The short answer: for a family holiday in the Vosges, renting a whole chalet saves a lot of compromises. At Chalet de la Poirie, in Dommartin-lès-Remiremont, two families or one big extended family of up to 10 share two apartments, each with its own kitchen and bathroom, plus a baby cot and high chair, and an XXL bunk bed that suits children and adults alike. The voie verte cycle trail runs 30 metres from the door, the riding farm is 2.9 kilometres away, and a week in the February 2027 holidays costs 1,567.20 € for six, all fees included.
This guide starts from the practical questions parents ask: which school holiday dates to aim for, who sleeps where, what to do with a 2-, 7- or 14-year-old, and how much to budget. Facts about the house come from our the chalet and practical info pages; outdoor activities come from the official websites of the ski areas and tourist offices, quoted as we go.
Which school holidays to choose in 2026–27
The chalet is let all year round, but the nightly rate changes with the period, and not all holidays cost the same. Below are the official French school holiday dates for 2026–27, from the French education ministry calendar, with the nightly rate for the whole chalet. France splits its winter and spring holidays into three zones (A, B and C); the Vosges is in zone B. If you are coming from abroad, these are the weeks when French families will be travelling too.
| Holiday | Dates 2026–27 | Night (weekday / Fri–Sat) |
|---|---|---|
| Christmas (all zones) | 19 December 2026 to 4 January 2027 | 160 € / 200 €, and 350 € on 25, 26, 30 and 31 December |
| Winter, zone A | 13 February to 1 March 2027 | 130 € / 165 € in February |
| Winter, zone B | 20 February to 8 March 2027 | 130 € / 165 € in February |
| Winter, zone C | 6 to 22 February 2027 | 130 € / 165 € |
| Spring (zones A, B, C) | from 3, 10 or 17 April 2027 | 130 € / 165 € in April, excluding Easter and bank-holiday weekends |
| Summer | from 3 July 2027 | 160 € / 200 € |
The dates run from the first day of the holidays to the day school starts again. The good news is February: the chalet's rate table puts it in the mid-season band, at 130 € a night on weekdays and 165 € on Friday and Saturday, with a two-night minimum, whereas summer and Christmas go up to 160 € and 200 € with a three-night minimum. The first week of March in the zone B holidays is not spelled out in the rate table, so ask for the price with your dates. For Christmas, read our guide to the festive season at the chalet, because those dates go first.
Who sleeps where with children
The chalet sleeps 10, never more, across two floors that are always rented together. The ground floor, 65 m² and rated five stars by the tourist office, has a double bedroom, one XXL bunk bed (two 90 x 200 cm berths) in the living room, suitable for adults, teenagers and children alike, and a large sofa bed. Upstairs, around 50 m², there is a double bedroom and a large sofa bed. A baby cot and a high chair are provided, as is bed linen for every bed.
For two families, the simplest split follows the floors: one family downstairs, with the double bedroom, the bunk bed for the children and step-free access to the terrace; the other upstairs, with its own double bedroom, sofa bed, kitchen, and the bathroom with the steam shower and whirlpool bath. Everyone keeps their own rhythm, from toddlers' naps to the grown-ups' evenings, and you all meet at the big table on the ground floor. For a group of 10, the different combinations are covered in our guide to the chalet for 10 people.
Our website does not mention any child-safety equipment beyond the cot and high chair: if you are coming with a child who has only just started walking, ask about it in your request.
The XXL bunk bed
The Franould riding farm
Things to do with kids, age by age
The Vosges lend themselves to family holidays, and the tourist offices say so: Gérardmer and Xonrupt-Longemer hold the French national Famille Plus label for family-friendly destinations, according to the Gérardmer Hautes Vosges tourist office, and La Bresse Hautes Vosges has signed up to the same scheme, according to its tourist office. Here is what we suggest, from closest to furthest from the chalet.
- Under 3: the voie verte, 30 metres away, is a flat, safe tarmac trail, ideal for a pushchair. The Franould riding farm, 2.9 kilometres away, lets little ones see horses and ponies up close, and the shore of Lake Gérardmer, half an hour's drive away, makes a lovely walk.
- Ages 3 to 6: first pony rides at the riding farm; in winter, the Gérardmer ski area gives free access to its play areas and sledging area (Gérardmer Ski), and La Bresse-Hohneck has a beginners' area with a magic carpet for first slides on snow (La Bresse-Hohneck).
- Ages 6 to 12: cycling on the voie verte, which heads for Bussang or Cornimont along old railway lines; in summer, swimming at Remiremont's lake, 2 kilometres away; in winter, skiing on La Bresse-Hohneck's 29 runs or Gérardmer's 22, snow tubing and the Schlitte Mountain rail toboggan, a 900-metre loop open summer and winter.
- Teenagers: longer bike rides on the 55 km of the voie verte, La Bresse-Hohneck's evening sledging sessions, hikes up towards the ridges, and Gérardmer's aquatic centre for rainy days (see the tourist office's family activities). Back at the chalet, the hot tub and sauna win everyone over, and the upstairs living room has a TV with Canal+ and Netflix.
Both ski areas open for 2026–27 on Saturday 19 December 2026, according to their operators, snow permitting in Gérardmer's case. By road, allow about 33 minutes to the Gérardmer slopes and 41 minutes to the La Bresse-Hohneck slopes (OpenStreetMap route planning, no snow). Detailed distances and what is around the chalet are in our article on the chalet near Gérardmer, and seasonal ideas in our year-round guide to the Vosges.
Everyday life at the chalet with children
With children, it is the small things that make the difference. Two bathrooms mean no morning queue. Two fitted kitchens let the little ones eat early while the adults cook their own dinner. The 80 m² terrace, opening step-free from the ground floor, becomes an extra living room in fine weather, with its barbecue and a pergola fitted with a TV. Wi-Fi is free, and shower gel, shampoo and cleaning products are provided.
As for logistics, check-in is from 5 pm and check-out by 11 am, both self-service. The private, secure car park has five spaces, handy when two families each arrive in their own car, and Remiremont station is 3 kilometres away. The family dog is welcome too; simply mention it when you book, for 25 € per stay. Everything is explained in our article on the dog-friendly chalet. The hot tub, sauna cabin, steam shower and whirlpool bath are reserved for your group alone; the details are on our spa and wellness page.
What a family week costs
A week works exactly like a weekend: the nightly rate for the whole chalet, the same for 2 to 4 guests, then 30 € per night for each guest from the 5th to the 8th, a 100 € cleaning fee per stay and 1.60 € tourist tax per person per night. Here are two seven-night examples, Saturday to Saturday: the winter holidays from 20 to 27 February 2027, and the summer holidays from 10 to 17 July 2027. The 300 € deposit is not included, and no pet.
| Guests | 20–27 February 2027 | 10–17 July 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| 4 guests | 1,124.80 € | 1,344.80 € |
| 6 guests | 1,567.20 € | 1,787.20 € |
| 8 guests | 2,009.60 € | 2,229.60 € |
Per person, a February week for eight comes to 251.20 €, and a July week to 278.70 €. Tourist tax is counted here for every guest, but French law exempts under-18s, according to the official tourist tax guide (article L. 2333-31 of the French local authorities code). With children, the real total is therefore a little lower: the tax is confirmed in our reply to your request. The 2027 figures use the rate table published today.
The parents' checklist
What to pack, and what you can leave at home.
- Leave at home: the baby cot and high chair (provided), bed linen (provided for every bed), shower gel and shampoo.
- Pack: swimwear for the hot tub, the pushchair for the voie verte, bikes if you have them, and warm clothes for evenings on the terrace.
- Mention in your request: the exact number of guests, whether there is a baby, whether a pet is coming, and your arrival time if it will be late.
- Check: your dates on the calendar, then the cancellation terms (free up to 14 days before arrival, 50% refunded between 14 and 5 days before).
Booked dates are shown in red on the calendar on the booking page. Choose your nights and send your request: we reply within 24 hours, and the request commits you to nothing. Other practical answers are in our FAQ.
