Cimbrone

Ingo, I hope you're reading this. Or any other Egandine experts. I fell in love with Soglio and want to return there next summer for a few days. Hiking is how I want to spend my time. The hotels there are a bit expensive, and I see there is a hotel in Bergell/Casaccia with dormitories--the Hotel Pension Stampa. www.hotelstampa.ch/ Do you know if this is walking distance to Soglio? Is the setting nice? Would you recommend it in general? Thanks for any advice!

TuckH

I'm not Ingo and I'm not an expert on the Engadin. (This is Val Bregaglia BTW.)

The setting of Casaccia is very nice but you'd need the post bus to reach Soglio (easily). I'm sure you'll find lots of hiking opportunities from there: the Septimer Pass, the reservoir at Albigna, the little perched village of Löbbia and, of course, over the Maloja into the Upper Engadin to Fex from Sils, etc, etc.

Cimbrone

Thanks, Tuck. That helps a lot. Sounds like you're an expert to me. Anyone have anything to add?

Cimbrone

TTT

LLindaC

Hey Cimbrone! We looked inside the Pension while we waited on the bus up to Soglio. It looked very cool. Old and historic. However, they weren't open for business June 14. So check on that. Sure you can hike up to Soglio. STRAIGHT up, mon dieu. You can follow the road or take the rocky path through the chestnut trees and enter Soglio from the side. Don't forget the Sentiero Panaramico! GREAT hike, make sure you have waterproof boots. There's a beer and cheese vendor at the halfway mark who sells fresh goat cheese. YUM. I thought Soglio was one of the most beautiful places on earth. We stayed in the Palazzo Solis (sp?) and while it wasn't cheap, the food was to DIE for and we loved everyone there. They speak Italian, but when I used my broken French, we could communicate fine, lol. Great staff, wonderful gardens in the back to relax after long hikes.

Cimbrone

Great info, Linda! I completely agree about Soglio, and might end up splurging and staying right there. Your description makes me even more sure I need to return and spend more time in this part of the world. A beer vendor on a hiking trail! Does it get any better than that?

I don't speak Italian and only a smattering of French. But I do speak Spanish and, surprisingly, there was a local woman in a shop in Soglio eager to speak with me. It would be fun to chat with her again.

Will have to call the hotel to make sure they're open. Thanks for the info!

LLindaC

Cimbrone, I went back and looked at my trip notes. That pension I looked at was actually in Promotogono!! OOPS. It looked the same though, pld, historic. That would be close to Soglio. Casaccia is actually where we started the trail (Sentiero) to get to Soglio...about a 4 hour walk!Sorry about that, I am getting so old, lol. Still, it's a pretty place with lots of hikes throughout the area. I wish I'd spent one more day there. However, it was a 2 hour bus ride from Pontresina to get there, no train access, etc. There are some cheaper hotels in Soglio. However, I still vote for the Palazzo! I'm going to try to find that other hotel there by the bus stiop. It was a beautiful shady square at the base of the hill UP to Soglio.

Cimbrone

Was it the Hotel Bregaglia? That's the only one I can find in Promontogno. It looks a bit more palatial than the one I'm interested in.

What was Casaccia like? Were there restaurants? Is it almost as scenic as Soglio, or do you think I'd be dissapointed if I stay there?

TuckH

There are only a few places as scenic as Soglio and Casaccia is not one of them. The main road basically runs through the town (village?).

However, I think your choice is a good one because of the many options you'd have from there as well as ready access to transportation. Soglio is all the way at one end of the valley.

LLindaC

Tuck is right....Cassacia is just a blip on the map really. Have you looked at the Hotel Soglia? There are 2 other small places that I remember seeing. Not a heck of a lot there! You can easily take the bus to other spots for hiking. That's what we did, took the bus to Casaccia and hiked back to Soglio. Highly recommend it! We just hiked and hiked and spent long evenings having homemade pasta and lazing in the gardens. Ahhhhh

Cimbrone

Linda, are you referring to the Hotel Soglina in Soglio? www.lasoglina.ch/ I can't find a Hotel Soglia in either Soglio or Casaccio. I'm also looking at the Locanda Rocca Bella, which is between Soglio and Castasegna. We actually passed it on our hike, and I took note of it. www.locandaroccabella.ch/
Thanks again to you and to Tuck for all the good info! Don't hesitate to add anything you think of

LLindaC

Yep, that's it! I actually had planned to stay there. The views from their terrace are better than the ones from Palazzo....which has obstructed views. But food to die for, lolol!

LLindaC

So I omitted an "n" from Soligna, you did the same on Engadin, lol!

Have you done a search for B&Bs in the town? We saw lots of "rooms for rent" signs there. Of course, that was mid-June, not too high tourist season. Still, I wouldn't be too fearful to wing it and find a last minute room if off season.

Ingo

Hi all!

Cimbrone, did you have a look at this one:
http://www.stua-granda.ch/
In Soglio, right at the entrance of the village with spectacular views (but make sure you get a room with view!)

A B&B in the middle of town Soglio (probably no particular views) is this:
Pension Garni Chesa Mürias, double room 100 Sfr. (no breakfast)
Tel ++41 +81 822 17 37
Fax ++41 +81 822 15 00

I walked by Locanda Roccabella - nice place, but a bit of a walk to Castasegna. Location beautiful but a little isolated.

The Hotel Stampa in Casaccia is a very historic place. Never been inside, but a guide book (German) that I have says it is a nice small hotel. Not much comfort, though. Most (all?) rooms w/o private bathroom. Location is right on the main road (can be a bit noisy), but centrally located for excursions down the valley (Soglio) and the Engadin.

Did you consider staying in a rental apartment? Here is a link:
http://www.bregaglia.ch/ospitalita_c...asp?language=2

Another good place to stay is Pension Restaurant Sciora in Promontogno (where you change buses for Soglio). No website, but email:
[email protected]
No personal experience, but the author of my guide book and some others rave about it. Familiar ambience, the double rooms start at 110 Sfr. incl. breakfast and the location is VERY central.

Ingo

Cimbrone

Thanks, Ingo! I will explore all of these possibilities and can't wait to return to this region you introduced me to

Is August a good time to be there? Any reason June or July might be better?

Ingo

I think August is ok. Summer months *can* be hot in Soglio, but it should be cool enough at night to have a good sleep.

I prefer June because a) less tourists b) usually still more snow on the mountain tops and glaciers (for the views!) and c) more alpine wildflowers to see.

Anytime you go you'll enjoy it, I am sure.

Ingo

LLindaC

Gotta agree! I've been to Switzerland 3 times in mid-June (and once to Austria) and had great weather each time. Also, no crowds cause the European kids are still in school. That means, you'll see older Europeans, some Americans and a few Japanese. The trails, however, will be sparsely pouplated and there are vacancies posted everywhere.