Para Lodge

The only thing we found lacking was the crockery and cutlery. For five people, an apartment needs more than five large plates, and a full set of ten pieces of cutlery should be the minimum, or you'll spend all your time running the dishwasher. Otherwise, it's a really nice holiday spot with good facilities.

From the village, it's easy to get to hiking and mountain biking trails for all levels, as well as shops and water sports. We loved watching paragliders take off and fly right from the house. The village itself is beautiful, and the restaurant there serves delicious food. The owners are incredibly friendly, but book ahead or you may have to wait for a table. The apartment was spotless, lovely, and in an ideal location. The tasteful decor, excellent amenities, and impeccable bedding made it a joy to stay in. Esther and Roland were welcoming and easy to reach if we needed anything. We had a dream holiday between the lake and the mountains, and wholeheartedly recommend ParaLodge.

The views over the valley and lake from the bedrooms and terrace are breathtaking. We stayed in the spacious apartment for eight, with large bedrooms and excellent soundproofing, so the kids could sleep upstairs without being disturbed by noise from the main room below. It's right beside the paragliding launch site and only a five-minute drive from the Montclar ski resort. Parking is directly in front of the building. The place looks brand new, was spotless, and is beautifully decorated and well equipped.

The large terrace was a real problem for us during the week. It's open to anyone and unfenced, so we couldn't leave belongings outside. Since the apartment is right by the paragliding launch site, people can see directly in, and some of them use the stairs up to the terrace. We ended up keeping the curtains shut constantly. We rented the Montclar apartment for two for a week. It's modern, nicely decorated, and has good appliances and comfortable bedding. Opening the front door through a smartphone app was incredibly convenient. There was no clothesline, either. Although the place overlooks beautiful Lake Serre-Ponçon, there aren't any shops nearby, so a car is absolutely necessary. If the terrace access and especially the view were changed, we'd be asked to come back.