Dianedancer

I had started a thread about the fact that we were going to Switzerland for the 6th time and wondered about finally doing the Jungfraujoch thing. By the time the thread was done - we had changed our plans and decided to go to the remote area of the Engadine, for our first time. Thanks again to all who helped us.

Here's our brief trip report:

In a nutshell -

May 26-June2. We stayed in Scuol for 4 nights. A beautiful area and a 3 hour train ride from the Zurich airport. Our hotel was the Hotel Belvedere which has a primo spot overlooking the mountains, gorgeous, and is across the street from a bus stop so it is very convenient. We got the 4 nights for 3 deal for Spring which included a lavish breakfast, a great many pooled indoor-outdoor spa which we partook of twice and had lots of fun, and a travel pass and some Prosecco with olives and dried meat hors d'ouvres in their lovely bar. Everyone at the hotel was wonderful.

Our 2nd day was very hot - 85 degrees - and we went hiking. Did not expect it to be that hot at that time of year so we were quite exhausted and our bodies cramped after walking sometimes sharply downhill for over 2 miles + one mile flat at the beginning. Motta Naluns down to Ftan.

One thing to remember if you go to this area of Switzerland - everything closes up between noon and 2:00PM. So even when we got to Prontresina, a reasonably large village, it was like a ghost town. I half expected to see tumbleweeds rolling down the streets.

Guarda was lovely but a ghost town too. However we had a lovely lunch on a grassy area overlooking the mountains and goats, connected with a small hotel there.
Loved the bus ride to Sent from Scuol and Sent itself.
Took the train to Diavolezza for the cable car up to some real snowy mountains.

Had generally yummy food. Spent one afternoon through to the next afternoon in Chur and loved it. Nice to be in a city with stores! (Not too many in the area in the Engadin we were in.) Spent our last night at the Hotel Allegra in Kloten, which we got to late afternoon in order to spend more time in Chur. We chose it because it is near the airport for an early morning flight home the next day and has a free shuttle.

So that's it. All bus transport, the cable car in Scuol and the train up to Zernetz, were also free through our hotel (and others I'm sure.)

Happy we went to this new area for us, in Switzerland.

We would definitely go back.

Ingo

Thanks for the trip report. Very glad you enjoyed your stay in the area, no surprise to me, though

Good deal on the hotel; the Bellevue is one of my favourites in the area.

Dianedancer

Ah, so you've been to the Belvedere Ingo? The view from its terrace is just spectacular and the staff was great.

I'm ready to go back!

Adelaidean

Great to hear you enjoyed the region, Diane, we head there for 5 nights in September, wish it was longer

Ingo

Yes, Diane. One day we were swept off the terrace by a sort of (weak) tornado. Barely made it into the building, all the tableware and food were lost. A lasting experience! The staff were wonderful, though, and went out of their way to help.

Dianedancer

A tornedo in the mountains? Pretty unusual.

Adelaidean - We had a delicious meal at the Hotel Astras. Great friendly service and yummy food. We ate on their terrace. Would definitely recommend it. Although we didn't have reservations we were there in the shoulder season and for you they may be needed.
Great apple strudel dessert too

Melnq8

Thanks for the trip report Diane. Scoul is our go to place in the Engadine, but we usually rent an apartment.

We just returned from Ilanz and Kandersteg - we got caught in that same miserable heat wave - hiked eight miles in that heat two days in a row and thought we'd melt.

I will be posting a trip report soon too. Unfortunately, I don't have the ability to be brief

Dianedancer

Melnq8 - You were just brief in your post. So there is an ability somewhere in you as far as briefness!

It will be in the 90s here in NYC today and tomorrow so the weather we had in Scuol actually seems nice in comparison. Luckily I'm not doing any hiking! (Just slogging along the sidewalks.)

Adelaidean

Melnq8... please don't be brief in your TR...... BTW we are currently in Denmark, WA, sunny, peaceful, quiet, perfect, your TR's very helpful.

Diane, we will be based in Sils this time, but I am including a stop in Scuol as I think it may suit us for a future trip.

Melnq8

Adelaidean -

Ah, Denmark! Lucky you. I miss the SW of WA immensely. Have a wonderful time.

WeisserTee

"We just returned from Ilanz and Kandersteg - we got caught in that same miserable heat wave - hiked eight miles in that heat two days in a row and thought we'd melt."

This is why we avoid our hiking trips in the hot months OR we choose a locality/hotel with a great outdoor pool (the Gstaad area has several open to the public, including the Palace Hotel pool). Or lake swimming (Lake Zug has several nice beaches and it does get warm enough to swim in). Some of the pools come with amazing views.

FWIW, next week will be even hotter and probably muggy as well. DH will drag our portable AC unit out of our basement storage and put into the bedroom. We usually run it just on the dehumidifier setting, which helps to cool the room without actually turning on the AC.

Dianedancer

WeisserTee - We don't travel in the hot months, but we didn't expect to get 85F weather at the end of May. In the mountains.

We passed by some lake on the train as we went from Zurich to Scuol. Quite beautiful. Turquoise water and mountains. Would love to spend some time there. It wasn't Lake Zurich, although we did pass that as well. I did wonder if the lake would be warm enough to swim in.

Adelaidean - If you go to Scuol - please make sure you go to the old part in the valley. Our hotel looked over it, but wasn't in that section of the town. I would think staying in that section, however, could be tiring after a long day as it's a lot of up and down walking. The great thing about Scuol for us was its proximity to get to other villages, etc., as well. And the Baths!

Ingo

That lake was Walensee, Diane. Very beautiful, indeed.

Scuol actually has an old part below the Belvedere and one above. The lower part has some shops and restaurants, the upper doesn't. Lots of walking up and down ;-)

Melnq8

<<This is why we avoid our hiking trips in the hot months>>

That's what we thought we were doing - didn't expect late May to be so hot. And other than the first few days, it wasn't.

Dianedancer

Ah Walensee. Thanks Ingo. Maybe next year?

Ingo

Sounds good! Never to early to go back

WeisserTee

"That's what we thought we were doing - didn't expect late May to be so hot"

We've been through three heat waves here in May, and that's not counting the deadly heat wave back in 2003. OTOH, there have also been few really cold Mays as well. The seasons aren't what they used to be

Dianedancer

WeisserTee - We had a very hot week near the beginning of May here in NYC. 90s F. Then we had cool weather for 3 weeks. It's a time of year for fluctuations I guess.