ready2go2

I have 4 nights to spend, driving between Lake Como and Geneva.... money and hotel price not an issue... can i get some good tips, where to spend 2+2 nights... any ideas, if Interlaken, and Montreaux, would be the place, and if so, what is there for advice... or other suggestions, greatly appreciated, for small gorgeous chateaux, also... thanks but need to hurry, leaving next week

swandav2000

Hi ready2go2,

I can see your frustration, but I'd like to have a bit more information before I can help you. I know that you don't care about the price of hotels and that you don't care if you go somewhat out of your way. But can you tell me more of what you're looking for -- do you want a mountaintop village, a city with culture, a city near the mountains, lakes, etc.

Montreux and Geneva are very close together, about 50 minutes driving, I think. So if you're planning to stay in Geneva, staying in Montreux would be redundant. I prefer Montreux (I just don't like cities at all . . . ), and you can get a direct train from Montreux to the Geneva airport in about 1h20, so I would suggest you simply skip Geneva.

I guess, absent of any other input, I would suggest you stay at the five-star Regina in Grindelwald (not to be confused with the four-star Regina in Wengen) or the five-star Victoria-Jungfrau in Interlaken for one of your two-night stays. Then spend the other two nights in one of the five-star properties in Gstaad (between Interlaken and Montreux).

If you decide to stay in Montreux, the most luxurious property there is the Montreux Palace.

Have fun!

s

ready2go2

hi there...

thanks for your help so far, well, looking for beauty, which of course switzerland has, charm, prefer a mountain stop, but wonder about the driving, is it ok, through the passes... and the reason for geneva, is thats where the flight leaves from and shopping.... last day there...

I have reservations at the Montreux palace now, and also at the Victoria Jungfrau... I was just wondering if maybe i should go to Gstaad, Zermatt, or somewhere else, in place of Interlaken/Montreux. Montreux, thought would be fun, for the Chillion Castle, and the Casino... for a night or two..
and yes, i was aware it was about an hour from Geneva, so wondered if I should skip Montreux, in place of using those 4 nights somewhere else...

just want to see the DONT MISS AREAS...

THANKS FOR ALL YOUR HELP
ready2go

suze

I love Montreux and would choose it over Geneva (unless you just gotta go shopping there). Depending on the time of your departure flight you can easily take the train in from Montreux, it goes right to the airport (don't get off at downtown 'Geneva' but wait until the next stop about 7 mins later.

www.montreux.ch

swandav2000

Hi ready2go2,

I really hate to answer these "where should I go" questions because I can only answer that for myself!

But I can give you some impressions of Gstaad & Zermatt to help you decide.

Gstaad is at the far western edge of the Berner Oberland -- it lacks the high peaks of the BO, but the vast, green, rolling-hill landscape is awesome. Gstaad has a pedestian center and world-class shopping and restaurants (Elizabeth Taylor & Roger Moore used to live there . . .). Its architecture is cozy brown-wood chalet. I had maybe the best meal of my life at the Hotel Grand Chalet on Christmas Eve.

Zermatt also has cozy brown-wood chalet architecture and world-class shopping, but the chalets do crowd upon one another; it's quite overbuilt in my opinion. I didn't care for it at all -- great hiking and nice to see the Matterhorn, but the village itself is not worth much.

I can also suggest that you spend some time at www.webshots.com and do a photo search for these two places to see which one makes an impression.

Also, I dearly love Montreux, and I think you'll be sorry that you missed it --

s