Family trip for 1 week: Wengen and/or ??
Sep 5th, 2012, 09:52 AM
#1
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Family trip for 1 week: Wengen and/or ??
Starting to look ahead to 2013 and would like to visit Berner Oberland. Family of 4 with kids 14 & 11; never been to Switzerland. Flying in/out of Zurich from the UK in early/mid July. 7 nights / 6 days of non-travel. Seeking a moderately active vacation (walks and such).
I've done some early, basic research and it looks like Wengen is a popular recommendation on this forum. Is that the consensus, particularly (or even) for a family?
At first I thought that Grindelwald would provide more options but it seems that it is too crowded and touristy. Lauterbrunnen and Interlaken are too "low", Gimmelwald and Murren are too small and/or remote, etc.
I was leaning getting an apartment/chateau for the entire week (i.e. 1 base). That has it's advantages, but should I look into splitting up the stay? Perhaps with some time elsewhere like Luzern?
I've done some early, basic research and it looks like Wengen is a popular recommendation on this forum. Is that the consensus, particularly (or even) for a family?
At first I thought that Grindelwald would provide more options but it seems that it is too crowded and touristy. Lauterbrunnen and Interlaken are too "low", Gimmelwald and Murren are too small and/or remote, etc.
I was leaning getting an apartment/chateau for the entire week (i.e. 1 base). That has it's advantages, but should I look into splitting up the stay? Perhaps with some time elsewhere like Luzern?
Sep 5th, 2012, 10:09 AM
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I loved Wengen , as did my 11 yr old daughter, and we did do a lovely day hike or two,, but I personally think 2-3 nights there and 2-3 nights somewhere else not a bad idea. We stayed two nights, but I really could have stayed one more .. we didn't get to the falls which I would have done with another day. Remember, two hotel nights equals only one full day of touring .
We stayed in a hotel, forget the name but could look it up , loved it. If the trip is split into two bases then a hotel makes most sense.
We stayed in a hotel, forget the name but could look it up , loved it. If the trip is split into two bases then a hotel makes most sense.
Sep 5th, 2012, 10:46 AM
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with kids 14 and 11 be sure to look strongly at the Swiss Pass since it comes with a free Family Pass whereby kids under 16 get a free pass and never pay a dime for any transport - even ones the Swiss Pass only gives a 50% discount for - like aerial gondolas to mountain tops - the Swiss Pass is often a great deal in any case but especially for families.
I assume Brits can buy Swiss Passes - check with RailEurope UK - partly owned by the Swiss Railways I believe or the Swiss Centre near Piccadilly Circus - and compare prices to the same pass bought in Switzerland - I have boughten Swiss passes for years and often they are cheaper - excat same pass - inn my home country (USA) thru RailEurope USA but not always - here are some fantastic sites on Swiss trains - www.swisstravelsystem.com (check Swiss Pass prices in Swiss francs here - can buy passes at any Swiss railway station, including those in airports) and http://www.budgeteuropetravel.com/id3.html and www.ricksteves.com.
There is also a Half-Fare Card that could be good if only going to one place and just basing in a small area and not traveling around very much - it costs about $120 to buy then gives you half off everything that moves and you can also get a free Family Pass with it to cover under 16 years old free on everything (may cost about $25 if not free - used to but now I think may be free) and also Swiss Card and Swiss Transfer Ticket
I assume Brits can buy Swiss Passes - check with RailEurope UK - partly owned by the Swiss Railways I believe or the Swiss Centre near Piccadilly Circus - and compare prices to the same pass bought in Switzerland - I have boughten Swiss passes for years and often they are cheaper - excat same pass - inn my home country (USA) thru RailEurope USA but not always - here are some fantastic sites on Swiss trains - www.swisstravelsystem.com (check Swiss Pass prices in Swiss francs here - can buy passes at any Swiss railway station, including those in airports) and http://www.budgeteuropetravel.com/id3.html and www.ricksteves.com.
There is also a Half-Fare Card that could be good if only going to one place and just basing in a small area and not traveling around very much - it costs about $120 to buy then gives you half off everything that moves and you can also get a free Family Pass with it to cover under 16 years old free on everything (may cost about $25 if not free - used to but now I think may be free) and also Swiss Card and Swiss Transfer Ticket
Sep 5th, 2012, 11:01 AM
#4
Before I read your whole post, I thought Grindelwald. We did not see tour buses or hordes of tourists during a week there in September. Grindelwald will have more for the kids to do, more options. I loved Wengen but wouldn't take kids there for an extended time. We have traveled with our kids and now our grandchildren. We always look to be in or near a town with multiple options for the kids, places they can be independent and explore on their own.
Sep 5th, 2012, 09:21 PM
#5
I would suggest 2-3 nights in Luzern in addition to the OB. Some great places there and you could do a daytrip to other local town(s). It isn't far from ZUH and you could do it on either end of your trip. Have a great trip!
Sep 6th, 2012, 08:30 AM
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I know you said Interlaken would be too low for you, and while Wengen is a nice base for hiking, I'd recommend to look into Thun and area. There's always something going on so your Teenagers will never get bored, even when the weather doesn't play nice. You can take great day hiking trips: Simmental/Engstligental with Lenk and Adelboden; Kandertal with Kandersteg: the hike via Öschinensee/Blüemlisalp (with an overnight in the SAC Hut perhaps) and down to Griesalp is truly something to write home about. You are still close to the Jungrau area for day trips, but if the weather is not so good, you are also close to Bern for a change of scenery. The Gantrisch Nature Park is maybe something your kids would like to do too. A scenic boat trip on Lake Thun (with a stop at the Beatus Caves) and Brienz, visit the open air Museum Ballenberg...
http://www.thunersee.ch/en/activities.html
http://www.thun.ch/en/tourism.html
http://www.fribourgregion.ch/en/acti...gantrisch.html
If you decide to stay only in the Bernese Oberland Region, then look into the the Regional Pass Bernese Oberland (great ideas there too):
http://www.regiopass-berneroberland.ch/
Enjoy your trip!
Fida
http://www.thunersee.ch/en/activities.html
http://www.thun.ch/en/tourism.html
http://www.fribourgregion.ch/en/acti...gantrisch.html
If you decide to stay only in the Bernese Oberland Region, then look into the the Regional Pass Bernese Oberland (great ideas there too):
http://www.regiopass-berneroberland.ch/
Enjoy your trip!
Fida
Sep 6th, 2012, 09:22 AM
#8
It is absolutely inaccurate to state that Wengen is for older people. All kinds of people stay in Wengen. In fact, anyone who has ever been to Wengen--and there are several who post here who I am convinced have never been--will know that there is a public playground on the main street across from the Hotel Schonegg.
There is also a public pool in Wengen and anyone who has walked by during the summer months can attest to the fact that the pool is always filled with teenagers.
Who cares where you stay anyway?
You aren't going to spend all your time in one town.
Most people spend their time in the Bernese Oberland travelling by train to all the other little towns in the area.
What you will get by staying in Wengen, however, is a good rest because the town is very quiet at night.
And anyone who thinks Lauterbrunnen is a party town must come from the hinterlands.
Tschuss,
Thin
There is also a public pool in Wengen and anyone who has walked by during the summer months can attest to the fact that the pool is always filled with teenagers.
Who cares where you stay anyway?
You aren't going to spend all your time in one town.
Most people spend their time in the Bernese Oberland travelling by train to all the other little towns in the area.
What you will get by staying in Wengen, however, is a good rest because the town is very quiet at night.
And anyone who thinks Lauterbrunnen is a party town must come from the hinterlands.
Tschuss,
Thin
Sep 6th, 2012, 02:10 PM
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Lauterbrunnen's Camping Jungfrau is home to Contiki’s exclusive Swiss Chalet. The campsite and Chalet are roughly 10 minutes walk from the heart of the village of Lauterbrunnen. The Swiss Chalet is another of Contiki’s special stopovers.
Lauterbrunnen may not be a party town per say and I do not think anyone here said anything like that - I've never seen anything in the whole of Switzerland outside Zurich that I would call a party town.
But Lauterbrunnen could have a party atmosphere to it because it is one of the Conitiki Tour hubs where Contiki brings zillions of 20s types to town each day.
Pepper - do you still insist that the train to Lauterbrunnen form Interlaken does not split en route - like you adamantly adamantly said last year based on your eye witness - turns out you were very wrong and even a note from the railway involved saying you were wrong was brought up - sorry if I do not put much credence in your eye witness!
That said Wengen would be a nice town for kids that age who are too young to really mingle with the 20 types that flock to Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen.
Lauterbrunnen may not be a party town per say and I do not think anyone here said anything like that - I've never seen anything in the whole of Switzerland outside Zurich that I would call a party town.
But Lauterbrunnen could have a party atmosphere to it because it is one of the Conitiki Tour hubs where Contiki brings zillions of 20s types to town each day.
Pepper - do you still insist that the train to Lauterbrunnen form Interlaken does not split en route - like you adamantly adamantly said last year based on your eye witness - turns out you were very wrong and even a note from the railway involved saying you were wrong was brought up - sorry if I do not put much credence in your eye witness!
That said Wengen would be a nice town for kids that age who are too young to really mingle with the 20 types that flock to Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen.
Sep 7th, 2012, 05:59 AM
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Our sons were about the same age a few ago when we stayed in Wengen. We all loved it. My kids have been all over Europe, and Wengen remains one of their favorite places.
Wengen is a great, "central" location. We went to Lauterbrunnen, Gimmelwald, Murren, Jungfraujoch, and Grindelwald from Wengen. We did see lots of tour buses and "hordes of tourists" in Grindelwald, and were happy not to be staying there (although it was a fun day trip from Wengen). We enjoyed returning at the end of the day to a quiet, but not too quiet place.
Wengen is a great, "central" location. We went to Lauterbrunnen, Gimmelwald, Murren, Jungfraujoch, and Grindelwald from Wengen. We did see lots of tour buses and "hordes of tourists" in Grindelwald, and were happy not to be staying there (although it was a fun day trip from Wengen). We enjoyed returning at the end of the day to a quiet, but not too quiet place.
Sep 10th, 2012, 12:20 PM
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Hi indy_dad,
Your initial assessment of the region is very good, especially for someone who has never even been to Switzerland before! I don't think you can go wrong with either Wengen or Grindelwald, depending on what type of town you prefer - more lively with a range of restaurants to choose from, decent shops etc. (Grindelwald) or very quiet (Wengen). It's not just a question of age...
Given that you will be travelling somewhat early in the season, plan to spend an entire week in the area, and have never been before, I would also consider Interlaken. Yes, it can be VERY hot if you hit a heat wave (less likely in the 1st half of July than later, but still possible), but it is centrally located to all the nearby sites (Jungfrau, Schilthorn, Trümmelbach, lake cruises, Ballenberg and Bern just to name the main ones).
That said, especially with 2 kids, I would definitely choose a hotel with a nice indoor pool - as a matter of fact, that would be my primary(!) consideration if I were in your place, the actual location would be secondary (when choosing between the 3 options of course). You are more than likely to encounter at least a day or two of bad weather, and there is nothing more depressing than sitting around in a hotel room with nothing to do besides staring at a TV screen, because it's miserable outside (happened to me often in Wengen as a child, and let me tell you, my parentes suffered with me...). Also, depending on how strenuous your hikes are, your joints will thank you for the opportunity for a warm soak afterwards
So: pool first, location second.
One more thing: the transport museum is a lot of fun for an 1
Your initial assessment of the region is very good, especially for someone who has never even been to Switzerland before! I don't think you can go wrong with either Wengen or Grindelwald, depending on what type of town you prefer - more lively with a range of restaurants to choose from, decent shops etc. (Grindelwald) or very quiet (Wengen). It's not just a question of age...
Given that you will be travelling somewhat early in the season, plan to spend an entire week in the area, and have never been before, I would also consider Interlaken. Yes, it can be VERY hot if you hit a heat wave (less likely in the 1st half of July than later, but still possible), but it is centrally located to all the nearby sites (Jungfrau, Schilthorn, Trümmelbach, lake cruises, Ballenberg and Bern just to name the main ones).
That said, especially with 2 kids, I would definitely choose a hotel with a nice indoor pool - as a matter of fact, that would be my primary(!) consideration if I were in your place, the actual location would be secondary (when choosing between the 3 options of course). You are more than likely to encounter at least a day or two of bad weather, and there is nothing more depressing than sitting around in a hotel room with nothing to do besides staring at a TV screen, because it's miserable outside (happened to me often in Wengen as a child, and let me tell you, my parentes suffered with me...). Also, depending on how strenuous your hikes are, your joints will thank you for the opportunity for a warm soak afterwards
So: pool first, location second.One more thing: the transport museum is a lot of fun for an 1
Sep 10th, 2012, 12:47 PM
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Aargh the post submitted itself...
To continue (and end)...
One more thing: the transportation museum (Verkehrshaus) in Luzern is a lot of fun for kids, and anybody who's a rail, car or aviation fan. It's about 2.5 hours from Interlaken by train door to door, so doable as a long day trip. Another option for a rainy day...
To continue (and end)...
One more thing: the transportation museum (Verkehrshaus) in Luzern is a lot of fun for kids, and anybody who's a rail, car or aviation fan. It's about 2.5 hours from Interlaken by train door to door, so doable as a long day trip. Another option for a rainy day...
Sep 11th, 2012, 03:12 PM
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We were in Bern Oberland region in August 2012 and visited all the towns you mentioned. Wengen was the last town we visited. I have to say I liked Murren better, but it is remote as it is farthest up the valley. Most people move around quite a bit by local train and Wengen would be slightly better located for this. Lauterbrunnen is also an extremely nice town with many walking opportunties and it is also very scenic, just from a different perspective. The best part is it is centrally located to the train station that takes you everywhere.
Sep 12th, 2012, 07:10 AM
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Wengen is a bit more isolated than Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald since there is about a 30 minute all told train ride from Wengen to Lauterbrunnen itself, gateway to Interlaken, Murren and even Grindelwald. Since a Swiss Pass passes 100% in full to Wengen anyone staying there and going in and out may find that an advantage to the pass.
