We are trying to book a holiday in the Alps in August mainly to avoid crowds and avoid anywhere overly commercialised, get some fresh air in our lungs and we are not keen on heat above 30C... very late booking but there seems to be plenty of availablity. Making choice proving difficult and need help to narrow it down. We have an 11yr old and 8yr old.

Have done Mark Warner hols twice before and been happy but fancy a change to beach resort. Want to reduce costs as we are going peak season. Mark Warner @ Tignes seems interesting and also Les Deux Alps but there seem to be loads of other companies with vacancies offerring family activity style resorts.

Have never tried sliing. Fancy trying it and enjoy swimming, walking and tennis as well as being well into great food.

Has anyone done this kind of hol before ? Main concern is that it will be too cool - fancy 25C +. We have 2 weeks so maybe we could do partly skiing and go somewhere else for a week and get warmed up !!!!! Also can see that boots,skiis are available for hire but what about warm waterproof gear ? Can this be hired out too or shall we take our own ?

Happy to do luxury camping/chalet - all stuff provided in second week. Any ideas anyone ???????????? Have you done this type of break before ?

Any help much appreciated !

P.S.Thinking of flying to Paris and then getting train to destination like Geneva. Will need therefore to travel light.

See my posts on the Guardian travel web site on Annecy and La Roche sur Foron in France and Maurach in Austria.

Also recommend Wengen in Switzerland as it's car free.

As for Flying to Paris and then the train. You will spend so much time getting to/from airports, anywhere Birmingham and south you are better off on Eurostar.

See The Man in Seat Sixty-One... for how to get there.

Yes, do travel light. We have no car and manage fine!

Adam