We are planning on flying into Zurich and then spending the next two weeks in the Berner Oberland region. What would be our best bet for transportation? The regional pass or the Swiss Pass. Also, should we stay in one town or maybe 2 or 3? Where do you recommend we stay? How about recommendations for 3-star accommodations with a good restaurant for each town? Lastly,

I have tried to post a few messages, including the above, on the Switzerland board. Each time it ends up on the general board. What am I doing wrong?

There is no Switzerland forum, only Europe (and USA, etc.) <BR> <BR>As to which pass? Impossible to answer correctly without knowing your travel plans. If you'll spend the time in one village contemplating the mountains you'd have an enjoyable two weeks and no need for any pass. <BR> <BR>We go there for two weeks at a time and use the Swiss Pass as we take excursions several times to other points like Luzern and Bern which wouldn't be covered by a regional pass. If you'll stay strictly within the area covered by the BO regional pass it &gt;&gt;might&lt;&lt; be a better deal for you ... but, again, it depends on what your travel plans are. If you'll be traveling every day the SwissPass is probably better. We find the convenience of not having to stand in line for tickets except when going up high to have a significant value for us. <BR> <BR>Since there's no point in the Jungfrau region that more 50 minutes from the farthest other point we stay in one place. (Mürren) We find no reason to spend precious vacation time packing, repacking, checking in and out, etc. <BR> <BR>While we find the Jungfrau region to be the most attractive of the BO, by far, many enjoy Kandersteg and Meiringen as well ... in which case you'd probably want to move a couple of times. <BR> <BR>twenj

Suggest one week in Mürren or Wengen. 2 nights in Lucerne, 2 in Berne, 1 in Murten or Neuchâtel, 1-2 in Montreux/Vevey, last one in Zurich, if you flight out from there. For when is your trip schedulded? This summer? Once, you've decided upon your schedule and itinerary, it will be much easier to give restaurant recommendations. <BR>There are quite a lot of towns and places that might be of interest to you. Are you interested in museums as well or just scenic towns?

Our primary interest is in hiking. I would like to use Murren or Wengen as a base, although Wilderswil looks appealing should we decide to daytrip out of the region. It would appear the Swiss Pass would be the best bet. How about a few hotel/restaurant recommendations for Murren, Wengen and Wilderswil?

Very little hiking out of Wengen. Much, much more ex-Mürren. You'll want to look at some Grindelwald hikes, but the cars and town size keep us away from a base in Grindelwald. Wilderswil pleasant, but "neither here nor there" ... not in city as Interlaken, well outside the mountains. A handful of favorite hikes in the area sketched at www.twenj.com/swisswalk.htm Hotel and restaurant recommendations at www.twenj.com/swisshtlbo.htm To get better feedback from others you'll perhaps want to spec your hotel price range. <BR> <BR>

Stay in Lauterbrunnen. It is the hub of the Berner Oberland train. You can get to many villages quite easily and hiking is easy from this location. Perhaps Bob Brown will have some comments, and Ed @ twenj.com has many helpful hints. I would recommend staying in one town - at the most two.

In three summers I have spent 3 full weeks in the Berner Oberland. We have selected Lauterbrunnen because it is central to transportation facilities that can take you all over the area consisting of Grindelwald, Mürren, Wenge, Kleine Scheidegg, Kandersteg and Interlaken. <BR>We found a good apartment there in 1998 and we keep going with a known quantity. <BR> <BR>Last summer we bought the Berner Oberland Regional 7 day pass, which gives you 3 free days of riding (with restrictions) and 50% discounts on the other 4 days. (The pass is good for 7 days from the time you buy it. You select any 3 of the 7 days as your "free" days.) There are also discounts in the 25% range as far north as Bern and as far south as Zermatt. <BR>Needless to say, we took our 3 free days and rode like we were at a carnival. <BR>There are so many trains, cable lifts, and buses, that getting around the area is relatively easy. <BR>There are quite a few choices of places to stay. But where you decide to stay is a function of what you want out of your trip. <BR>If your objective is have all services provided and your modus operandi is sedantary, then Mürren has incredible views and some very nice hotels. If all you want to do is perch on the hillside and drink in the beauty, Mürren is the place to be. More than once I have found a comfortable place to have something to eat and drink and just sat there for over an hour staring east and south without moving other than to lift my camera or my binoculars, or to shift my eyes to another scene. <BR>Wengen is another mountain village perched on the side of the hill. It too has some fine hotels and plenty of places to eat. The train from Wengen continues on to Kleine Scheidegg where passengers bound for the Jungfraujoch make the final change of trains. There is also a cable car that lifts you up to the top of the Männlichen Ridge, from which you can get some incredible views as well, particularly of the north face of the Eiger. <BR>Grindelwald is the largest of the mountain villages. In fact, I think Grindelwald outgrew village status a few years ago. It attracts an international crowd and the main street can become very crowded on a sunny Saturday afternoon. <BR> <BR>Obviously we went all over the place, and hiked quite a few miles over the trails. So Lauterbrunnen was a central location that gave us ready access to everything in range. <BR> <BR>I am not sure that two weeks totally spent in the Lauterbrunnen - Grindelwald area would be what you would want to do, unless you are an avid hiker. In which case, there probably would be enough to keep you fully occupied for 9 to 11 days. <BR>But, there are other attractions in the area as well. I recommend taking a car and driving over the passes east of Interlaken. Last summer we drove first to Innertkirchen, refueled at the bakery just before turning onto the road to the Grimsel Pass, and looped back to Innertkirchen after traversing the Grimsel Pass, the Furka Pass, and the Susten Pass! After refueling at the same bakery, we headed home. <BR> <BR>The roads are typical mountain roads, but they are well engineered, and the greatest danger is from not watching the curves. (Which is a heck of a temptation!!) <BR>You could also visit Luzern, Bern, and the area area around Kandersteg while you are at it. <BR> <BR>Luzern is beautiful to visit. The train schedules between Lauterbrunnen and Luzern have been improved just recently because of new equipment. The quickest times are now 2 hours and 20 minutes with good departure times at either end. <BR> <BR>Bern is 1:28 away from Lauterbrunnen with trains every hour. <BR> <BR>Zermatt is 3:38 away by train, which makes a round trip in one day a little prohibitive. You can drive it quicker, but you park at a big lot in Täsch and take a shuttle train to Zermatt itself. <BR>I like the place obviously, and it is one of the few places in Europe that I am anxious to see again.

I gotta give my 2 cents! Lauterbrunnen is a wonderful village and a train starting point. BUT! There's something about being high upon the ridges. Watching the weather change before your eyes, hearing the cow bells at midnight, having to take a cable lift to get to the village. The Berner Oberland is in my top 3 most beautiful places and I think its best enjoyed up high. That's why my vote is for Murren or Wengen. Grindelwald is a bit too built up for me.

We're about to go and the weather forecast is for continual scattered showers. Someone please tell me this doesn't automatically mean fog. I don't mind getting wet, so long's I can see!

Sue, No it does not automatically, but it can in the mountains. Forecast for the next days is not too bad for all over Switzerland. But the weekend will be another story... again..... ((