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I'm really lost with this one. Brother-in-law is looking for somewhere for a family holiday next summer, for 2 weeks. 2 families, 'children' between 15-22. Access to water would be good and nice places for walks, biking etc. We normally go to the Dordogne or Ardeche, however I'm aware French alpine resorts can be expensive. So where else? Austria/Italy etc? We will be driving.
Any help appreciated.
The French Alps aren't too bad in summer. Food and beer is still a bit pricey but chalets are much cheaper than winter. If you do a bit of self catering and chalet drinking then it can be pretty cheap.
Morzine is the obvious choice. Shortish drive from Calais. Loads of non biking options in town and around including plenty for younger ones. Another big plus is that the riding is easy to find and it's easy to get to and back from so you can do a half day or meet up for lunch if you split the group up.
I've done 4 summer trips to Bourg St Maurice and would definitely recommend it. Good swimming pool, municipal swimming lake 5 min drive away. Heaps of biking and walking. Not too expensive (although I haven't been post COVID/inflation so that may well have changed). Would love to go again.
Leogang/Saalbach or Livigno are both great.
Livigno is a pain to get to but it's tax free and pretty cheap.
Cheers for this - keep them coming!
Lots of lovely family friendly lakes and mountains in Bavarian Alps or further west in Salzburg mountains
I quite like being a altitude in Summer it's cooler. Lots of resorts with Maeva etc. Just an example:
BsM is less good with the funi out of action. Next year we'll trying somewhere else whilst the finish off the repairs. We're heading to Briancon, with what you've said I'd be tempted to look at Embrun, loads of water activities on Serre Poncon, rafting on the Durance and Ubaye, biking in Les Orres and Reallon fairly close and some great walking all around.
Problem with Austria in the summer is you aren’t guaranteed nice weather. If you go over to Italy the weather is generally better. I always recommend Lake Garda. Lots of great riding ( with uplift services available), lots of water sports and lots of restaurants and shops to lighten your wallet!
Ski resorts in summer are often a bargain. Can be cheaper than camping
I loved Chamonix for a packed with tourists international vibe. Others hate it for the same reason. Certainly loads to do but not do much water sports
Anywhere in the Lauterbrunnen valley. Going for 2 weeks I’d do there for a week and Chamonix for a week.
Plenty of ski resorts are dead in the summer but it’s worth looking around for those running deals on lifts. A couple of years back Courchevel was offering free lifts.
We loved Les Gets, it's not family friendly than just-down-the-hill Morzine. Accommodation wasn't cheap, and passes every day add up.
Our best French holiday remains in the Massif Central around Issoire. We took the canoes and bikes, walked hills, uplifted at Super Besse (not many trails), roasted in the hot sun and floated down lovely whitewater rivers. We stayed up the hill and it was much cooler at night.
Serfaus Fiss Ladis
Loved Serfaus, small park but a nice mix. Down the road is Nauders for some serious natural trails and a bloody huge warm lake.
Which lake is that? Have been on/at Reschensee loads in the past. Have been in it during summer. It was not warm.
I've been on it in winter with a kite and snowboard because it was frozen.
Paganella bike park is a good one for me... Lago di Molveno, Brenta Dolomites for walking. Loads of accommodation. Italy food.
Samoens normally crops up when these sort of questions are asked, for good reason. We had a great fortnight there a few years ago, with younger kids than you but there's plenty of stuff to do for all ages.
Alpin, Reschensee was warm in June.
Briancon has great old town, ski lift up with good bike park + several TdF road climbs if that's your thing.
Not so much in the way of lakes and the couple are chilly.
Chambray is good, lakes are warm, but I didn't do any mountain biking round there.
We went to Vaujany this summer (nr Alpe d’Huez)
Kids 17, 14 and 11 - it’s quite quiet but we like that. Loads of good walking there and cable cars can get you all over.
I took my gravel bike and did some great riding both on and off road.
It was our third visit there and we love it.
We did two weeks in Lenzerheide in Switzerland last summer. We all loved it.
It was not cheap though. Eating out was eye wateringly expensive, so we didn’t. Pack lunches and bbq at home. We had a fridge in the truck which we loaded with grub.
We did a mix of Mountainbikeing, hiking, tourist stuff like ride the cable cars and hike to the bear sanctuary, zip wires and toboggan (on rails), day trips to Leichenstein, Austria, Lake Como (went swimming and had lunch and dinner etc).
Accommodation and views from were amazing.
We bought a season pass and used it almost every day.
Best family holiday ever.
The Ötztal valley in Austria is another option. They do a card in the summer which basically covers everything you could want to do.
https://www.oetztal.com/summer.html
Thanks for all the comments. I'll update once we've decided and then been...
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We have stayed in a place called Entrevaux in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence region, Valberg was not far away for decent walks and although I didnt ride the area is looked great for it. Weather was brilliant and it is still one of our favourite places. Off to the Cevennes area next year not far from the tarn gorges, If you like the Ardeche have a look at Tarn gorges, just as beautiful and probably slightly quieter