Hi all,

Well, after procrastinating for a couple of weeks I missed out on the B&B I was looking at in Montreux. Our budget is really small for Switzerland and I have found a B&B in Glion that looks lovely. I'm just having trouble figuring out how to get to Glion and what there is in the village itself in case it's hard to get around. I figure we can walk down to Montreux to get around as it will be downhill, but after a long day touring around Switzerland, I imagine the walk back up would be a challenge!

Has anyone stayed there? I'm trying not to move around too much while in Switzerland since we're only there 5 nights. Due to flight times, we're planning to stay in Geneva on the first and last night.

TIA!
PittPurple

Hello pittpurple

I'm sorry I have no firsthand knowledge of Glion.

Have you checked out the switzerlandisyours website? Here is a comment regarding Glion (they are speaking of getting there from Montreux).

<i>Emerging from a series of corkscrew tunnels you come to GLION, an eyrie of a village perched amidst fields of narcissi directly above Montreux, with jaw-dropping views over the lake and the Rh&ocirc;ne. There are a couple of luxury old-world hotels up here, but the more affordable Des Alpes Vaudoises, on Rue du Bugnon and with its own train station (021/963 20 76, fax 963 56 94, [email protected]; b–c; closed Jan) is just as characterful and tranquil a place to unwind. A steep funicular also serves Glion from Territet on the lakeside below.</i>

The views sound great, and there is a funicular from Territet below so you wouldn't necessarily have to walk back uphill!

I don't think walking from Glion to Montreux is a practical plan. You should look into the bus routes.

I have not stayed in Glion (instead stayed at Hotel Masson in Veytaux, right below Glion) but passed through by train on the way up to Rochers-de-Naye. So this is one option to get there - trains running every hour as far as I know.

As mentioned above there is another option - the funicular from Territet. If I recall correctly it runs frequently till late evening. No need to walk uphill.

I highly recommend Glion. It's a lovely small, quiet village which provides panoramic views over the lake and of the mountains.

One of our regular Switzerland fans here on this forum stayed at Hotel Victoria in Glion and LOVED it.

I.

PS: Hi swisshiker, and Happy Easter!

hmm been to switerland but no idea about the place you asking... just been to Interlaken.
You planning to stay there.. let me know will tell you about a nice affordable place that I stayed at

Thanks HostelTraveler! I'd love to know... I'm all over the place with this trip. We tend to plan everything months in advance and this just isn't like me!

The main things we want to see are Chillon and Gruyeres (we love castles). It seems Switzerland is a really easy place to get around by public transit, as long as you're staying close to a station of some sort. We thought about getting a car, but it seems like that would just a be a hassle.

The plan is to spend 1 day in Montreux, 1 day in Gruyeres, and 1 day hiking somewhere beautiful. We actually have a 4th day in there as it seems we could wander around Geneva in a half-day as we aren't really into museums and are just interested in the Old City.

How did you like Interlaken?

Hi Pittpurple,

Yes, I've stayed in Glion about four times, at the Hotel Victoria there. Glion offers really amazing views over the lake, and you can see France from there.

I usually do walk downhill to Montreux about once while I'm there, but it's not a quick trip. It takes about 45 minutes, and much of it is . . . stairs! Yes, stairs in the forest! So, find a skyscraper somewhere and walk down the stairs for 45 minutes and see if that will discourage you from further walking . . . !! The first time I did it, I was out for the rest of the day!

The funicular runs from Glion down to Territet; the station is behind the church right at the bus station. It runs every 15 minutes. From Territet, you can either walk to Montreux (about 20 minutes), take the bus, or take the ferry.

The train station is co-located with the funicular station, but trains don't run as frequently, maybe once an hour or once every other hour in mid-day. The train runs right down to Montreux.

I don't think it would be a particularly convenient place for a single night --

I've stayed at the Auberge des Planches in Montreux's old town -- rates were about 99 chf for a single. It was clean and comfortable.

Good luck!

s

Hi Swandav,

The plan would be to stay there for 3 nights. We both walk to work - 2.5 miles each day with hills, so I think walking down would be an option on some days.

Do you think it would be better if we stayed there the 3 nights or would it be easier to keep looking around. I did check the hotel you mentioned and they haven't gotten back to me yet. As it's only 6 weeks away I'm starting to panic! This is by far the most last-minute planning we've ever done and I can't imagine we'd do this again

Thanks again for all your help - I think we're going to have to start planning for another Switzerland trip, I just keep finding more and more things I want to see!

Hi again,

Oh, yes! Since you're both walkers and since you do have three nights. It has such a special ambiance -- believe me, you won't be fighting with other tourists in dreamy little Glion!

They usually have a sweet little miniature village set up among the flowers at the corner by the station. Be sure to check it out!

Your B&amp;B should give you the Riviera Card, which gives you free transport on busses as well as the funicular. So it's quite easy to just hop on the funicular, slide downhill, then hop on the bus into town. (BTW, that's the bus *stop* in Territet, not a bus station --sorry!). When you arrive, you'll probably want to take the train up, as you don't want to be getting to the funicular in Territet with your bags.

I really enjoyed using the funicular with all the locals -- usually the folks who were just getting off their shift at my hotel!

And whether you stay in Glion or not, you should at least go by the Victoria and have a drink on their terrace -- its the stuff of dreams.

Lucky you!!!

s

Thanks Swandav, I think I'm going to go ahead and book the B&amp;B.

Are there restaurants for dinner in Glion (nothing fancy or expensive! We'll be living in our hiking gear for the week)? It would just be easier to get back up there earlier in the evening I think...

Hi again,

Well -- not really. There is one restaurant at the train station, and of course the few hotels there have restaurants. But it's really a small place.

If I were you, I would have my main meal at lunchtime, then grab some groceries for dinner. Both the Migros (in the Forum in downtown Montreux) and the Coop (a small one by the train station and a big one in Villeneuve) sell prepared salads, fresh bread, hams and meats, and lots of delectible cheeses. Top it off with a local wine, some fruit and yogurt, a slice of cake or confection, and you're set!

Picnics in Glion overlooking the lake will be just spectacular!! Or -- walk down about halfway to Montreux to the church in the old town, and picnic on their terrace.

If you're going to be there on a Sunday, you need to plan out your meals and make sure your chosen grocer/restaurant will be open.

s

There's a fantastic grocery store in Vevey... Manor/Placette near the train staiton that has an incredible prepared food section where you could purchase picnic dinner items... pate, pate baked in pastry, quiche, pizza, fresh squeezed juice, etc.

Migros both in Vevey and Montreux are also good stores with everything you'd possibly like but not as high-end or with as extensive a 'deli' offerings.

Thanks for the suggestions! I checked and we'll have a fridge but no microwave or anything - so salads, cheeses, etc. will be great. I plan to visit Vevey on Saturday morning to see the market - it will be so much more fun now that we'll be picking up food for dinner!

I think plans are set for that bit... now, on to the challenge of finding places we can afford in Geneva!

Would love your opinion on this actually - my husband insists we should stay in Geneva for the fisrt and last nights as we had a horrible experience travelling in Italy to catch a flight - the trains were all messed up and we ended up having to blow 100 euro on a taxi ride to the airport in the last minutes (just to find out our flight had been cancelled!). I am under the impression that Swiss trains are far more reliable... what do you think about staying in Glion (or elsewhere) for the last night and travelling to Geneva? Our flight isn't until afternoon so we'd have plenty of time to get there. We will only have backpacks with us so we could walk from Terriet to Montreax and then train to Geneva (and then get to the airport... haven't researched this part yet)

Thanks so much! I'm getting so excited about this!!

Hi again,

Yeah, I so envy you. I won't be getting to Switzerland this year --

Anyway, I really wouldn't walk with backpacks from Glion to Montreux to catch the train. It only takes 1h30 from Glion to Geneva airport with the single change in Montreux. Check it for exact times at the Swiss rail site,

www.rail.ch

Departure: Glion
Destination: Geneva airport

No need to stay in Geneva; yes, Swiss trains are punctual to a fault!! Last summer a train I was on from Chateau d'Oex to Zweisimmen was delayed for 20 minutes -- all passengers got coupons for free travel. It really doesn't happen very often!

s

No need to stay in Geneva. I'd spend that day somewhere else out along Lac Leman. Montreux, Vevey, or Lausanne are all right on the train line. I always take the train in for my flights out of Geneva from this area. Trains in Switzerland are NOT like trains in Italy (lol). Just remember, don't get off at downtown Geneva, stay on one more stop and the train takes you right to the airport.

I can't imagine walking all the way from Glion to Montreux with backpacks or luggage!! Isn't there a bus?

Thanks everyone!

We will definitely be taking the train when we have our backpacks - I think we will probably walk down to Montreux at least one morning though, it looks like a beautiful walk.

I appreciate the reassurance about the trains - I will relay this to my husband and see if we can come up with a plan. I might see if we could stay in Glion the whole time and really have a chance to relax.

Thanks again!

I know this is completely &amp; totally a personal opinion, but Geneva is one of THE most boring cities I have yet to visit.

<i>&quot;Swiss trains are punctual to a fault!!&quot;</i>

Well, that's true 99.9% of the time anyway.

Last April, enroute to Zermatt, our train came to a screeching halt (and I mean screeching). Whistles were blowing and blowing.

After about an hour stop, the train started moving again, very very slowly.

As I was looking out my window, up ahead I could see several official looking cars, lots of people.

Next thing I see is 2 dead cows lying next to the tracks.

Somebody came down the aisle and said we'd hit them.

I know, a freak accident. But we did miss our connection. No free coupons either.

I still say you can set your watches by the punctuality of the Swiss trains.

Hi Swisshiker,

Be glad they were only cows. We get too many suicides being done this way.