Thanks PalenQ, neckervd and Sue81 for your recommendations. Will factor in those when i plan my travel.
1.As you said Montreux area is ok for hikes in April end and early May, how about Lauterbrunnen area/Interlaken area for hikes? Given the terrain in that area, lots of snow still in that region during late April and early May i suppose.
2.Also, from some comments it is not as enjoyable in Switzerland during late April/early May due to fog and gloomy weather. Little late in the summer Italy will get real hot i heard, so i have to figure out sweet spot in my calendar to these two countries so that we can enjoy both destinations.
Never been to Switzerland, so i am a novice in that aspect. Appreciate any responses on this one.
SPAT

I adore Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland and the villages nearby (Wengen, Murren, Grindelwald). Small pieces of heaven I heartily encourage people to see.

1.As you said Montreux area is ok for hikes in April end and early May, how about Lauterbrunnen area/Interlaken area for hikes?>

Hard to tell but the weather is not foggy or gloomy much of the time - and hiking trails at lower altitudes could be fine or could be snow or ice-covered - you never know. But mountain trains and gondolas will be running - at least enough of them - many do close for repair a few weeks in May I think because that is a shoulder season between winter and summer seasons.

check the weather charts for say Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald and see what the average highs and lows are and number of sunny days, etc. But the later the better of course.

Weather is always unpredictable in the Alps. Late April/early May is not bettter and not worse than other periods.

If you don't like rainfall and wet trails resp trails that disappear under the snow, you may avoid the Northern slopes of the Alps (Interlaken area included) and hike along the usually drier and sunnier trails just above the Milan - Brig - Sion - Montreux - Geneva railway line. Tremendous views from all these (easy) trails to the snow-capped Alps (Monte Rosa - Weisshorn - Matterhorn - Mont Blanc).

Most popular early spring trails in this area:
Loetshberg-Suedrampe (Brig/Mund/Brigerbad - Ausserberg - Hohtenn - Gampel)
Leukerberge (Gampel - Erschmatt - Albinen - Rumeling)
Bisse de Varone/Bisse de Venthone (Rumeling - Proprija - Retana - Chermignon)
Bisse de Lens -Bisse de Clavau (Chermignon - Icogne - Sion)
Les Pleiades - Les Avants - Caux - Chateau de Chillon

Italy is also significantly cheaper than Switzerland, across the board.

Thanks for your responses again Mclisa, PalenQ and neckervd.

thank you -please report back as to what you did.

For me I still think the Jungfrau Region is the best Alpine place I've seen - lots to do there besides hiking.

PalenQ...Sure will keep it posted on this thread. Though our travel dates haven't been confirmed yet, we would mostly travel to Europe mostly around May time frame.
Just came across reputed Rick Steve Europe tours online. Though i am not a fan of travelling on holiday by tour groups, i somehow like the uniqueness portrayed by the reviewers who have taken tours with rick steves before.
I am talking about 14 day europe tour listed here by rick steves:
https://www.ricksteves.com/tours/europe/europe-14-days
It's a fast paced tour but everything is taken care by them with regards to accomodation and tramsportation. Would like to take opinion of few people who have done similar thing before and compare it against self planned trip.

The hike down from Schilthorn will of course not be possible in May: too much snow and ice.
If you plan your trip yourself you must not
waste a whole day at Beaune without seeing anything else of the tresors of Burgundy,
see nothing of Switzerland but the Lauterbrunnen Valley,
visit just Munich, a WW2 concnetration camp and nothing else in Germany,
spend a lot of your time in buses....
but it's up to you!

Would like to take opinion of few people who have done similar thing before and compare it against self planned trip>

May want to make a separate post with this in title- pros and cons to each of course- most folks here are independent travelers so may have a bias against group tours but it is a very subjective thing.

I think as group trips go Steves is a good as any in that but rather pricey.

tourist or traveler?

Seeing lots of things is great- having tomove to a often fast-paced schedule is a drag.

experience Europe on your own is great but there is always a bit of travail in travel and from these minor problems you learn a lot about yourself and traveling companion.

pros and cons. don't take a trip because on your own travel in Europe is hard - it ain't - everything works well if you book your own hotels and trains or planes ahead of time and then take advantage of local city tours if want a guided tour aspect. But some large group trips may be cheaper than going on your own!

I've always loved seeking out places to eat in a city rather than being taken to a restaurant with a group - a restaurant that has seen umpteen groups and the tour no doubt gets a special cut. Steves I think gives you more free time and maybe each some meal on your own?

But you are always touring places with the same group - fine if you like them or not so perhaps if they are all old fogheys and you are young bucks or vice versa.

neckervd, PalenQ: Thanks for your insights.

PalenQ: Absolutely agree with all your points on opting with a tour group vs self planned trip. I did quite a bit of self planned travel here in USA, so i guess we can pull this off on our own.
Yes, Steve's tours provide free time for lunch/dinner.

I feel the same way as neckervd pointed out that this 2 week tour only gives a glimpse of each country visiting but not enough time in each one to really feel the culture. Perhaps this tour package is catered more towards people who travel relatively less. Nevertheless i learnt some new places in Switzerland through Steve's tour itinerary.

I am excited already to plan the travel though i don't know exact travel dates yet.