The Rhone Alpes region is located towards the south of France, bordering Italy and Switzerland. Its regional capital is Lyon and it includes the departments of Ain, Ardeche, Drome, Isere, Loire, Rhone, Savoie and Haute Savoie. The regional capital is the city of Lyons.

Of course, what the region is best known for are the majestic French Alps, the highest of which is Mont Blanc. Outside of Switzerland, this is probably the best known and most popular skiing area in Europe, with a variety of winter sports such as snowboarding also available. The French Alps are, however, a lovely summer holiday destination with the winter snow yielding to alpine greenness and fields of wild flowers. This is also great walking and climbing territory. Lake Geneva and Lake Annecy are also attractive locations. This is a region of extremes, containing Europe's highest mountains, highest towns and deepest gorges (in Ardeche).

Of course, the region is not all about alpine splendour. The Rhone Valley runs down the centre of Rhone Alpes before it cuts its way between the regions of Provence-Alpes-Cote-d'Azur and Languedoc Roussillon. The Drome department is frequently known as Drome Provencal and it is typified by a rolling gentle Provence style landscape.

As might be expected, much of the accommodation to rent here is in traditional alpine ski chalets. Given their location, some of these can have magnificent mountain views. Luxury catered chalets and lodges, often with home produced gourmet food, are common and some of these are designed to be quite unique. Self-catering chalets and cabins are also great places to stay for ski holidays. For independent ski breaks, apartments right on the pistes can be in purpose built blocks, converted chalets or part of the owner's chalet. Ski in, ski out options are often available and many chalets have saunas. Moving into the lower reaches of the region, accommodation becomes more typically French, with gites, country houses and converted barns and farmhouses.