but really hot in the afternoon (by which I mean over 30 - I also have a low tolerance!). Campsite also got hot - we would get back at the end of the day and head straight to the pool.
It was v lovely but it would have been too hot for me for doing anything much other than lake swimming (which was brilliant).

Then we headed up to La Grave for the second half of the holiday - being high up made a big diff to the temperature, it was more mid 20’s and fresh. We did several short ish walks in the alpine meadows etc, took the teleferique up to the top of the glacier etc. Lovely village, lots of places to eat, spectacular views. I’m not sure it fits with the “fun for younger children” focus though - it was a lovely base, but v much an “independent walking” base rather than something with lots of organised stuff. Weather perfect, views brilliant, walking v well signposted.

Following

OP, Would you mind sharing where you stayed in Morzine please?

@Catsdogsfish @Jellybeanbag I think both of you asked about where we stayed in Morzine. If I'm allowed to post links it was this place: https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/19286395?adults=2&children=2&infants=0&pets=0&wishlist_item_id=11002454156706&check_in=2025-08-02&check_out=2025-08-09&source_impression_id=p3_1729077007_P3JYzT3DnL2mXxci&previous_page_section_name=1000

I found it on airbnb, but then booked direct through mountainhighs.co.uk which meant we skipped some of the Air bnb fees. It was ideal for us and the kids loved it - one small note that the payoff for being central, is it could be noisy with the doors/windows open. They provided some fans this year so we could close windows at night and that did us fine. We stayed there two years in a row. A note that I think they can seem a bit slow on comms ahead of the holiday, but having done it twice, everything ran perfectly once we were there.

And both years we went car free - flying into Geneva and booked airport transfers via the accommodation (which was a good deal). It's SO easy to get around Morzine with the lift connections to other valleys and the bus network. We spent a few days in Avoriaz, Les Gets and Montriond so you can really maximise the value of the multipass. The kids enjoyed the transport as it's a ride in itself.

@thesunisastar I know what you mean. I LOVED Morzine and we'll definitely return in a future year. I'm just craving something thats 'same same but different' this year. Somewhere new to explore etc.

@TheDogsMother thanks for the Samoens recco. I've heard about that and will look at it.

Think I've responded to most people, but thanks for all the other reccos. I'll relook at Saalbach and Les Arcs (I can't remember why I'd discounted Tignes...)