Hi all,

This is a duplicate--I posted in error to the General Europe forum. Please respond here--thanks!

We are hoping to stop over in the BO for one night en route to Zurich from Ticino on 8/16 (Sat.)

We have visited BO once before, and loved it, but this time may focus on some different areas. (We have seen Murren, Wengen, and associated areas.)

Wondering about a hotel recommendation. We will have a car, and are considering the Brienz lake region/Ballenberg Museum, since we haven't visited there before.

Although, to be honest, we love to hike, and explore. (we are late 40's, moderately fit) So, we could be persuaded to nix the lake, and do a hike instead.

Please respond with hotel recommendations (probably wilderswil?) or other locations?; and one day itinerary suggestions.

Thank you, in advance!

Anything in Brienz is probably a good idea. If you're up for a splurge then have a look at this one:

www.giessbach.ch

Haven't stayed there, but it gets excellent reviews.

If Wilderswil, then Alpenrose. Charming, excellent restaurant.

I.

Hi Ingo,

Did you stay at the Alpenrose?

Do you know how to contact them?

Their web address seems to be invalid.

http://www.alpenrosehotel.ch/

Ira, is this the website you've tried?

Hi bk,

Yes it was.

It shows a weird pic with "Error, Not Found".

Hi all,

I visited the website, it appears outdated with price quotes from 2006. I tried to contact via email, but as of yet, haven't received a response. I wonder if there could be a newer website?

Any leada?

If not, any other BO/Wilderswil recommendations?

Thank you.

Okay,

Another question. Is Lauterbrunnen a better option than Wilderswil?

We are open to suggestions here!

Thanks in advance...

Hi B,

Did you look at Ingo's link to www.giessbach.ch?

Ira,

Yes, I checked the site. But, am still looking for options. The splurge part intimidated me!

Thank you!

Yes, I stayed there some years ago. Loved it, very charming, very good food for BO - I don't like the usual Rösti stuff so much. But they really have an excellent restaurant.

The website works, but not the /home page. Try this:

http://www.alpenrosehotel.ch/Info.htm

It's only in German, I am afraid.

Lauterbrunnen? Hm, didn't you say you have seen Mürren, Wengen etc.? Then it is not the best option. Another idea might be a hotel somewhere at Lake Thun.

See www.thunersee.ch - anything in Spiez, Gunten, Oberhofen is fine. No personal recommendation there, though.

I.

beachtree, susan001 stayed in Spiez last year. This is from her trip report:

<I had a nice little single room with a balcony and view of the little harbor there. When I first arrived, I could see a mountain in the background, which then receded in the mist. The hotel – The Seegarten Marina – was a little like a Swiss Holiday Inn, but very clean and nice with a lovely (and private) balcony. The food in the hotel restaurant was very good, and I had a charming waiter there.>


We had visited Spiez the year before as a day trip from Lauterbrunnen, and I had told Susan about seeing this hotel. It is right on the water at the marina. Here is her trip report if you'd like to read it:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35044158

I don't know if it fits your budget, but we had a lovely stay at the Seiler au Lac in Bonigen, at the Interlaken end of Lake Brienz, a few weeks ago: http://www.seileraulac.ch/E/html/hotel.html

The village is pretty and peaceful, and you can get the boat over to Brienz (an hour; it's quicker by bus into Interlaken and then train) and visit Ballenberg (which is great btw).

Yikes. Wrong hotel name. It was the Alpenblick, not Alpenrose. Jesus. Can you tell I am stressed?

Apologies!

I.

Ingo: That one looks lovely! I've contacted them via email to see what's available. The Alpenrose wasn't responding, so I am certain that is best... No worries!

Thank you for all of the suggestions. We settled on the Alpenblick for one night (Sat. 8/16)

Now an itinerary question. Yes, we've visited both Murren, and Wengen. Loved them both. Hiked the Mannlechen to Kleine Sheidegg hike; and the Murren to Grutshalp walk--we loved them both. We also visited the Schynige Platte. We sampled various lifts, cogs, etc.

We have not however done any touring around the two lakes. I am now looking for suggestions for our 24 hours in the BO region. We love to hike, but I also have an affinity toward Ballenberg. I normally love that type of thing, but am not looking for anything especially tourist-y.

Which lake (Brienzersee or Thunersee) and activities are most highly recommended? Restaurant recommendations?

We will be arriving late into the BO from Ticino on Sat., and heading back to Zurich late on Sunday.

Thanks again. Everyone has been so helpful!

Did anyone else think this thread was about Barack?

When we were in the BO a couple of years ago, we visited Spiez (the marina) and Thun. Thun is a much larger city but I thought it was quite pretty along the lake. Lots of people sitting outside in cafes enjoying the nice weather.

Since we didn't do Brienz, I cannot comment.

http://travel.webshots.com/photo/251...11574650QpNgqD

http://travel.webshots.com/photo/222...11574650pOribM

http://travel.webshots.com/photo/243...11574650ZSPWXr

I think Brienzersee is prettier as a lake, but it's smaller (the boat trip is just an hour and fifteen minutes from Interlaken Ost to Brienz, whereas that from Interlaken West to Thun is around two hours (possibly a little more). Travelling by train saves a lot of time, of course. There are more places to visit on Thunersee: Spiez, Thun, the castles at Oberhofen and Hilterfingen (Schloss Hunegg), the caves at St Beatus, but realistically you have limited time anyway. You could easily spend a whole day at Ballenberg and still not see everything there.

I think I'd probably suggest you do Ballenberg, and take the boat at least one way, unless it's raining badly. (Ballenberg is doable in the rain but I think would be a bit depressing.)