Alps - Summer Chalet Options

[DaveyBoyWonder]

Morning all. Thinking about next summer already and fancy spending a week or two in the Alps with the family. Not too fussy where but was thinking northern Switzerland/Annecy/Geneva sort of area. Ideally want a house with its own pool thats within easy striking distance for big mountains, maybe some travelling around by train, seeing some cities etc.

Had a quick look on Airbnb but couldn't find anything that fit the bill (albeit it was a VERY quick look) - does anyone have any recommendations for sites to use for chalet bookings in the Alps?

Cheers,
Dave

[Bill]

We tend to use Airbnb or VRBO and have found pools are rarer in the Alps particularly in smaller properties. I suspect it's due to the expense of overwintering them.

[DaveyBoyWonder]

Bill said:

We tend to use Airbnb or VRBO and have found pools are rarer in the Alps particularly in smaller properties. I suspect it's due to the expense of overwintering them.

Yeh, I've found that (although you wouldn't believe that was the case as you fly into Geneva!).

[//j17]

Yea, unlike say the south of France the usage window for a pool just doesn't make sence with the costs involved, building/running/and in France at least I believe tax so they are harder to find.

Hot tubs are more likely so maybe look for a chalet with one of those plus a near by municiple pool (remember your budgie smugglers) and rivers/lakes.

[Harpoon]

We rented a house in Crolles for a week in summer 2023. I'll have to dig out the Airbnb listing for it but IIRC it was five or six bedrooms with a pool. Crolles is 20km to Grenoble, with Annecy an hour's drive up the valley. Mrs Harpoon & sister took the coach to Annecy one day when we drove (to save taking two cars). You could also use the train via Chambery. Bourg-d'Oisans (the bottom of Alpe d'Huez) is also an hour away in the car if you want the big mountains.

Much closer is the Chartreuse regional park which is very pretty and very quiet. There is a funicular railway to climb out the valley near Crolles but it's still being repaired after winter storm damage in 2022 (reopens 2027 apparently!). A quick look up the valley on Google Maps with the satellite layers shows pools are pretty common - it was hot the week were there.

Anyway, Gites de France can be a good place to look

https://www.gites-de-france.com/

I searched around Crolles and spotted this place 5 with a pool which is in the Chartreuse.

https://www.gites-de-france.com/en/auvergne-rhone-...