However here is a thought. You can fly to Geneva and get an airport transfer to lake Annecy. Once there you can hire a bike and enjoy the region the way the local French do. Probably the healthiest and lowest cost travel option for your lake annecy holiday.

Airport transfers to lake Annecy are not expensive. You can get to the lake from Geneva airport for as little as £20 return. Why? Lake Annecy is on one of the busiest ski transfer routes in the Alps. As such there is a healthy level of airport transfer competition. Many for the airport transfer providers have spare capacity outside the winter season. Most of them offer airport transfers to the more popular summer resorts such as Chamonix, Megeve, Les Gets and of course the towns and villages around lake Annecy. Most offer free bike carriage.

The most convenient airports for an airport transfer to lake Annecy are Geneva and Chambery, both less than 40 min transfer time away. Lyon and Grenoble airports are also options but the transfer tends to take 1.5 hours or more and will be more expensive than a Geneva or Chambery transfers.

If you decide to come by train to Annecy you won’t even need an airport transfer.

I have to say I never been in the region without a car, but I will certainly try it next year. I have used airport transfer services from Geneva to Chamonix. The service was very efficient, reliable and door-to-door for £50. I certainly did not miss a car, spending a week in the Chamonix Valley and climbing Mt Blanc, never mind a saving of £100 on car hire and petrol.

Should you want to explore airport transfer options just submit your Geneva airport transfer request to Ski Transfer Finder and see what quotes you can get.  I have also been told that there are very cheap Grenoble airport transfers available. I will try it next season on one of my flying visits to lake Annecy.