sherryskp

We are a family with 2 small kids & will be visiting Switzerland in May 08. Want to go for two weeks. Need to decide on the best & cost effective way to go about it. We are planning to be based in Lucerne maybe in hotel or b&b or apartment. Want something close to Lucerne station. Want to do cities & mountain trips but no hiking. Want to eat in small local villages? Cannot just figure out how to start finalizing and what to do and which places to visit? Everything looks great. We are not interested in taking the fancy luxury train journeys. Please advice good decent budget hotels whom we can contact.
Thanks
Sherryskp

Viajero2

sherry-- We all realize trip planning is overwhelming at the beginning, but it does gets better once you do that initial tackle. Two weeks in Switzerland is quite a bit of time, so it is basic that you sit with a guidebook/internet and draft a list of places you MUST see. Then proceed to connect the dots. Establish a radio of about 80-100 miles for day trips from your home base. Select the home base by mapping out the MUST see and what location would allow you to do the most day trips from there. The best bet for you is to rent an apartment and day trip from there. Definitely consider renting a car and having two home bases. Also, consider expanding your wings a bit and taking in neighboring countries such as Germany. May still a bit raining and there is a good chance that some mountain roads will still be closed due to snow, so always have a contingency plan.

Try http://www.holiday-rentals.com

abbydog

I am familiar with that overwhelmed feeling. I tried to buy a guidebook and couldn't even decide on THAT. Finally I found it helpful to look at Rick Steves' and Fodors' suggested itineraries for various lengths of time, then get oriented with a map, and then read Swiss threads here for details. Also, the Swiss tourist bureau sent me a bunch of great brochures for free -- the one on train travel is particularly helpful when you're getting started. Pretty soon you'll find yourself narrowing down your options -- and you can come back here for answers to specific questions.

kleeblatt

Stay in a Ferienwohnung. Don't stay in the big cities. Do some research and decide what areas you'd like to see. Kids get real bored on trains after awhile so find a place where the kids can run around.

BO might be the answer for you. Fluelen might be an idea because it's relatively near everything, on the lake yet it's quiet and has a train station.

Küssnacht am Rigi is also nice and has a train station. It's also on the lake.

suze

You might enjoy a few days on Lac Leman in the Vevey/Montreux area. Gruyeres is a nice day trip from there. And the castle of Chateau de Chillon. Also ferry rides on the lake. There are a couple reasonably priced (by Swiss standards) hotels in Vevey. There is a Saturday morning open air farmers market in the town square that is fun and an authentic local thing to do.

sherryskp

Thanks so much to all of you for replying so promptly. Yes, keeping two bases would be good idea. Besides, Lucerne which other place do you think would be good to keep as base. Yes, also the farmers market is very good suggestion. In face, all four of us will enjoy that. I was thinking maybe I could take the kids to spend one day on the farm - not overnight and maybe spend one day at some dairy where they show the actual process of cheese making - not a film. Are there any such places? I want the kids to get a different feel. Therefore, I want to mix cities with villages - not too much on malls etc. We are not going to be driving. We plan to get the Swiss pass. However, please could any of you suggest some places to stay - hotels, B&B, apartments close to stations. Also, we are very keen on eating the local fare in non-touristy places. Any info available? Somewhere I read that they have offers on raclette etc.? Please help me to understand for meals in the villages - do they serve privately or there are signs put up which indicate that meals could be served. I am absolutely clueless.

rachelnyc04

I live in Geneva and would be happy to help you if you plan to make it this far west. That time of year would also be very beautiful in the southern Italian-speaking part of Switzerland, check out Lugano area.

gruezi

Have you looked at www.myswitzerland.com? Excellent website as you get started. How old are your children?

Here is a copy of a lot of family ideas compiled by a local ex-pat family here in Zurich:

Section 2 - Family Friendly Destinations

Wildpark Langenberg www.wildpark.ch : in Langnau - founded in 1886 - 15 indigenous species including elks brown bears wild boar - restaurant - open all year - belongs to Zurich Stadt - free admission - good place for walking at any time. (ZH)

Naturzentrum Sihlwald www.sihlwald.ch : in Sihltal - wildlife trails - themed gardens - wild pigs - wooden maze - surrounding beech forest is largest in Switzerland - when nearby Autobahn link is completed whole area may be left to return to nature, (ZH)

Tierpark Goldau www.tierpark.ch: 900 animals in natural setting - pond area - children’s quizzes - restaurants - playground . (ZG)

Knies Kinderzoo www.knieskinderzoo.ch: in Rapperswil (qv) - 400 animals owned by circus dynasty - dolphin shows - large children’s playground . (SG)

Tony’s Zoo Rothenburg: small free zoo - exotic animals - playground and picnic area. (LU)

Conny-Land www.conny-land.ch: dolphinarium - rides - animals. (TG)

Restaurant Chnüschper Huesli: at Buchenegg (above Adliswil) - idiosyncratic style - sometimes staffed by Swiss ‘witches’ - great for special occasions - excellent value for lunch - very popular in evenings so booking essential. (ZH)

Pegasus Small World Museum www.spielzeug-museum.ch : near Türlersee - toy museum - special exhibitions - party facilities - lakeside bistro - interesting shop - playground - walk around lake in summer and across it in winter - hire the rote Samtsofa (romantic rowing boat) www.tuerlersee.ch (ZH)

Mühlerama : working mill museum in Tiefenbrunnen - grinding and baking - exhibits - birthday parties - chance to slide down corn chute on flour sack if so inclined - cooking courses .(ZH)

Zürcher Spielzeugmuseum (Toy Museum): Franz Carl Weber collection - close to station - 1200 exhibits - open most afternoons. (ZH)

Park im Gruenen Rüschlikon: funded by Migros - above Zürichsee - children’s pool - playground - children’s train - modern restaurant and handy food shop. (ZH)

Heidi-Huesli www.heidiland.ch : Heidi museum in Maienfeld - exhibits and farm animals - village is very pretty - surrounded by vineyards and mountains. (GR)

Höllgrotten www.hoellgrotten.ch : extensive and visually stunning limestone caves discovered at end of 19th century close to Baar - lakes multicoloured stalagmites and stalactites - rather drippy so wear good shoes and waterproof clothing - small cafe. (ZG)

Sattel Hoch Stückli * www.hochstuckli.ch: smart revolving gondolas have replaced much loved ancient chairlift over meadows - summer Rodelbahn - children’s play area - bouncy castles/trampolines - Panorama Weg - two hour walk - family skiing - roller park. (SZ)

Raten: great views and walks for all seasons - restaurant - playground -miniscule ski run - nature trail - kite flying - horse drawn sledge rides. (SZ)

Fürigen Bunker (Festung): Second World War bunker on Lake Lucerne near Kehrsiten (qv) - very atmospheric if somewhat scary and damp. (LU)

Glasi Hergiswil* www.glasi.ch: oldest glass factory in Switzerland - excellent free exhibition - ‘one of the most beautiful museums in Europe’ - glassblowing - interactive section - good playground - water games - shops - restaurants - ideal for all ages although approach the shops with caution in the company of young children. (NW)

Freilichtmuseum Ballenberg* www.ballenberg.ch: Swiss Open Air Museum - open April to October - over 90 traditional buildings to explore - set in wonderful scenery - demonstrations of crafts and regional costumes - 250 animals - restaurants - shops - special events - quite exceptional. (BE)


I have been to the glass museum and it was very clever. Also have heard great things about Ballenberg... I have also been to Chillon Castle and although charming and interesting probably not to young children but a short boat trip from Montreaux...there a wonderful circuses that sweep through the city here in Zurich... even my resistant 13-year-old loved the Knie circus...there is a Disney style train thru Luzern www.citytrain.ch...

Perhaps re-post when you've picked a central spot and also include your children's ages.

good luck!

gruezi

swandav2000

Hi sherryskp,

Here are some thoughts about your travel wishes --

For your second base (besides Luzern), you should try to decide if you want a high-peaks mountain destination, a rolling-hills mountain destination, a lakeside destination, etc.

If you want high peaks, you can head to a town like Zermatt, Saas Fee, or Brig in the Valais, or the the villages of Wengen, Muerren, or Grindelwald in the Berner Oberland. If you want rolling-hills, you can head to a village like Saanen or a town like Zweisimmen just at the edge of the Berner Oberland.

You can do a search at google to get more information on each, or go to the town's tourist website, usually something like: www.townname.ch (for instance, www.zermatt.ch, www.wengen.ch).

There is a working dairy at Gruyeres where you can watch cheese being made. There is also a wonderful restaurant in Chateau d'Oex where you can watch a man "making cheese" -- he stands in front of a huge copper caldron stirring the cheese for about two hours, then strains it, and sets it in a form to mold. Both Gruyeres and Chateau d'Oex are in a hilly-mountainous area between Montreux and Interlaken not far from Saanen & Zweisimmen.

There are some very neat little villages not far from Luzern; just hop on the lake ferry and hop off at one of these lakeside villages -- Weggis or Vitznau. They're just lovely.

In these villages, they serve food in restaurants, just as elsewhere. Every village and hamlet will have at least some kind of a guesthouse or (gasthaus) where people gather at night for a few drinks and/or a meal.

Many restaurants will serve Raclette, which is a block of cheese that is set to melt under a heater on your table. You scrape off the melted cheese and spread it over your toast, and add the condiments they supply: onions, pickles, etc. Gruyeres is a great spot for Raclette!

Once you've identified your second base town, then you can look for appropriate accommodations. To find what you want, just go to the town's website and look under "accommodations." They will list hotels, apartments, and B&Bs. In the meantime, you can look at the site www.bnb.ch to see what's available around the country.

For your train travel, remember that your children (I assume they are under 16 years old) travel free on the trains. Also think about getting the "Swiss Saver Pass" instead of the "Swiss Pass" as you can save about 15% (two people travelling together).

Good luck!

s

PalenQ

The Swiss Pass can be a good deal with kids as not only do they, if under 16 and if accompanied by parents (not grandparents) do they get a free Swiss railpass (which also gives free admission to 400+ museums on days the pass is valid for 100% coverage - flexible days on a Flexipass

but on other days the pass gives the adults 50% off every type of conveyance in Switzerland, everywhere, but kids always go free even though the adults pay 50% - that is if they have the Swiss Family Pass which you get free when the adults buy any kind of Swiss Pass.

That said a consecutive day pass can be a better deal if taking excursions everyday or riding boats like those on Lake Lucerne, etc.

Three good resources: www.swisstravelsystem.com tells all about lake boats, scenic trains (like Golden Pass Lucerne-Interlaken-Montreux); www.ricksteves.com has lots of Swiss transport and passes; www.budgeteuropetravel.com where on their homepage you can request their free and excellent European Planning & Rail Guide which has a good chapter on Switzerland and the Lucerne-Interlaken area in specific as well as Swiss trains.

And as Swiss Passes have not gone up in price for a few years now in the U.S. but the dollar has declined against the Swiss franc faster than a champion downhill skier i think you could potentially save a bundle by buying these passes before Jan 1, 2008 when i would expect a price correction and raising of the current U.S. prices which are about 20% lower last time i looked vis-a-vis same pass bought in Switzerland. And you have six months after purchase to activate the pass at the old guaranteed price. (I have no word if passes are going up in U.S. dollars but strongly suspect they must - to see what savings may be worthwhile buying before end of year i suggest calling BETS 800-441-2387 and asking if they know of price increases and if they are sufficient to advance purchase.

Anyway trains and lake boats and funiculars and rack railways and cable cars you and you kids will LOVE

suze

In a town like Vevey, which is more a small city than a countryside village but still "quaint" imo... you can find Mom and Pop style cafes, lace curtains, along the cobblestone pedestrian street. You will see a blackboard posted outisde with the daily luncheon fixed price "workmans" special. There are other things offered but this one is a special price. There are places that specialize in fondue or raclette, again these are normal restaurants nothing unusual or secret about them, but definitely not "touristy" either.

prizren

Check www.untours.com. I have used them for two trips to Switzerland and believe that they would give you what you want at a reasonable price.

PalenQ

Kids will love the steamers on Lake Lucerne - and covered in full by Swiss Pass (1st class sit on open-air top deck; 2nd class down below)

Engleberg is an Alpine Valhalla an hour or so from Lucerne - tiny mountain train goes once there up Mt Titlis - no hiking required but one of the dramatic vistas in the Alps -Lucerne-Englberg train covered in full by Swiss pass

Mt Pilatus is Lucerne's own mountain, hovering over the lake just southwest of town - great excursion - hop lake boat to Alpnachstad then take the unfathomably steep mountain train to summit (one of most thrilling train rides in Europe) and then look around the icy outpost and hop aerial cable cars - gondolas back down to Krens, in suburban Lucerne from which city buses take you back downtown. Boats, bus fully covered by Swiss Pass which also gives you 50% off the Pilatus train and cableway - kids go free with Family Pass.

So lots of fun for you and kids especially in Lucerne vicinity.

where2

We have 2 small children as well and we have stayed in Grindelwald, Zermatt, Kandersteg, and Gstaad with them in the past 2 years. I found Zermatt to be a huge front runner for the least child-friendly, but others may disagree. We also use trains exclusively - my kids love them. I bring a backpack of supplies like coloring, paint with water books, small toys, etc. plus a portable dvd player and my kids are always happy.

In Kandersteg we stayed in one of the apartments of the Hotel Adler. I don't remember what we paid but it was much less than our hotel rooms. The apartments are little chalets that are a part of the hotel but are self service. It worked well for us for a week in August. From Kandersteg there are 3 mountain lifts that were fun. We went up one to the Ochinenssee lake twice - some hike to the lake but we took a horse-drawn buggy. We took tons of day-trips on the train also - Bern is close and so is Speiz where we took a lake boat around.

Next summer we are spending 2 weeks based in Lauterbrunnen. We are staying in the family room at the Hotel Silberhorn. I think loads of people stay in apartments there but we like hotels better for the restaurant, cleaning, and front desk services. Our "hikes" are level walks and we think we will find plenty in the area. Lauterbrunnen is a great base for seeing the BO - we think.

sherryskp

Dear All,

Sincerely speaking I am overwhelmed at all your advice. Thanks to you all once again. Things are slowly shaping up. We are going in May 1st & 2nd week. My kids are 5 yrs & 4 yrs old. I am sure they will be very excited seeing the mountains, snow & the lovely modes of transport.
Thanks once again.
Sherryskp

swisshiker

Hello sherryskp

Kids are such great travelers! You will be amazed at what they see vs. what you see. Thru the eyes of babes, lol!

Just be sure to not "over plan" your days. When you are on a hiking trail and come upon a group of cows, take your time. The children will love to watch them eat away and also hear the clang-clang of the bells on their necks.

Along the shore of Lake Lucerne (or just about any other lake), there is a beautiful promenade. Swans often grace the waters, as do many ducks. Also, waving at the steamers and boats passing by can sometimes win a long beep of the horn. I remember my son (4 at the time, now 24!) just loving the sound of that horn.

And then there's the trains. Kids love trains, watching them come and go from the stations.

You mentioned wanting to see cheese making. From Lucerne, it's just a short one-hour train ride up to Engelberg. The Monastery there has a lovely little store / restaurant, and many times you will find the cheesemaker working away right before your eyes. Free samples, too!

Alpine slides are also fun for the kiddos. Grindelwald, Engelberg, and the area just below Pilatus have them (not sure if they're open in May, though. It might be too early in the season.)

You have some very good advice here on places to go. A favorite of mine has always been Grindelwald and Wengen, but it's all excellent.

Happy travels!

PalenQ

Interlaken for one has a summer Alpine tobaggon slide - not sure what age suggested by also just outside Interlaken is one of Switzerland's most popular family theme parks.

sherryskp

Thanks for the inputs. We want to do the mountain trips :
1. Jungfrau
2. Mt. Titlis
3. Mt. Pilatus
4. Schilthorn
5. Matterhorn

Which do you recommend we must do and which could we skip? I am not sure which to skip and which are partly included in our Swiss Pass.
Also, when I do each of these trips, which other places ie attractions & villages could I visit? Normally I would leave one day for each of these trips.
Any feedback is appreciated.
Kind regards,
Sherryskp

swisshiker

In your opening post, you mention basing yourselves in Lucerne for the two weeks.

If that is still the case, I only point out that the train to Zermatt from Lucerne takes about 4 1/2 hours each way.

As much as I'm a proponent for Zermatt and the Matterhorn area, I would skip that as a day trip.

kleeblatt

Train rides are fun for a day or two but they get boring real quick, especially with small kids.

Ditto on seeing the Matterhorn as a day trip. Don't think it's doable as a quality day trip.

Ballenberg is indeed nice because the kids can run around and look inside the houses.