We're going to see if we can add a couple of days to our Switzerland trip in May, and was thinking about two days in Spiez at the Seegarten-Marina Hotel. Anyone familiar with this?

Nope, but Spiez is a delightful little lakeside town. Great boat/train possibilities. Thun, Oberhofen. Isn't trip-planning fun? J.

Trip planning is great! I love it! This started out as a trip to Italy and now it's turning into almost two weeks in Switzerland (and no Italy - that will be another time - maybe September).

Hi orangetravelcat,

Love watching this trip grow!

I'm planning to spend an afternoon in Spiez during my Jan 2004 trip. I'll try to remember to poke my head into the Seegarten Hotel to see what I can report. If they have brochures, I'll pick one up & scan it and post it somewhere online.

s

ps -- (sorry)

What drew me to Speiz was a description of Spiez's bay as one of the most beautiful in Switzerland; of course I can't remember where I read it! I think you'll really enjoy your stay there.

s

The Seegarten-Marina Hotel looks great on its website but I'd be interested in your impression of it if you get a chance to poke your head in. Thanks.

Hi folks,

as you Switzerland lovers might recall - I spent a day in Spiez during my last vacation in Switzerland in Sept this year. I think I described it in my trip report. Must be somewhere around here.

The Seegarten Marina hotel looked great. At least from outside. Right on the lake (bay) - according to the name "Marina".

I think there must be photos posted by myself, too. See the link at the end of my trip report.

Ingo

The only thing to warn you about: if you are traveling around by train, it is a long climb up to the train station from the waterfront in Speiz. But it is a pleasant enough town, and a great base for taking the boats to the other parts of the lake.

Ingo, I'm going to look for your trip report.

Here is the link:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34448796

I just read your trip report, Ingo, and looked at your photos. All I can say is, WOW. Now I am torn between Spiez and Thun - both looked beautiful.

Thanks for the nice comment.

Spiez is smaller and I think it gives you better "vacation"-feeling, if you know what I mean.

Thun is a town - (about four times bigger) more to see and do, less touristy (than Lucerne e.g.).

Your choice depends on which type of place you are looking for.

I.

Aaack! Using FF miles and can't get flights on different dates so can't extend trip. So now what do I do? Montreux for 4 nights is a definite, and I want to to go Lucerne (was there 30 years ago and loved it so want hubby to see it), but do I stick with plan of 3 nights in Grindelwald, or do I go to Spiez instead? Have to stop researching Switzerland and just pick some places and then move on to planning the next trip of I will make myself crazy!

Let's see, Grindelwald or Spiez? I'd say on a 100 score basis, I'd give Grindelwald about a 92 and Spiez about an 8.

I cannot help you out of the dilema you face becaue Speiz is a good place to be.
So is Thun, so is Grindelwald, so is ... ad infinitum.

One thing about it, from Spiez you can make it easily to Grindelwald for excusions up into the mountains, or to Lauterbrunnen for the same.
For example, if you wanted to go from Spiez to Wengen for the views, you could leave at 8:07 and be in Wengen at 9:14.
The return takes about an hour and 20 minutes.

You can also make Mürren in about the same amount of time.

The boat rides are neat, also. Boat to Interlaken and train back to Spiez.

I don't think you can lose. It is not a question of making a bad choice; it is a question of picking from several good options. The differences boil down to such minute matters of personal preference that no one can really tell you what is best. I have been to all of those places several times and I would not attempt to pick for you in detail from the many options available.

Also weather may determine what is the best option on any given day.

Considering you are going in May I would opt for Spiez - perfect spring time for the lake. The mountain villages are still somewhat shut down after the skiing season, which ends mid/late April.

As dixon (Bob ?) said, you can easily do day trips into the mountains.

On the other hand ... with Montreux and Lucerne you already have two lake destinations booked, so a stay in the mountains would make a good mix ...

Or are you a lake - addicted?

You cannot go wrong!!

I.

Hi, O'Cat. Such a problem, deciding between Grindelwald and Spiez. I stayed in Leissigen; between Spiez and Interlaken. I think maybe Ingo's point is a good one -- if you love being on the lake with lake views, then it's Spiez. If you'd like the contrast of waking up and going to sleep with mountains in your face, then stick with your original plan. J. (but do try to visit Thun while you're in the neighborhood).

I am going to opt for Spiez. My husband actually had an opinion (he always leaves all the planning to me) and said he would prefer to stay by the lake and daytrip into the mountains. I think I will start researching our next European trip so I don't change my mind ten more times about Switzerland itinerary. Now the question becomes...where to go next....Thanks, everyone, for all your help with this.

As an extra, you can also take the train or drive to Kandersteg for a ride up that chairlift to the Öschinensee.
From the lift station to the lake you have a short walk. The lake itself is nestled right up against towering cliffs. It is really a great view.
The only drawback would be your reaction to riding up in an open air Sesselbahn, which is like a ski lift.
I thought it was like a carnival ride, but one friend of mine is terrified of heights and absolutely refused to get on it. (This same person goes blasting down the Interstates at 85 mph without blinking an eye.)

There are also some other places in the Kander Valley to explore, like the Kiental.

I can see only positives for electing to stay by the lake.