We are planning on spending 4 nights in Chamonix and 2 nights in Annecy this summer.<BR>I'm looking for some recommendations of good hotels in each town hopefully something in the $100-150 range. Also, what do people think of Geneva? Is it worth spending 1 less day in the Alps and visiting Geneva? We fly home from there and as of now I was just planning on driving straight to the airport from Annecy. Thanks for any help.

The places I know in Geneva, Chamonix and Annecy (well, actually Talloires) are all a good bit over the price range you're seeking. but just outside Geneva is a great place that might fit your budget (haven't checked its prices ltely_ - - Domaine du Chateauvieux, in Satigny. Recent review about it in the NYtimes.com (URL posted here) also.<BR><BR>http://www.nytimes.com/2002/02/17/travel/17TAB.html<BR><BR>originally fron this thread:<BR><BR>http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessages.jsp?fid=2&tid=1347050<BR><BR>The rooms night be more affordable than dinner there. But the dinner is worth every penny!<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

We stayed at the Hotel de Palais de l'Isle in Annecy. It's right in the heart of the old town and just a quick stroll from the lake. The rooms are furnished in a modern, almost austere style, but ours was comfortable and the bathroom was well-equipped. The staff was helpful in making dinner reservations and arranging for transportation.

Consider staying in Taillories (around the lake), it is lovely and less touristy and an easy drive into Annecy. We stayed at the Auberge de Pere Bise which was very nice but saw the Cottage, the Abbaye de Taillories and the Fleur something (can't remember full name) and thought that they all looked lovely and are more reasonably priced.

l'Abbaye was one of the places I was alluding to (in Talloires). I don't think it's that affordable.<BR>

Save money in your hotel in Annecy and splurge in one or more of the Michelin-starred restaurants thereabouts. Try the Ibis in the old town of Annecy (even has parking.)<BR><BR>As for Geneva, it's a lovely city on a lovely lake, with lovely parks and an unlovely UN complex. It is astronomically expensive. Spend your extra day in Annecy and if you're bustin' to see Geneva, do it as an easy day trip, about a 45 min. drive.

Hey Rich. I actually like Geneva a lot, but it really is pretty tough to find a place that is not outlandishly expensive. That said, we've stayed twice at the Hotel Touring Balance, which has a great location right off the lake in the old town, decent and clean rooms (if not high luxury) and a great buffet breakfast that's included. I think we paid somewhere in your range last time we were there (last summer). I think it's probably the best choice in town for a more budget oriented hotel. Chamonix and Annecy are two of my favorite places in the world, so I'd be hard-pressed to give up any time there, but ... to my mind, Geneva would certainly be worth one night. As to lodgings in Annecy and Chamonix, I've stayed at some great places, but they probably don't make the range you're looking for. We stayed at Le Hameau Albert 1er in Chamonix in October of last year, and it was just awesome - views of Mont Blanc, fireplace in the room, great indoor pool and facilities, etc. We paid something below $200 for it, but that was just after September 11, and they were empty. (It was a last minute booking). I'm guessing that in summer they may be prohibitively expensive. Same with Annecy - we stayed at the Imperial Palais, which was beautiful, if not terribly charming, but it was a lot more. We saw the Hotel de Palais de l'Isle which another poster mentioned, and it looked cute (in the pedestrian area). Might be worth a try. Enjoy.

We stayed a the lovely Hotel Du Lac in Duigt, right on Lake Annecy. I actually found the hotel via this website. It was lovely, run by a young couple who were extremely nice. Good restaurant on premises. I just loved sitting outside on the grounds, looking at the lake surrounded by the sno capped Alps. A 15 minute drive to downtown Annecy.

to the top<BR>

Dear Rich,<BR><BR>On our last trip to Chamonix, we stayed at the La Savoyarde:<BR> (http://www.lasavoyarde.com<BR><BR>It would be within your price range, and is a lovely ,family-owned Swiss chalet, perched on the side of Le Brevant. Since it is on the side of the valley facing Mount Blanc, the views are just mermerizing. <BR><BR>There is free parking adjacent to the chalet. Each room has a small balcony (I would request rooms facing Mont Blanc.)<BR>Meals were very good (we took half-board). Rooms were typically Swiss with painted furniture, large closets, TV and spacious bathroom.<BR><BR>The hotel is abot a 5 minute walk uphill from the Tourist office in the center of the village. It is about a 5 minute walk downhill to the cable car station to Mt. Blanc. (Go very early am. to avoid the lines.)<BR><BR>We also stayed in Annecy on that trip. I'll check my records, and get back to you on the name of that hotel. <BR><BR>Talloires is lovely, more peaceful,much smaller, and much less crowded than Annecy.<BR><BR>We stayed in Annecy for two nights, and on one day did a circle drive around the lake,exploring the Gorge and stopping at Talloires for lunch and swimming.<BR><BR>The summer traffic at the beginning and end of the work day in Annecy can be fierce. Avoid being on the town roads during those hours.<BR><BR>Some people like Geneva and some don't.<BR>We think it is just OK, but worth an overnight if it comfortably fits in your schedule. It has a quaint but small, old town and a remarkable Russian Orthodox Church to visit--plus there are the lovely lake gardens. <BR><BR>Four nights is a long stretch for Chamonix---unless you plan on doing a lot of hiking.