French Alps / Savoy in the Summer

[Namechange032025]

Booked flights to Geneva in the summer holidays and have booked an apartment in Annecy for the week (2 adults 2 young teens)

However I'm wavering a lot! Apartment is £2K and that was one of the cheaper ones, everthing I read says how expnsive Annecy is. We have already had a 2 week hol and now looks like we'll go away again in Oct so holiday budget stretched.

The apartment is cancellable so am wavering whether to book something else? Overwhelmed myself a bit with choices and if they'd actually be a bit crap and should go to Annecy. Some ski resotrts look good - ie lots to do but are they still expensive? My dream would be a nice lodge up a hill with stunning scenery, somewhere with loads or nice-but-affordable restaurants nearby and stuff for kids to do (lake swimming / alpine coaster type thing).

I also like the look of some of the quieter places - Jura? Rhone area? Does anyone know the area and can recomend towns / accomodation that would be cheaper than Annecy?

It depends which bit tbh!
If your looking at the big well known resorts its still pretty expensive as there is year round outdoor pursuits with mountain biking etc.
There are cheaper options Briancon area is much cheaper and a good range. Montgenevere which isn't too far from Briancon has the alpine railway and is reasonably priced but a bit of a drive from Geneva.

We stayed in La Grave up in the mountains (bit of a drive from Geneva though) - we did 5 days near Annecy in campsite, then drove up there. It was beautiful and a lot cooler too. There may well be other places a bit less far to drive, up in the mountains, but that’s the one we went to. Lots of great places to eat out, local walks to swim in lakes etc.

We spend a lot of time in the Durance valley further south… it’s fab and a lot cheaper. Few Brits.

Mountain view from our apartment, and local lake for swimming.

Posted a couple of lake photos that are being checked. We go there every year and I love it.

Haute Maurienne valley - accessible by train to Modane though you would need to check connections from Geneva. Buses run all along the valley in the summer and variety of activities. Self catering apartments can be a thousand euros or so for a week with options to access a pool if you opt for a ‘residence’ as well.

oh oh these are all so good - thanks!! Will investigate.