keedm002

Hi guys,

We will be spending our honeymoon (early Oct 2013) in Italy and Switzerland. Flying into Geneva, and straight to Montreux. We then originally planned to go to Zermatt, then get the Glacier Express to St Moritz (and stay in Pontresina) then train to Milan.

I have been thinking about this plan and considering taking out St Moritz and staying somewhere else in its place, or just extend our time in Montreux and Zermatt (currently 4 nights each) and do day trips. What are your thoughts? I would love to go to St Moritz but am worried about the 8 hour G.E as we are not necessarily train people, and it cuts a whole day out of our 24 night honeymoon. It also means an extra hour to Milan than would be the case from Zermatt, which is not major, but travel time all the same.

If we were to cut St Moritz out, what would be your recommendation? We are looking for something fairly relaxing for the start of our honeymoon, enjoy good food & wine and nice views. We want to go places which look and feel Swiss, as it may well be our only chance to visit (or the next chance will not be for many years!). We have quite a generous budget as we would like to splurge on our honeymoon.

Would somewhere in the Interlaken area such as Wengen or Grindelwald be suggestible? I don't want to go somewhere that won't be able to offer something different to Montreux and Zermatt. I have also head Zweisimmen is nice, and we could take the Goldenpass Panoramic there. Is it worth a stay or are there better places to go?

Many thanks in advance!

swandav2000

Hi keedm002,

Yes, Zweisimmen is a terrific spot; I absolutely adore the region it lies in, and you could easily stay there, or in Rougemont or Saanen or even in Gstaad. This area is very different from both Montreux and Zermatt, as it lies in the Prealps (or foothills) and is characterized by lush green rolling hills and some lower mountains.

Many folks would also advise you to go to Wengen or Mürren in the Jungfrau area of the Berner Oberland, where many first-timers go. Even though these are car-free villages in the high Alps, they are significantly different from Zermatt, so you should get enough of a difference.

I think you would be safe and happy with any of these places. More information on them at:

www.gstaad.ch

www.myjungfrau.ch

Have fun as you plan!

s

traveller1959

>>>We want to go places which look and feel Swiss<<<

I am afraid that Montreux is not the kind of place you are looking for. Montreux is a kind of Mini-Monaco that has seen better days in the past. It simply has not enough to do and to see for three full days. Instead, Luzern is exactly what you want. I agree that Zweisimman and Gstaad are beautiful places too.

Zermatt offers the most spectacular mountain in the Alps (if not in the world), and Jungfraujoch another breathtaking mountain experience. If you see Zermatt, you can skip St. Moritz without hesitation.

swandav2000

Hi again,

Well, I've been going to Montreux for two weeks every year for the past several years, and I never fun out of things to do. There is definitely enough to do for three full days --

Walk from Clarens to Villeneuve
See Chillon castle
Walk through Villeneuve
Visit Morges
Visit Vevey
Visit Lutry
Walk the 32 km of trails in the vineyards
Visit the Vinorama in Rivaz
Walk from Morges to Lausanne
Take a ferry cruise on the lake, or two, or three!
Walk in the hills above the lake
Take the train to Rochers-de-Naye
Take the funicular to Mt Pelerin
etc.

s

keedm002

Thanks for your help swandev and traveller.

After a wedding and 28 hour flight, we are happy even if there is not much to do in Montreux as we will need to recover from jet lag! I like the lake promenade though and think it will be a nice relaxing start to the holiday with nice walks, do you agree?

Purely due to ease of transfer (eg few and short train rides) at the top of my list is currently Spiez, Thun and Zweissimmen. I have considered places such as Murren, Wengen and Luzern, but they add a few hours of travel in, which I am not sure will be worth it for 2-3 nights?

What are your thoughts? Keeping in mind we will also have 2 large suitcases and speak very little Italian, French and German (which may make copious train travel more stressful?)

We are not interested in the going up to the Jungfrau as we will be going to Zermatt as an alternative. What would your recommendation be for the 3rd town based on what I have said above? Or, should we just keep it at say 4 nights in Montreux and 5 in Zermatt?

keedm002

Another option, the most convenient yet, is Brig. Thoughts? Many thanks!

swandav2000

Hi again,

Yup -- walking the wonderful and pretty flowered lakesdie promenade in Montreux is very relaxing. It runs from Villeneuve (other side of Chillon) to past Clarens in Montreux, almost 11 kms. It's a great place to people-watch, as folks from all over the world, all classes of society, walk down its path.

Brig is a lovely little town, and I spent four nights there a few years ago. It has a castle, a lovely, cafe-lined little central square, and lots of small streets with little shops running off in all directions. It's a great spot for excursions to Bettmeralp and Riederalp -- tiny, car-free villages perched atop some peaks. And, of course, it's right on the way between Zermatt and Montreux.

Have fun as you plan!

s

Dukey1

I am kinda surprised that nobody has told you that parts of St. Moritz look like a bunch of big old hotels in search of a downtown that was molded out of used concrete!

IMO, St. Moritz is about as unappealing a town as you can get. Even Zermatt which is basically a ski village where you can walk from one end to the other in less than an hour (beware the overpriced wristwatches) has more "charm" than St. Moritz IMO...and whether all those "If you haven't been to the Berner Oberland you haven't been to Switzerland" types like it or not, there is something about the Matterhorn as well as the view over the Monte Rosa Massif which is impressive (IF you are there on a day when the peak isn't obscured).

There are pros and cons about all the places you mentioned. You'll notice that all those things Swan was saying you can do in Montreux aren't all exactly IN Montreux but they are close enough and easy enough to get to. And what about the trip up to Rochers de Naye????

The walk along the lake between Montreux and Chillon can be wonderful, easy to do, and relaxing. Chillon itself is impressive although don't go in there expecting a lot of Versailles-type decorations but certainly worth a visit. I would also suggest a lake steamer trip along the shores of Lac Leman if you simply want to relax and let the world go by.

Dukey1

Oh, and BTW..if you want a really spectacular train trip from Switzerland to Milan, consider doing it over the Bernina Pass and using the Bernina Express route to Tirano and changing for Milan there. It can end up being a long day and you need to plan your starting point carefully (Chur comes to mind) but I can say from experience you won't forget it and as much as I have enjoyed the old Glacier Express route I think the Bernina is, in many ways, equally impressive.

keedm002

Hi guys,

Thanks for much for your feedback. I think I will scrap St Moritz as advised by Dukey, because of its lack of charm and the long travel associated with getting there.

I have looked into the different options and think either Spiez, Thun or Gstaad would be the best options. This is based on ease of travel between them and Montreux/Zermatt/Milan and because they have hotels which would interest us. As we are on our honeymoon, I would be interested in nothing below 4 star and preferrably 5 star where possible/affordable (budget max is 400 chf a night). Of these 3 options, what would you recommend? Any experience in any of the following hotels:

Thun - Congress Hotel Seepark
Spiez - Strandhotel Belvédère
Gstaad - Arc en Ciel

Or any other hotel recommendations?

I have 10 nights in Switzerland, how would you divide the nights between the three locations? I'm thinking 3 nights in Montreux and (other), and four nights in Zermatt.


Dukey - the Bernina Express sounds awesome and I have researched it, however I think it is too far out of our way to justify.

Swandev - I like the idea of Brig, but can't find any accommodation their that would be suitable?

Ingo

Scratch the Congress Hotel Seepark - it's just that, a congress hotel and lacks any charm. You wouldn't want that on your honeymoon, would you? The Strandhotel Belvedere is very nice. Haven't stayed there but only heard good things about it.

Be prepared that in October the whole flat lands in Switzerland (including Lake Thun) may be under clouds (also called "high fog") while higher up in the mountains the sun shines from a bright blue sky. Happens quite often. Thus I'd rather pick a place higher up, like Gstaad (why not Kandersteg which is right on the rail route to the Valais?)

swandav2000

Hi again,

I stayed at the Ambassador Hotel when I was there -- it's not anything special but just suitable. That's one thing that I do like about Brig -- there are not a lot of hotels at every class level because there aren't a lot of tourists that stop there overnight!

In Gstaad, the Arc en Ciel is out of town, about a 15-minute walk. I really wouldn't stay there. Try the Gstaaderhof, which is just around the corner from the pedestrian zone. It sits on a street, but I didn't find the street noise to be loud at night. They have the very best rates for a 4-star in town, and their service is fabulous! I just spent 11 nights there, and one day they arranged breakfast at the Wispile mountain restaurant, and on 1 August they arranged a dinner on a mountain to watch the fireworks . . . etc. Really a great staff.

Good luck!

s

PalenQ

I think of all the places I've been to in Switzerland the Interlaken/Jungfrau Region is by far the most interesting with the most awesome and varied places to visit and things to do.

And unlike Zermattt in wet weather, not unusual at any time of year in the Alps, from a Jungfrau region base you can hop to cities like Bern and Lucerne, which are better experiences in funky weather.

You are traveling enough by train to strongly consider a Swiss Pass - valid not only on trains but lake boats, postal buses and gives free entry to over 400 Swiss museums and also 50% off most gondolas, etc to mountain tops. Greaat sources of info for Swiss trains, boats, etc - www.swisstravelsystem.com; http://www.budgeteuropetravel.com/id3.html and www.ricksteves.com.

since you are traveling after Sep 1, 2012 you can take advantage of the 2 passes for the price of 1 on a 4-day Swiss Slexipass, making the pass probably a no-brainer for you travels pondered in your post. And IMO check pass prices both in dollars if in the U S and in Swiss francs if buying in Switzerland - I have bought passes for years and often it is the case the same exact pass was cheaper here than there - it is not always the case however so compare and see - if little difference just buy your pass upon arrival at any Swiss train station.

keedm002

Hi guys,

Thanks so much for your help!

Ingo - the tip about the fog is great - I didn't know this. Thanks so much!

Thanks for the info on the swiss pass palenq, will definitely look into it.

And swandev, many thanks again, I will be sure to avoid the Arc en Ciel.

I have done a search on the internet and found a few other areas I might consider based on hotels we would be interested in staying in. I know for most of you this is a strange thing to base a location on, but it is important to us (I once booked a slightly run down 3.5 star apartment in Sydney and my fiancee complained the whole time!). I for one particularly dislike old and run down bathrooms and old carpet. We like to spend a bit of time in hotel rooms when away for an afternoon siesta or early night in as we are morning people.

With that in mind, I have broadened my thoughts (but still keeping in mind Spiez and Gstaad).

Crans-Montana - Hotel Etrier and Hostellerie du Pas de l'Ours
Bern - Hotel Schweizerhof Bern
Stresa - Villa e Palazzo Aminta

Crans-Montana is between Montreux and Zermatt, so I am worried it wont give us a new experience or alternative day trips.

Stresa is in Italy, I know, but I was wondering what your thoughts are on this area as an alternative to a third Swiss location?

And Bern is the further of the 3, and I know it is one of the biggest cities in Switzerland, so would obviously have a different feel. Is it a city worth visiting?

Many thanks and sorry for going down another path! I guess because we have nowhere that our heart is set on, we have the opportunity to be flexible (to a degree, as we are fussy about accommodation!).

Thanks again.

Ingo

Bern's old town is UNESCO world heritage, definitely worth visiting. But it has the same (even worse) problem with the fog/clouds in October as Spiez, even worse.

I am torn about Crans-Montana. Beautiful panoramic views, but it's an ugly, overbuilt resort, mostly uniform apartment blocks. Also, it's inconvenient for day trips as you always have to go down to the main Rhone valley.

Nothing wrong with Stresa as last base before going to Milan. From what I know the hotel gets bad reviews for noisy location quite far outside the town, overpriced food and service.

If you're picky regarding hotels, when don't you look into this hotel: www.giessbach.ch Although a remote location (or maybe because of it), it is perfect for honeymoon. Look into their special offers for October, like stay 3 nights, pay 2.

PalenQ

ditto about Crans-Montana IMO - upscale tacky I call it and yes remote - you take one of the longest funiculars in the world to get up and unless you had a Swiss Pass or whatever getting in and out and to any day trip would cost a ton.

joannyc

Have you thought about maybe a day trip to Yvoire from Montreux? It is a gorgeous, flower-bedecked medieval field-stone town on the French side of Lake Geneva (between Geneva and Montreux on the south side of the lake).

You can go by boat, I believe. I don't know about trains but I'm sure someone else can chime in on that. I had a rental car and did a day trip from Evian.

PalenQ

And there is also the Chocolate Train from Monteux (or nearby Lausanne) that goes to the Broc-factory to tour Nestle's flagship chocolate factory and also taste the product. The train also stops at Gruyeres to visit that superb walled town. Wine and cheese are served on the vintage Pullman Art Deco type cars used on this special train. A visit to a cheese factory in Gruyeres is included.

joannyc

And, the best part is that at the end of the Nestle tour is a tasting room with unlimited free samples!

Woohoo!!! I was the only person in there, not even an attendant!

Gruyeres is a great place for fondue! Loved it.

CaroBird

Hi, We went to Zurich for 4 nights in 2013. Had a 105 trip (from Australia) and went on trains all the time. Zurich has a co-op across the road from train station - can eat breakfast, lunch and dinner. We took the train to Lucern and was able to travel free with the train pass on the ferry around the lake. Should have done the same in Zurich.

We booked our luggage in at the Zurich train station and went to Montreux via Lucerne, and Interlaken Ost. We had lunch in Interlaken then we walked to the next station, Interlaken West. My husband was worried we would miss train, but there was no need. It was indeed a lovely walk and town and we have a laugh at him being a worrier. Went onto Montreux via Zweisimmen. You need to take these trains via these towns to see the proper Golden Pass. We loved Montreux so we stayed an extra night and had one less night in our next port of call.

We are planning to have longer in Switzerland repeating this trip and doing some more of the scenic train journeys, as we are a little apprehensive about going to some places with the influx of Syrians trying to flock on trains. Make sure you take the ferry if in Zurich as it is free if it is a train travel day. Same thing in Lucerne and Montreux.