We are (hopefully) off to the alps again this summer. Samoens last couple of years, but due to a friend's bad associations (broke up with t'other half etc etc) we can't go back this time.
Ideal venue:
- olde Frenche (rather than resort)
- good bakery (like Tiffany in Samoens, so good)
- walks, lakes, views etc, with a bit of riding (but not all that much as we'll have a young sprog which will curtail excursions to be honest)
- near a station, or nearish to Lyon (bit idealistic this one, but thinking about getting direct London - Lyon Eurostar for funsies/avoid flying with a 4 month old...)
We thought about Les Arcs/Bourg St Maurice but I've not been there in summer so don't know what it's like...
I asked this a few years ago, STW hive mind suggested Samoens which was a top suggestion. So interested to see what experience/advice folk have this time!
Chamonix, or the surrounding area.
Annecy, plenty to do with sprogs, loads of good bakeries and loads of other stuff to do including biking within a few minutes drive or cycle around the lake.
I stayed at in a small down called Sixt Fer a Cheval which I don't think is far from Samoens. Lovely place and would tick all your boxes bar the last one.
Thanks, good advice. I've heard about Annecy and the lake. So can you ride around on a leisure family ride? Looks like a big-ish city? Although I'm sure we could stay somewhere else on the lake, just outside of the town. (the desire from the wife/others is somewhere 'rural alps' but not so rural we can't eat fancy pastries...)
Sixt Fer a Cheval is beaut! Just a bit further along from Samoens. Went there last year, that whole valley is just amazing. I would also re-iterate that Tiffany is a great boulangerie/patisserie.
Samoens is a nice sort of out of the way town. Bourg St Maurice feels to me more of a passing through sort of place with less to do for families. I’d probably suggest ales Arcs for more to do. No train station at 1900m though! But there is the funicular which gets you to some of the resort. Lots of walks, views and riding at Les Arcs.