Swap the mêlée for privacy, balconies, views... Adults round the fire, kids on the mezzanine, après ski bliss in the Portes du Soleil

Be seduced by the sophisticated charm of this Provençal château and fine gardens. Delicious meals come with local wine and good conversation

Admire superb lake and mountain views from the splendid balcony suites, swim in the classy pool, dine in the first-class restaurant

North of Lyon with views to the Alps, a sociable couple and their smart country house. Chat over Lyonnaise dinners or in the decadent salon

A finely crafted staircase, a friendly owner next door, an Alpine garden to die for - groups large and small will love this old watermill

Your well-settled Scots-Irish hosts and their gentle pets welcome you to this soft old farmhouse in the hills between Lyon and Chambery

Immense gardens, freedom and tranquillity, and breakfast whenever you like it - at a fairytale castle with a luxuriously contemporary décor

Superb views from this homely, chic mountain retreat in a quiet hamlet with guided walks from the door - anyone for high-altitude fishing?

Authenticity, warmth and delicious meals from your kind hostess in a generations-old farmhouse. Kids love the wild flowers and duck pond

The thrills of hiking, riding and rafting meet peerless comfort and hospitality in a charming old chalet in quaint little Sixt

All you'd hope for, and more! Enormous rooms, marvellous beams, majestic views, and delicious food and wines from their vineyard

Graze your way around a foodie region of France at this elegantly restored country château full of antiques, history and peace

The perfect mix. Two rustic houses on a generous slice of rural France, ancient beams and modern comforts, countryside and towns to explore

Deep comfort awaits behind the big rustic doors of this old chalet… 300m to the lifts, a peaceful spot in charming little Sixt

Breakfast on your lake-view balcony or garden terrace by the pool - head for the mountains or down to Evian - or to Montreux for the jazz

Luxurious B&B on a steepish road 700m from Morzine. The views are glorious, the breakfasts delicious, and the beds are out of this world

In an off-the-beaten-track setting, yet close to Annecy, this light-filled house offers calm and contemporary rooms, and stunning views

Style and character combine at this Savoyard chalet in lively Morzine. Wake to delicious breakfasts, ski to Switzerland for lunch