ABCDEFG

I'm in the process of making some big decisions and wanted to get feedback before I truly commit.

11 days in Switzerland.

Fly direct into Zurich from NYC, take the train to Wengen in the beautiful Bernese Oberland (Jungfrau area in the Alps).

1) I rented a chalet for a week in Wengen for around 1100 chf. If anyone has experience renting chalets in the area please let me know. We are using this outfit and they seem very responsive so far.
http://www.chalet-service.ch/

During our stay we are going to spend one night in a high hut way up in the Alps.

But overall is this too much time in Wengen?

2) After that, we will take the train to Lucerne where we will tour for a day before boarding the ferry across the lake to our hotel / spa in Weggis, where a Superior Room with a private patio overlooking the lake will run 300 chf / night. The hotel is called Post Hotel Weggis and I don't see much chatter about it on Fodors.

3 nights here - too much in one spot? We might rent a boat and do some waterskiing one day and maybe take the cablecar up to the top of that mountain another day.

http://www.poho.ch/en/hotel/gallery.html

Anybody have any other recommendations on unique or charming properties such as something close to castles, great wine making, or cheese making?

The only catch is it has to be somewhere roughly between Lucerne and Zurich. Also keep in mind we are spending 7 days in the Alps so a change of pace would be nice.

swandav2000

Hi ABCDEFG,

No, I don't think one week is too much for Wengen, particularly since you guys are active & fit. There is quite a lot to do in the area, from lots of Alpine walks to walking around Lake Thun & Lake Breinz, cruises on the lakes, exploring the castles at Thun & Oberhofen, to ascending the peaks, seeing Alpine gardens, etc.

As for your 3d location, I would suggest Montreux -- even though it is not *between* Luzern & Zürich. Montreux will give you a lot of contrast because it's in a warmer climate zone, because it sits near the Prealps not the Alps, and because it sits in the French-speaking section of Switzerland. Its architecture and ambiance is closer to the French Riviera than it is to German-speaking Switzerland. You can see Chillon castle from Montreux and visit Gruyeres for cheese-making or the Lavaux vineyards that lie between Lausanne & Vevey. More information at:

www.montreux.ch
www.montreux-vevey.com

Let me know if you'd like more information on Montreux.

Have fun as you plan!

s

Ingo

Itinerary sounds good.

Another option is somewhere on Lake Constance (Bodensee) or in the small town Stein am Rhein.

Or try a village along Lake Neuchatel/Lake Biel (wine region).

lincasanova

This sounds like a trip I would like to do one day.

PalenQ

marking for later comment

ABCDEFG

Thinking of something like this for activities / planning. Going to be an active vacation but that is how we like it:

Day 1: arrive Wengen / Explore town / grocery shopping

Day 2: take Maennilichen cable car and do famous hike to Grimmelwald

Day 3: Train to top of Jungfrau / dogsled ride (high altitude acclimation)

Day 4: Big hike - spend night at High Hutte

Day 5: Big hike down from Hutte

Day 6: See the waterfalls; chill in Wengen

Day 7: Day trip down to lake towns. Or maybe just find a pool and chill.

Day 8: Rent Mountain Bikes / ride down mountains!

Day 9: Depart on train to Lucerne - then boat to Weggis.

Day 10: Waterskiing (or sailing?) / then take the ferry boats into Lucerne

Day 11: Mt. Rigi cablecar followed by massage at the spa / hotel

Day 12: Train to Zurich

Ingo

Day 2 is confusing. There is no hike to "Grimmelwald" from Männlichen. What is this "Grimmelwald" anyway? Grindelwald? Gimmelwald? I suspect you mean Grindelwald, but the hike from Männlichen down to Grindelwald is a) not famous and b) via Kleine Scheidegg rather long and exhausting.

ABCDEFG

I think replace the Day 2 stuff with "do a nice local hike". Nothing here is set in stone and I appreciate the tip on the hike down to Grindelwald!

PalenQ

What is Gimmelwald? Wow - one of the most very unique and awesome places in the whole Berner Oberland - Ingo next time go to Gimmelwald! Really in decades of European travel this one place sticks out in my mind as being awesome!

nytraveler

If it were me I would spend a couple more days in Lucerne - which Ilove. But then all of those hikes would be too much for me. A couple of nice, pretty walks is fine - but you lost me as soon as it starts getting vertical.

scatcat

Day 2

Maybe you mean take Maennlichen cable car and hike to Kleine Scheidegg. It is a very easy hike.

joannyc

I thought Weggis was much too small for me to stay for even a couple of days. Took the boat from Lucerne one day and was ready to return after less than a couple of hours.

Hotel there looks nice though.

swandav2000

PalQ,

Ingo did not say "What is Gimmelwald." He said, "What is Grimmelwald?" (gRimmelwald) because that's what the OP wrote. Later in his response, he notes the difference between Grindelwald and Gimmelwald.

s

PalenQ

Ooops -my apologies to one of my favorite Fdorites - you know at a certain age the eyesight gets poor!

swandav2000

PalQ, I do the same thing! Only in my case it's my slow old tired brain that doesn't read right!!

s

Ingo

Thanks s!

And Pal - no worries.

PalenQ

Maybe you mean take Maennlichen cable car and hike to Kleine Scheidegg. It is a very easy hike.>

Yes and a great great hike - Mannlichen itself is a raved about viewpoint - being located on a spit of rock looming high over both the Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald valleys and also eagle eyed over Interlaken, bookended between its two lakes far below.

And the footpath to Kleine Shiedegg is flat and wide and again you have views of both valleys from this ridge walk and also a front view of the Jungfrau Massif in your front.

I also walked from Kl Schiedegg back down to Wengen - a few hours stroll on a path that is made suitable for bikes so is gentle enough - this path gives neat views of the Lauterbrunnen Valley.

Wengen3823

Chalet Service is excellent - so no worries. If you want a very special meal out then head to the Schonegg - Hubert the chef is excellent and Rene will make you very welcome. For a good casual meal try Sina's pub which does excellent pizza - any combination you can think of!

ljv

Our family spent 5 spectacular days in the Berner Oberland 2 years ago and it was not enough time. We stayed in Lauterbrunnen, which is in the valley a 10 min train ride down from Wengen.

IMO, you will not be bored by 7 days in Wengen, assuming you have a Swiss rail pass. Besides the activities mentioned, you could take a day and head into Interlaken. From there, you could take a scenic boat ride on the lake and visit some charming towns, castles included! Or, you can take the train from Interlaken to Bern and spend the day touring this charming capital

Our Swiss rail pass provided entry into many museums and castles too!

Whatever you do, you'll have a wonderful time!

ljv

P.S. We also did Montreux on this trip...tres' French, and a very different feel from the Germanic Berner region. Palm trees and vineyards and the gorgeous Lake Geneva.