Dear all, we have in principal firmed up our travelling route as follow:
3 June: Geneva - Montreux (Golden Pass) Zweismmen - Interlaken- Murren/Grindelwald
4 June : (a) Schilthorn trip (b)Hike Gutshalp - Murren
5 June : (a) Trummelbach Fall (b) Hike Mannlichen - Kleine Scheidegg
6 June : (a) Lake Brienz Cruise (b) Tour Bern from 6pm [sleep Bern]
7 June : (a) Visit Bern (9am - 12pm) (b) Depart to Geneva Airport at 1pm

We really need helps on the follow:

(1) Is Murren or Grindelwald a better base. We rule out Lauterbrunnen because understand it is a valley and not as scenic as Murren/Grindelwald. I consider Grindelwald because more accommodation options and cheaper.

(2) On 3 June, we will arrive Interlaken at 7pm with 2 big luggages. Is it advisable to go up Murren. Also we are budget travellers and may not buy Swiss Pass.

(3) On 5 June, what will be a good replacement if we don't hike Manlichen-K. Scheidegg as we may have hike Gut-Murren on 4 June? We appreciate itinerary suggestions to enjoy the mountains with minimum transportation costs without Swiss Pass.

(3) Is Swiss Half Fare Pass (CHF120 valid 30 days) provide 50% discount to all our rail/cable car rides above, include Murren-Schilthorn; Grindelwald-K.Scheidegg; Wengen-Mannlichen; Lauterbrunnen-K. Scheidegg??? I am confuse with Swiss Pass.

(4) Without Swiss Pass, do we need to buy point-to-point ticket for every route? For instance, our 3 June journey, we just buy an open ticket from Geneva-Murren/Grindelwald or we need to buy time specific ticket at each and every station?

(5) Any stop along Lake Brienz cruise are recommended?

(6) We have 5 hours (in 2 sessions) to tour Bern, what will be the best routes? On 6 June when we arrive around 5pm, will Bern still be lively and bright after 6pm. We understand the sun will set after 9pm.

Look forward to receiving earliest replies from all.

Million thanks.

Regarding your question 1: Lauterbrunnen is in a valley but is still very beautiful. However, if you plan to do a fair amount of hiking, I would definitely stay in Murren, Gimmelwald, Wengen, or Grindelwald because they are higher in elevation and will get you better acclimated for your hikes. I never try any serious mountain hikes until after having slept in the mountains for at least one night.

2 - You can easily get to Murren with your big luggage via cable car. Not a problem.

3 - A fun afternoon without hiking is to rent a bicycle in Murren and do a loop ride -- all down hill or flat -- from Murren to Gimmelwald, cable car down to valley floor at Stechelburg, then cycle to Lauterbrunnen and take the cable car back up to Grutschalp and finally back to Murren. Of course, this involves cable cars and buying tickets to ride them.

4- Yes, without a Swiss Pass you will have to buy a ticket for each cable car ride. There are seldom lines even in peak season, but it can be annoying.

5 - Stop at Brienz and take a short bus to the Swiss Open Air Folk museum at Ballenberg.

By the way, all the cable cars, the cruise on Lake Brienz, and the visit to the Ballenberg museum would be covered by the Swiss Pass.

Thanks Edward2005 for the speedy response.
On June 3, our Geneva-Interlaken journey will involve few transit as follows:
Geneva (13:42) - Montreux (14:35)
Montreux (14:44) - Zweisimmen (16:55)
Zweisimmen (17:03) - Spiez (17:47)
Spiez (18:05) - Interlaken (18:28)

Question is can we buy all the tickets from Geneva? If yes, what happen if there are train delays and we miss the transit? Can we ask for a change of tickets for subsequent trains? The transit times are so short. We will be carrying 2 large luggages and not able to move around fast.

If not than does it means that we have to buy point-to-point ticket at every stop?

The above routes are planned as we wish to take the Golden Pass Panorama.

Thank you.

When buying a single ticket ask for a ticket to your destination, not to the intermediate stops. It's good for the whole day, I believe, so if you miss a connection you can take the next one.

However, Geneva-Interlaken is a common route and you may not have to switch trains at all. The other cities are probably just stops. Check with http://www.sbb.ch/home.html to be sure.

Edward2005 -- the op is going from Geneva to Interlaken on the Golden Pass route, not the fastest route. That route dictates those train changes -- especially the one at Zweisimmen because the rail changes width.

kfloh -- yes, you can just buy one ticket for this journey, and yes the ticket is good all day long. Just make sure that your ticket is for this specific route, which can be more expensive than the fastest route.

I took a quick look at all of the above messages and didn't see one where you stated if you have a Swiss Pass or Half Fare Card -- So, again, be careful when you buy your tickets. Many of the ticket machines will default to the Half Fare, but you can only use that if you have a Half Fare Card. If you don't have a HFC, make sure you are buying a full-fare ticket.

Have fun!

s

You can buy your Geneva airport - Montreux - Gstaad - Interlaken - Muerren ticket at Geneva airport. It costs 96 CHF (standard fare)
Muerren - Truemmelbach - Kleine Scheidegg and back cost about 70 CHF (stanard fare)
A Lake Brienz cruise from Muerren cost about 55 CHF (standard fare)
Muerren - Berne - Geneva airport costs 90 CHF (standard fare)
Muerren - Schilthorn and back costs 80 CHF (standard fare)

All you are doing plus that day trip on the GPass you should be looking carefully at a 4-consecutive-day Swiss Pass - covering in full travel to Murren and back - lake boats in Lake Brienz - the cost of the GP to Montreux and back could be really expensive - anyway compared the cost of ordinary tickets to a pass and if at all close go for the pass - never wait in a line for anything 100% covered - including the aerial cable ways Lauterbrunnen-Grutschalp and Stechelberg to Gimmelwald (don't miss Gimmelwald!) and Murren - just flash the pass when the conductor comes by - on boats too.

If you do not want to backtrack on the GP you can take a few-minute train ride from Montreux to nearby Lausanne and take the mainline route back to Interlaken via Bern - I think about an hour quicker but don't hold me to that - not totally sure but think significantly quicker.

Actually with the opening of the Lotschberg Base Tunnel a few years back the quickest routing now between Montreux and Interlaken-Ost is via Visp and Spiez - changing at each - so you can see the lovely Rhone Valley going back rather than the same scenery you just saw on the GP - and it is nearly one hour faster than the GP route all told.

Dear all, thanks for all the advice. We will buy Half Fare Card.
It seems that I should only decide to go up to mountain if the weather if it is not cloudy or foggy. That means I shall only book my hotel in Murren/Grindalwald. Also, Interlaken will be a better base than. Am I right?

We will be in BO from June 3 to 6, could this be a low season that good and affordable accommodations will be available at the very last minute?

Also, during June (early Summer), will the sky be cloudy/foggy for the whole day if it happens?

We have never been to high altitude like Murren or Grindelwald, is it less risky if we stay at Grindelwald to avoid mountain sickness? We love the scenery of Murren from the online info. Hope Grindelwald is equally scenic.

Thanks.

Murren is what 5,400 or so - Denver I think is as high and millions live there - don't think it high enough to make a major difference except for being cooler than down low.

check out Wengen for views too and not quite so isolated.

Murren is beautiful but so is Lauterbrunnen. Spectacular, as a matter of fact and easier to get to other cable cars, etc. than Murren is. We have stayed in Interlaken because of the easy accessibility to all that the BO has to offer. I think it's something to think about especially since you are only there for 4 days.

Early June is not yet peak season for the BO area. You should be able to find lodging at the last minute in Murren, Wengen, Gimmelwald, etc. Select a few places in each town from your guidebook and call a day or two in advance and you should be able to find something.

Here is a map of hikes in the area:

http://www.gimmelwald.com/pics/gimmelwald/hikemap.jpg

Not so sure about finding lodging in Gimmelwald - just one hotel there - do you mean Grindelwald - the one proper hotel may well have vacancies but this is a hamlet with few amenities.

There's always room at Walters!

Walters? Is it in Gimmelwald - I love the Walter's B&B in Interlaken - is it the same - please clue me in.

Cheers,

Pal

There is an unofficial "Walter's" in Gimmelwald, but it's official name is Hotel Mittaghorn. It's owner is Walter Mittler who has to be pushing 90 by now. Cheap and fun but old, creaky, and rustic - both the hotel and Walter.

Yes I have been abused by Walter at dinner there - well not abused by you know what - I stayed in the hostel next door - my traveling companions in the hotel - a nice old chalet-style hotel that would make an interesting place to sleep for one night - I saw more stars than even in my life but one night in a desolate place like that were enough for me - great experience but not my type of base - plus rather remote - its calling card.

"The transit times are so short"

Really?

Swiss people would find them long.
At Montreux and Zweisimmen the connecting train will wait on the SAME PLATFORM.
The change at Spiez could be avoided if you would leave Geneva and Montreux 1 hr later and arrive at Interlaken 20 min later.