The town of Bourg St Maurice is also really popular in the summer and for good reason. The weather, views, space and fresh air, for a start.

There are a host of fantastic activities to take part in. You can walk and trek for miles in the hills and national parks (The Vanoise National Park is right on the door step). There's canoeing, canyoneering, lake swimming and sun bathing, white water rafting, paragliding, road and mountain biking, climbing, via ferrata (secure climbing), golf, tennis, horse riding and lots more. Have a look at www.lesarcsnet.com or www.lesarcs.com/-Toutes-les-activites for a wealth of activities, tour guides, contacts and websites.

Whether you want to relax or exert yourself, it's a perfect spot. For those that prefer a drive in the hills, the roads are fabulous and the Italian Lake District is just across the pass. The town is lovely in the summer with many outdoor restaurants and bars and frequent events and fetes and a great Saturday market.