After reading about Murren from this board, I really want to stay there when we go next month. But we have a two year old child & that means at least one big suitcase! How much would this disable us on the journey up? How would we get our luggage to a hotel if there is no transport there? Do help!

Nina: No problem: you're going to Switzerland, land of limited travel woes.<BR><BR>First of all, because of Switzerland's marvelous centralized transportation system, you can check your luggage from any point--from the airport, from a train station, even from a boat stop, and it will be delivered to the desired stop. <BR><BR>And it actually gets there!<BR><BR>Here's the SSF website page:<BR>http://www.sbb.ch/pv/baggage_e.htm<BR><BR>and here's their quote:<BR>Luggage registration in Swiss domestic traffic<BR>We ease your luggage burden<BR><BR>You can give in your luggage for transportation - suitcases and bags - at each manned station, for a charge of CHF 10.- per item. Groups and families with the Family Card even pay only CHF 8.- per piece. The best thing is to have your luggage registered one day prior to departure. The maximum weight per piece is 25 kg. Without a train ticket, you pay the four-fold charge. <BR><BR>It used to be possible that from your US airport, you could have a bag sent to your hotel in Switzerland. I'm sure that's changed. However, once you reach Murren, they have huge carts available for the luggage. We stayed at the very opposite end of town, and with the smooth but small road and the cart, it was not difficult at all to drag the cases there.<BR><BR>Read through the SSF site for further hints about the various travel cards, etc. You can also contact them, explain your specific need.<BR><BR>Good luck.

Hello nina!<BR><BR>Raileurope sells the great fly-rail baggage service. For about $15, you fill out customs paperwork, put the forms in a clear green plastic tag, attach the tag to your bag, and check the bag at your airport as usual. The bag will arrive at your Swiss destination a few hours after you do, though sometimes it arrives on the same train as you! <BR><BR>It's a real relief to be able to get to your hotel with minimum pull & hassle. You can shower & change, and then stroll around town; you pick up your bag at the train station as you stroll back to your hotel. Some hotels will even send the porter to retrieve your bags.<BR><BR>I've used this service twice -- once with Swissair and once through Raileurope. Both times worked great. The one tiny glitch was that the rail clerk didn't recognize the Raileurope paperwork when I went to pick up my bag, but when I pointed to my bag, he handed it to me without an argument.<BR><BR>Have a great trip!<BR><BR>s

If you have a small child, I encourage you to check your luggage as indicated above.<BR>I have not done that for myself because I have never gone all the way to M&uuml;rren with full luggage. (I stay over in Lauterbrunnen.)<BR><BR>Here is the scenario. You change trains at the Interlaken Ost station and ride to Lauterbrunnen. From the train startion, you walk up a short hill via steps and cross the street to the lift station for the incline car that takes you up to Grutschalp. There you get out of the incline car, which runs on rails and is pulled up by a cable, and get on a little train that takes you the rest of the way. Then, in M&uuml;rren, you are almost certain to have a walk to your hotel.<BR>The incline car is not all that luggage friendly. It is usually full of passengers and I never identified much luggage space.<BR>If you have the normal accutrement needed for a toddler, you will appreciate the absence of heavy luggage.<BR><BR>You may be young and vigorous, but hauling that stuff around is a chore even for a 23 year old muscle man.<BR>(I know, I had a 2 year old 40 years ago, and 7 years ago I had a 2 year old grandson who traveled with a toy store.)<BR>

Nina, we were in Murren in July. After you get off the train in Lauterbrunnen, either cross the street or use the underpass to get to the tram to Grutschalp. The conductor will take your luggage and stroller for you and put it in an open cargo area.<BR><BR>At Grutschalp you will change (all indoors) from the tram to the small train to Murren. Your luggage is moved for you. <BR><BR>At Murren you retrieve your luggage and stroller. I did see a handicap exit but I don't know if it was a ramp or elevator There are some stairs in the Murren terminal you would not want to carry a large suitcase up.<BR><BR>All the sidewalks in Murren are actually small paved roads. You can use a luggage cart to take your luggage to your hotel. Some hotels have little go carts that will pick up your luggage and deliver it to the hotel.<BR><BR>I think you will find Murren easy to get around with a stroller. As you leave the Murren train station turning left, the road splits. The road to the right goes uphill to the Sports Center and some hotels. The left road is not as steep and runs through the center of town. We found it easier to take the road to the left and then take the stairs up to our hotel (Hotel Bellvue Crystal). <BR><BR> <BR><BR><BR><BR>

I should have said some hotels have golf carts (not go carts). There is also a taxi service but I don't know how that works. Perhaps your hotel could help you with info.<BR><BR>Also, your luggage is in an open area on the train so I would come prepared with a plastic bag to put over the stroller if it is raining.

Thank you everybody. You don't know how much your responses have relieved me! I'm definitely going to Murren now. Knowing it is doable has taken a lot of the anxiety from the situation. Thanks once again!