Pepper_von_snoot

I don't know why you insist on staying in Brienz and Wengen when they they are only about 1 hour 20 minutes apart by train.

Interlaken is 20 minutes from Lauterbrunnen by train.

Interlaken sits between Lakes Brienz and Thun.

You get the boat from Interlaken to Brienz (and Hotel Geissbach) behind Interlaken Ost Bahnhof.

You can also take the train from Wengen to Spiez and Thun.

It isn't that difficult.

I call Hotel Geissbach House of Dark Shadows because it reminds me of Collinwood and Barnabas Collins.

It has a spooky quality about it.

Thin

china_cat

thanks for all the input.

Yes, I considered staying in Wengen, but that 1:20 adds up if one is going to go down into the lake area a couple of times. I have at least 2 days worth of activities in the area I figure I might as well move, its not like I'm moving every day. It would be about 4hours round trip to the Ballenberg Museum instead of 1. Or if I decided to go to Bern I think its a 3 hour trip from Wengen instead of 1:20.


I suppose staying in a more central location, instead of either Wengen OR Brienz might make sense, like Interlaken, but that lacks charm. I love the idea of staying up in the mountains.

Pal, I'm still considering flights, and have definitely looked at flying out of Geneva. If I use Swissair, which seems likely, I end up with the same 5PM flight out of Zurich whichever city I start from, so I might as well enjoy the scenery on the train. If I decide on British Air the connection from Geneva is actually quite convenient. If I take the cheapest option, and use Icelandair, they don't fly out of Geneva and hence require a separate connection in Europe, as well as one in Reykjavik which makes for a very long trip home. So I still have to weigh all those options before deciding on that bit.

PalenQ

Brienz is not up in the mountains but on the same lake and level as Interlaken. Grindelwald is only 20 minute from Interlaken and is the mountain Valhalla you may want.

Inerlaken I love and IMO it only lacks charm on the busy tourist shop oriented main drag - the Mattern section offers dreamy views of the Jungfrau Massif from your hotel balcony and meadows and cows, etc.

Unterseen is a lakeside place on Lake Brienz, same as Brienz and just as pretty if not more so.

Interlaken has wooden covered bridges like Lucerne too.

Matten is kind of dreamy though not right up in the mountains - https://www.google.com/search?q=matt...=1600&bih=1075

Unterseen: https://www.google.com/search?q=unte...=1600&bih=1075

PalenQ

separate connection in Europe, as well as one in Reykjavik which makes for a very long trip home.>

Have you check on Icelandair's popular day or two-day breaks in Reykyavik? I've done that in the past and a chance to see a very weird unique and in its own way gorgeous place - bleakness can be beautiful - I don't remember seeing any trees on the bus ride in from Keflavik - just volcanic rocks everywhere.

china_cat

Yes, we're seriously considering the 36 hour layover. I think it's a great idea, and it would help my DH with his jet lag. We need 2 extra vacation days to do it, but I think if we can swing that, that is what we'll do. It's a great deal...so much cheaper, even with 2 nights in Iceland and 1 extra night in Switzerland, we still come out ahead.

Pepper_von_snoot

I give up.

You are on your own.

Sayonara!

Thin

PalenQ

You are on your own>

No others here will happily answer your questions without attitude!

china_cat

thanks Pal. And thanks Thin, too. I really am considering all the different information here and I appreciate it. I'll figure out what works for me, and then take it from there.