Chamonix is an internationally renowned ski resort town in the French Alps, at the foot of Mont Blanc. The site for the first Winter Olympics in the 1920s, the resort makes a perfect place for a family holiday, especially if you are looking for a very active outdoors kind of break. And with a huge selection of rental homes, including apartments, cabins and ski chalets across the region, it can be a surprisingly low cost part of France to visit!

There is a huge amount to do in and around Chamonix, more than enough to fill several family holidays. In the winter, there are obviously the skiing and snowboarding activities for which Chamonix and the French Alps are rightly famous, and some of the ski lifts and cable cars are attractions in themselves, as rides like the Brevent cable car is the best way to get some spectacular views of the Alps and across the valley. In the summer, you might have to pack away the skis, but Chamonix remains packed with things to do - you can go hiking or cycling along the alpine trails, or play a round of golf at the course in Chamonix. There are also sights such as the Mer de Glace, the largest glacier in Europe, and a great mineraological display at Musée des Cristaux.

With a huge number of ski chalets, cabins and apartments across the Chamonix Valley, it is simple to find deals on self catered accommodation close to ski lifts and other local facilities for the whole family. With prices starting as low as just £400 a week for chalet and apartment rentals big enough to accommodate a family of four or more, there are rental homes to match every budget, and it can work out much cheaper than booking hotel rooms. The extra privacy and space also mean that the chalets are great for kids. The youngest members of your family can run around and let off steam without you having to worry too much about disturbing the neighbours! And as Chamonix rental homes tend to come fully equipped with all modern comforts, they make a great place to relax at the end of a hard day's skiing.