Au Pied du Gazon

Our ground-floor apartment had plenty of room for four, with two large, separate bedrooms, a big bathroom, a fully stocked kitchen, and a roomy living area warmed by a cozy pellet stove. We also found board games and brochures about the area. The house is lovely and well kept, in a beautiful setting. La Bresse is about a 40-minute drive, though there are closer ski resorts, and you can also cycle, hike, kayak, or try adventure skiing nearby. In Bussang, Sunelia Domaine de Champé has a spa, and Chez Jean Mi is a nice spot for a meal. A great place to stay in any season.

We appreciated having a basement where we could store our bikes safely. The garden is lovely, with separate spots for sitting and eating, and the village bakery and grocery store are handy. The holiday home has two roomy bedrooms, a large bathroom, and a kitchen with everything we needed. Another plus is that Luxembourg has cheap fuel and there are no tolls in France.

This gîte makes a comfortable base for trips to Colmar, Eguisheim, Gerardmer, and elsewhere, right at the foot of Ballon d’Alsace. For lunch or dinner, Auberge du Tilleul in Le Ménil is 13km away and offers good value with friendly service. It's a small place, so booking ahead is a good idea.

The rental was spacious and conveniently close to the ski resorts, but we were very disappointed by how clean it was. It also hadn't been heated before we arrived, so the place was really cold and our first night was freezing.