Location for summer vacation in France or Italy?
February 18, 2024 7:29 AM Subscribe
If you were going to take a month-long summer vacation in France or Italy -- somewhere where the heat is manageable -- where would you go? And do you have a specific Air B and B/short-term rental suggestion? For summer 2025.
We have not taken a trip to Europe since 2008. Part of this was frugality, part of this was having small kids, part of this was pandemic/high cost. But now I would like to take a probably once-in-a-lifetime month-long summer vacation to France or Italy and rent a house big enough for a family of four (2 sons, who in 2025 will be 15 and 11) plus one or maybe even two other families that we would host. Families would have similarly-aged kids.
This may remain in fantasyland due to cost. But I am dreaming about a month in Tuscany, perhaps in a house with a pool, or a month near Lake Annency, where I have never been but dream about nonetheless, solely due to pictures.
Can you recommend a place to go and/or specific place to rent? My biggest concern (after cost) is shelling out for a place that turns out to be a dump, or getting scammed entirely.
Ideally we would be somewhere near other cultural attractions or within easy traveling distance of other cities. Tuscany puts us within day-trip or weekend-trip range of many cities, if it's not too hot.
We speak passable French and Italian.
Thank you!
We have not taken a trip to Europe since 2008. Part of this was frugality, part of this was having small kids, part of this was pandemic/high cost. But now I would like to take a probably once-in-a-lifetime month-long summer vacation to France or Italy and rent a house big enough for a family of four (2 sons, who in 2025 will be 15 and 11) plus one or maybe even two other families that we would host. Families would have similarly-aged kids.
This may remain in fantasyland due to cost. But I am dreaming about a month in Tuscany, perhaps in a house with a pool, or a month near Lake Annency, where I have never been but dream about nonetheless, solely due to pictures.
Can you recommend a place to go and/or specific place to rent? My biggest concern (after cost) is shelling out for a place that turns out to be a dump, or getting scammed entirely.
Ideally we would be somewhere near other cultural attractions or within easy traveling distance of other cities. Tuscany puts us within day-trip or weekend-trip range of many cities, if it's not too hot.
We speak passable French and Italian.
Thank you!
As a general point, it is more difficult to find villas that have pools in Tuscany and Umbria, than it is in the south of France, Spain or Portugal. That in turn means that you will likely pay a lot more to have a pool in Italy than you would for a similar villa in other countries. And Tuscany in the summer is very expensive.
Lake Annecy is indeed lovely .
posted by JJZByBffqU at 7:54 AM on February 18
Lake Annecy is indeed lovely .
posted by JJZByBffqU at 7:54 AM on February 18
Don't go to Italy in August; it's closed. I would consider southern Portugal. Flights to and from Lisbon are easy.
posted by DarlingBri at 9:30 AM on February 18
posted by DarlingBri at 9:30 AM on February 18
My friend had a summer place on Ile d'Re on France's Atlantic coast, and it looks so good for a quiet summer visit. No real sights to see, just the ocean and the market and some wine and taking pictures of the sunset.
She offers it for rent and I have been sorely tempted!
posted by wenestvedt at 11:31 AM on February 18 [2 favorites]
She offers it for rent and I have been sorely tempted!
posted by wenestvedt at 11:31 AM on February 18 [2 favorites]
Best answer: I lived and worked in tourism in the Aravis mountains just to the east of lake Annecy for 15 years.
Imho the two nicest places to stay and enjoy the lake itself are on the eastern side: Menthon St. Bernard and Talloires. Menthon port is a great spot for bathing without having to pay. Talloire's "plage" costs a few euros to access for the day but is entirely worth it, it's a small grassy park with the most jaw-dropping view across the lake towards Duingt.
The east side of the lake is pricier than the west or south (Annecy town takes up the northern end, a much wider range of accommodation prices there but less in the way of villa + pool + easy lake access options), but a monthlong stay may net you a discount particularly for a 2025 booking made before summer 2024. There are several nice campsites at Angon, between Talloires and the southern end of the lake, in case staying elsewhere and doing a few days at lake Annecy in tent or camping-car might be an outside option.
I don't have specific rental recommendations but I've always done fine in France looking for AirBnBs that have consistently good reviews going back a few years. In touristy areas hosts who have history and just one or a few properties listed are often a good bet - this is often a sign of people who've been doing the rental thing since before AirBnB took off, and a bit of googling may find an old website where you could get a lower price if you're happy to take the risk of direct booking. Hosts who list dozens of properties on AirBnB will be a front for rental management agencies, not necessarily a problem but I would take time to read review history across lots of what they offer.
The last 2 weeks of July and the first two weeks of August are the busiest / most expensive period (this applies anywhere in France) and also the most likely to have heat waves. Annecy isn't that high up - it can get baking hot, and being in the mountains this is harder to forecast seasonally than other destinations.
Traffic around the lake and in Annecy itself during this busy period is often horrible - though (and again this applies anywhere in France during the summer holidays) if you're morning people and can get out and head to where you want to be early you can almost always avoid the worst of this for at least one leg of any day trips. Same thing with a lot of small / medium cultural attractions, get there when they open and do them before lunch and you'll dodge a lot of the crowds.
posted by protorp at 11:44 AM on February 18 [4 favorites]
Imho the two nicest places to stay and enjoy the lake itself are on the eastern side: Menthon St. Bernard and Talloires. Menthon port is a great spot for bathing without having to pay. Talloire's "plage" costs a few euros to access for the day but is entirely worth it, it's a small grassy park with the most jaw-dropping view across the lake towards Duingt.
The east side of the lake is pricier than the west or south (Annecy town takes up the northern end, a much wider range of accommodation prices there but less in the way of villa + pool + easy lake access options), but a monthlong stay may net you a discount particularly for a 2025 booking made before summer 2024. There are several nice campsites at Angon, between Talloires and the southern end of the lake, in case staying elsewhere and doing a few days at lake Annecy in tent or camping-car might be an outside option.
I don't have specific rental recommendations but I've always done fine in France looking for AirBnBs that have consistently good reviews going back a few years. In touristy areas hosts who have history and just one or a few properties listed are often a good bet - this is often a sign of people who've been doing the rental thing since before AirBnB took off, and a bit of googling may find an old website where you could get a lower price if you're happy to take the risk of direct booking. Hosts who list dozens of properties on AirBnB will be a front for rental management agencies, not necessarily a problem but I would take time to read review history across lots of what they offer.
The last 2 weeks of July and the first two weeks of August are the busiest / most expensive period (this applies anywhere in France) and also the most likely to have heat waves. Annecy isn't that high up - it can get baking hot, and being in the mountains this is harder to forecast seasonally than other destinations.
Traffic around the lake and in Annecy itself during this busy period is often horrible - though (and again this applies anywhere in France during the summer holidays) if you're morning people and can get out and head to where you want to be early you can almost always avoid the worst of this for at least one leg of any day trips. Same thing with a lot of small / medium cultural attractions, get there when they open and do them before lunch and you'll dodge a lot of the crowds.
posted by protorp at 11:44 AM on February 18 [4 favorites]
Best answer: We did 6 weeks in France two years ago and did a big road trip south from Paris and then east and then north. Summer was super hot and most of our accommodations did not have air conditioning. The most comfortable places were up in Alps in Megeve (close to Annecy, where we also visited, but notably cooler) and an Airbnb in a random town in central France that had a pool. Keep in mind that most of the special Alps food is built for winter--I was sweating into my fondue.
I would look for a house with a pool outside of a midsize city and hang there. My vote is Lyon (cool city, easy train access from Paris) but most cities are charming.
posted by lockestockbarrel at 11:53 AM on February 18 [2 favorites]
I would look for a house with a pool outside of a midsize city and hang there. My vote is Lyon (cool city, easy train access from Paris) but most cities are charming.
posted by lockestockbarrel at 11:53 AM on February 18 [2 favorites]
Best answer: I once had a month in Rapallo, on the Italian riviera, and it was magical. I would go back in a heartbeat and stay in any of those coastside towns - Rapallo, Camogli, Santa Margherita Ligure, Chiavari, etc. You won't need a car. They're all on the train line and nearby Genoa has an international airport. Milan, Pisa, and Florence in particular are all short train rides away for day trips. There are ferries to San Fruttuoso, Portofino, Portovenere, Cinqueterre, etc.
If you don't have fixed dates yet, you may want to look up when your preferred destination has any local festivals or holidays. I happened to be in Rapallo during their annual procession through town and fireworks display in early July and it was a delight.
posted by Nickel at 12:41 PM on February 18 [4 favorites]
If you don't have fixed dates yet, you may want to look up when your preferred destination has any local festivals or holidays. I happened to be in Rapallo during their annual procession through town and fireworks display in early July and it was a delight.
posted by Nickel at 12:41 PM on February 18 [4 favorites]
Best answer: I stayed in Casa a Corte in Tuscany for a week a few years ago and ended up basically wanting to live there. It was tremendous.
The house is in a beautiful valley about 15 minutes drive from Lucca. It has 4 bedrooms, a pool, several terraces and was absolutely blissful.
It's down a bit of a track and up in the hills, so you need to be a fairly confident driver, but it's not what I would personally call a major issue. I drove a 9 seat Citroen Spacetourer there with no issues.
The owner, Hugh, is a font of knowledge and has tons of local tips. He was also very happy to answer questions about things in the area and advice on restaurants etc.
We booked through Airbnb but I've seen it on VRBO and other sites.
posted by knapah at 1:35 PM on February 18 [3 favorites]
The house is in a beautiful valley about 15 minutes drive from Lucca. It has 4 bedrooms, a pool, several terraces and was absolutely blissful.
It's down a bit of a track and up in the hills, so you need to be a fairly confident driver, but it's not what I would personally call a major issue. I drove a 9 seat Citroen Spacetourer there with no issues.
The owner, Hugh, is a font of knowledge and has tons of local tips. He was also very happy to answer questions about things in the area and advice on restaurants etc.
We booked through Airbnb but I've seen it on VRBO and other sites.
posted by knapah at 1:35 PM on February 18 [3 favorites]
Search for "Agriturismo Italy", this is a thing in Italy, local farms, mostly to the north that provide a rough or glam experience in the wilds of rural Italy. Seems like a lovely time at any I looked at.
posted by sammyo at 4:15 PM on February 18 [1 favorite]
posted by sammyo at 4:15 PM on February 18 [1 favorite]
Best answer: We had a lovely time in La Clusaz in the summer. There is plenty to do, lots of accommodation options and not too hot as it is in the Alps. You probably won't be able to get a house with a pool but there is a fantastic piscine with waterslides.
posted by goo at 4:25 PM on February 18
posted by goo at 4:25 PM on February 18
In 2019 my adult daughter and I stayed at an AirBnB/agriturismo in Tuscany, located about 30 minutes from both Siena and Florence and about 5 minues from the town of Tavarnelle Val di Pesa. The hosts were super nice and the property had three apartments plus a lovely pool. We stayed in the unit called LeLogge (the bathroom was tiny but fully functional and the bedrooms were huge) There were A/C units in each room. I would stay there again without hesitation.
posted by kbar1 at 5:59 PM on February 18 [2 favorites]
posted by kbar1 at 5:59 PM on February 18 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Thanks everyone--this is all very useful information!
posted by Ollie at 3:04 AM on February 21
posted by Ollie at 3:04 AM on February 21
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posted by sizeable beetle at 7:46 AM on February 18 [4 favorites]