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Getting There: Annecy, the gateway to the Haute-Savoie, is a one-hour drive from Geneva, Switzerland and a two-hour drive from Lyon, France. Depending on the US departure city, flights are available to both Geneva and Lyon on British Airways, Delta, KLM, Northwest, Swissair, and United Airlines. Geneva is also served by Lufthansa, Sabena, and SAS. Lyon is also served by Air France and American. The toll-free 800 phone numbers for these airlines are available at this magazine's Airline Phone Numbers page.
Be sure to reserve your rental car from the United States, as you will save at least 50% on the rates. Even then the rental rates will be higher than those in the US. Be sure to shop around. Auto agencies renting in France include Avis, Budget, Hertz, and National, Auto Europe, and Auto-By-Car. The toll-free 800 phone numbers for these firms are available at this magazine's Auto Rental Phone Numbers page.
Staying There: A wide variety of hotels and resorts are available in Annecy, La Clusaz, and Chamonix. The Web sites referenced below utilize the one-star (most economical) to four-star (luxury) French rating system. Two-star and three-star establishments are generally acceptable to most American tastes. Note that the vast majority of establishments speak English. Fodor's France is a good reference for planning your trip to France's Alps and other regions. Other books on Europe and France can be accessed from the Travel Bookstore.
The apartment of Les Granges is rented by the week with the appropriate number of rooms to accommodate 2, 4, 6, or 8 people. Rates range from $420 to $1300 per week. Kitchen facilities are included. Telephone/FAX: 04.50.02.27.85. If dialing from the U.S., dial 011 for international access, 33 for the France country code, followed by the 9-digit number (dropping the first "0").
Fast Facts: The Haute-Savoie department is at the northern reach of the French Alps. It extends west to east from Annecy to Italy, bordered by Lake Geneva in the north. Mont Blanc is one of the world's major attractions with its glaciers and neighboring mountains. Chamonix on the valley floor is a major resort town. Lake Annecy at the entrance to the Alps is renowned for its clear waters, surrounding peaks, and neighboring villages. Annecy's old town contains many interesting historic sites bordering scenic canals. The Aravis mountain range and its valleys contain authentique Sayvoyard villages and dairy farms. The entire region is full of recreational opportunities, summer and winter. The villages of La Clusaz, Grand Bornand, and Chamonix are noted for their neighboring ski areas.
Useful WWW sites for the Haute-Savoie region are:
Annecy
Tour (English): overview, map, sites, etc.
Ski France: (French)