Rhône-Alpes Hostels

We decided on Annecy on a whim and what a lucky whim it turned out to be. Beeeautiful, picturesque Annecy is in France, yes, but the architecture is very swiss. Big ol Chalet type houses, incredible lake front mountain view. Not only do you step back in time, with the well-preseved buildings, but you step out of the caotic rush of some of the larger cities in France. Annecy has all the amenities of a big town, but provides a very welcome respite to backpack weilding travellers. Come here to relax, eat and sleep. Just not to party, cause their ain't to much going on. I lucked out because when I was there, there was a huge music festival, and we followed an amazing Brazilian band through the old town. They would stop periodically, forming a circle encouraging us to dance in their midst. That was living. Annecy is a retreat, a story book escape.

Annecy is aewsome. You should definitely go to the parks. One is next a lake and you can paddle boat up to the edge of a cliff. The buildings and briges are all very pretty.

If you are a good skier and love offpiste, then Chamonix and Verbier are one of the best places in Europe. No argument about it.

Chamonix is off piste-skiing. If you want the piste go elsewhere. There aren't really any pistes. It's about ski touring with easy access, it's about mountaineering type stuff. And don't come if you're not fit on crevasse and avalanche rescue, the weather, or want to learn that. Unless you want to skip the skiing and get into the nightlife -- fine!

Annecy is heaven on earth.

If it is on-piste boarding/skiing you are after, Chamonix may not be the place for you. I am halfway through a season here and am just beginning to discover that it is all about the off-piste. That is the big deal with Chamonix.

Vienne is a very interesting historical small town -- both ancient (Romans) and medieval city. There are many small restaurants, pizzerias, and small supermarkets open late at night. It's probably a good place to sleep if you have to stay in Lyons or go down to the South of France by the Rhone Valley.

Everything in Chamonix, is truely remote from any skiing. I wouldn't go back, mostly because Chamonix as a ski area is over-rated. It's lots of small ski areas spread out. Lifts are slow, crowded, and you have to take a lift up above the tree line before you can take another lift to begin skiing. Go to Tignes instead...

I have no idea what this person is talking about. Maybe they were in a different resort. Chamonix is the only place to go, when it comes steep extreem of peist boarding, it also hosts a huge range of awesome slopes for all abilities. With its rad of piest and laid back atmosphere it's the only place to be...

I lived in Annecy for 3 months and I found it to be one of the most well-hidden gems in France. There weren't a lot of tourists coming through and therefore you could really get a taste of French culture in this amazing, beautiful town in the French Alpes. The lake borders up to the base of the mountains...Italy and Switzerland are a short train ride away. Could you ask for anything more?

What a beautiful city! I've been twice and both times it took my breath away. I recommend renting a small motor boat. Its a wonderful and extremely cheap way to get out on the lake. If you want to experience real french culture... get to Annecy!