first trip ever !!!
 

husband was born in switz. and moved to states at 3 years old and never been back.he will be 72 in dec. and i want to take him there for his birthday...we are not rich people so if anyone could give us suggestions on how to save money i would appreciate it.how will weather be in dec. we live in n. fla thanks mary

missabe454, what a wonderful thing to do for your husband! My parents are 70 and 71 years old, and they go to both Italy and Ireland as often as the wallet allows. They have a fixed budget, so my mother, the planner, has become an internet junkie both to find good deals and good reviews. She likes to know where all the fixed expenses are up front--things like lodging, museum & attraction fees, and transportation--and that gives more room to fudge around with the big variable of dining. Rick Steves' books are very helpful for budget travelling and touring.

I've never been to Switzerland, but we had two Swiss girls from Berne stay with us the summer and they were delightful. They were the best ambassadors for their country! I also once read an article in Gourmet magazine (Feb 1991, should anyone have it) about Lucerne. It looked stunning! Perhaps someone else could tell you about it first-hand, if you don't have your itinerary set already.

What a generous idea! I'm sure you'll have an amazing trip wherever you go. I loved switzerland. My favorite part was the unbeatable scenery in Interlaken--lakes, mountains, etc. Depsite my severe fear of heights, I took the funicular up to the top. It was literally breathtaking; I highly recommend it!
I was there on business, so I can't be very helpful for cost saving tips, except take the train whenever you can. The countryside is gorgeous.
Have a great trip!

Mary, where in Switzerland are you going? I think it's pretty safe to say it will be cold and snowy in December, but where you go might have an impact on just how much.

As far as budgeting goes, if you have a credit card that accrues mileage, that could get you there with airfare. Any kind of program like that can help a lot. If not, and you want to go by this December, then it's probably a little late to get one started (unless you pay all your bills with it monthly...that can add up the miles/dollars pretty fast!)

Any budget travel book has great tips. Look in the travel section at a bookstore or your library, and of course online...google away!

thanks so much for answers,am planning on flying in to zurich,but if somewhere else would be cheaper am flexible,want to visit thr Bern area as he was born in Wengen,what is with these hotels that don:t have private baths???and why is food so expensive ??mary

Vence and Prague info!!!!!

I live in Toronto, Ontario that's in Canada.I want to go to Vence for 3 days and then stay in Prague for 6 days this October.
Can I fly from Toronto to Vence stay for the 3day and then take the train to Prague and fly back to Toronto?
The reason why I'm asking is my agent said this can't be done!!!!
Can anyone list some great places to see in Vence and Prague.
What are the hostels in like????
Thanks!!!!!!

Footworks ,you need to start your own new thread for your question as this one is about travel to Switzerland. You will certainly get more answers that way.
Missabe454,
Switzerland is expensive but there are ways to save money. Here are a few sites to check out accomodations.

www.bnb.ch
www.rooms.ch

I would also try Rick Steves book which has affordable accomodations.

We have found the supermarkets in Switzerland well stocked with wonderful foods. You may not have to eat all of your meals out. I know December is not pinicking weather but you can improvise. If you could put your plans off until Spring you will have more (less snowy) views and more varied activities.
Whatever you decide you will fall in love with the landscape. Have a great trip and Happy birthday to your husband.

Since it is your first trip there, I suggest seeing a travel agent a.s.a.p. who could put together an itinerary for you from Zurich to Luzern to the Berner Oberland by train and back or something or maybe taking a hotel/flight/land tour trip with an organzied group (Collette Vacations and Rick Steves are both pretty good). You will LOVE Switzerland in Dec., esp. if you celebrate Christmas because of all of the decorations and markets. It will be cold and the flower boxes won't be filled, but you will have a nice experience. If you are not tied to Dec. for the actual travel time, I suggest late Spring up through Sept. to see the best of nature there! Your hubby's village of Wengen is esp. beautiful then, and there are more than a few small hotels at which you can stay within a moderate budget within the Lauterbrunnen Valley there. My hubby and I stayed at the bare bones Staubbach Hotel in the valley, walked to Wengen and other villages and were more than satisfied. An American and his Swiss wife run the place, and if you request a room with a bathroom mountain view, you won't be disappointed unless you're looking for luxury linens and porter service...etc. I didn't find Switzerland to be completely expensive, but my hubby and I weren't too demanding. Some people just have extraordinarily expensive tastes and have to eat at 'the best' restaurants when travelling. If you are on a modest expense account, you can find plenty of small cafes and family establishments to get a resonably priced meal, and most have the same Swiss dishes anyway (just like you can in America). You can always splurge on one meal when you're there and most hotels include breakfasts (make sure yours does). There are numerous strands and groups on Fodors here (even a support group for those who love Switzerland) which will help you. What a great thing to do for your husband. I truly believe that Switzerland is one of the most beautiful countries in the world.

Hi. Teachersue is right. If you'll look in on the Support Group for Those Who Love Switzerland IV, Ursula or S' or Ingo or Grasshopper will be sure to see your note. It was only by accident that I came upon this thread because the heading doesn't mention Switzerland.

Yes, Spring would be better probably and still low season w/o summer rates. You'll have wildflowers and window boxes at that time. Budget-wise, do you suppose you could tell us exactly what you had in mind to pay for a double room with bath and breakfast in dollars?

I'm a budget traveller, so I limit myself to two-star hotels and b&b's. And I do two things which stretch my dollars (besides skipping lunch and picnicing): I look for tiny towns close to the big ones -- like Leissigen on Thunersee (between Interlaken and Berne). Secondly, I always stay in one spot for three or more nights, choosing little hotels or bnb's which give a rate reduction for multiple nights. Third, (oops there is a third) I inquire about their special prices for half-board (breakfast and supper).

If you go either of these routes, you'll have to change your expectations re size of bathroom, luxury of room, etc. But you will be cared for and you will have the same spectacular scenery as the folks who head for the 4-stars. You have to know yourself. I have friends and relatives who would never be satisfied to travel the way I do, but they are doctors or lawyers.

Mary, you can plan this trip yourself -- I'm not sure a travel agent will find the less expensive alternatives for you. The two websites listed near the top of the thread are good ones, especially the bnb.ch -- however, for that one, many of the accommodations will require that you have a car. I'm a train traveller devoted. See us at the SGFTWLSIV for more input. Or. . . if that one is too slow to download, maybe start a new one mentioning Switzerland in your heading.

Have fun planning. J.

hi to all who have taken the time to answer...I an tied in to december as hubby birthday is the 12th. actually we are very on a VERY limited budget..and don't have to eat and stay at the best places all i want is twin beds,clean rooms,and a private bath,, what i am reading is most places have a bath down the hall(is this communal where you go in and 5 women are all showering)i am to shy for that...hubby would not be interested in tours..not his thing..is it diffulct to get around as i am overweight and have a bad knee and can't walk to far.. thank you all,,mary

p.s. My modest little two-star in Leissigen is the Hotel Hirschen. Just a few steps from the train station and the boat dock. A fancier 3-star in the same town is the Hotel Kreuz. From Leissigen you can daytrip by train to Bern, up to Wengen, and over to Lucerne, and an endless list of other interesting places. J.

Mary: I would suggest looking into the option of renting a small apartment for a few days. Many Europeans travel this way for convenience and economy. We rented a large apartment in Lauterbrunnen this summer, just an echo away from Wengen, on the main road through town. We had two bedrooms, a living room, an extra sitting room with windows on the town, and a fully equipped kitchen and bath. With the kitchen and the nearby grocery, we enjoyed having a couple of inexpensive meals "at home"- packaged soups, fresh veggies, breads, etc. - and ate out only when we chose to. Our place cost 110 Swiss Francs per night - but I imagine smaller apartments might be somewhat less.

The local tourist offices will probably be your best resources for finding rentals. People who rent out to tourists will usually list their property with the local tourist office. Since you have concerns about getting around on foot, ask about stairs, and distances to train stations and other sights, before booking.

Hi missabe,

>...most places have a bath down the hall(is this communal where you go in and 5 women are all showering)...<

No. You will be sharing a bathroom with one or two other rooms and you take turns.

This is not the same as sharing a toilet, which you might also do, but you take turns.

Rooms with private facilities (en suite) are always more expensive in Europe.

Hi, missabe454!

What a wonderful idea! You will have fun on this trip!

My vote goes to bnb.ch also. Excellent site.

A Bed and Breakfast is exactly that! You will usually have a pretty full breakfast included - juice, coffee, bread, butter, jam, some of meat like ham or sausage. This is one way of saving on expenses.

Another thing is to ask for an "ensuite", that is, attached bathroom with shower instead of tub. Shower facilities are usually a bit less expensive.

Given your bad knee, ask if they have rooms on the ground floor or no higher than the first floor for you. THe other thing is to pack LIGHT! B & B's are self service and don't have porters to carry your bags for you.

As for food, ask your B & B host for a recommendation. They can usually give you names of fairly good and inexpensive restaurants in the neighborhood.

You don't need to go to "the best" or the most expensive restaurants. Trust me, I know. I've done a lot of business entertaining in both Europe and Asia - expensive or "gourmet" usually means a dollop of filet mignon a bit larger than a dollar in diameter, three "baby" carrots artfully arranged around a single stalk of broccoli and thin slivers of "new" potatoes. To add to the expense, a few ultra thin slivers of a black FUNGUS (you know which one I mean!) are added on top. This marvellous dish comes to an astonishing $50 US! This is without the wine and dessert.

On the other hand, one of the most interesting and full meals I had was somewhere in the Czech Republic where I ordered a pig's knee and in came this HUGE ham hock which must have taken ages to cook. It was done to perfection with a large pile of fresh vegetables and a generous amount of potatoes. (How was I supposed to know that pigs don't have tiny knees?) If my memory serves me correctly, the dinner along with two enormous beers came to a princely $12 US.

Granted this was in the Czech Republic and not Switzerland, but it's just as example of how you can eat well and not have to get a second mortgage.

Have fun! You'll have a great time!

missabe454:
Hello! Have been to Switzerland many times, and gone both the B&B and Vacation Apartment routes (Ferienwohnungen). Both can be relatively inexpensive. If you have decided upon an area in which to stay, contact the local tourist office for a list of B&B's and Ferienwohnungen (vacation flats, usually within a host's home). You can shop in the local grocery for regional treats and cook at home, going out to restaurants for whichever meals that you like. Added bonus of a small fridge in the Ferienwohnung, but free breakfast at the B&B! If you like to visit Wengen, stay relatively close by in Lauterbrunnen, Lucerne, Thun, Spiez or Brienz* (my personal favorite). Mountain
excursions will be limited (many closed routes with snow), but check out a Swiss Flexi Saver Pass for best rates on train/gondola/cog transport @ ? www.rail.com.
www.vacationvillas.net and
www.untours.com for lodging possibilities. Best of luck, I envy you! P.S. I LOVE Berne!

mary:
a website for pricing trainpasses is
ricksteves.com/rail or
eurorailways.com/rail...the price of the pass is always the same, but each purveyor passes on a $15-20 surcharge.
TWO persons, travelling together, can get a first or second class SAVERPASS for CONSECUTIVE days travel or the SAVER FLEXIPASS for 3, 5 ,6 or 8 days of ANY travel within a one month time frame. Second class saverpass for 8 consecutive days of travel is $192 per person. Second class saver flexipass for ANY 8 days of travel is $240 per person (for a point of comparison).Keep in mind that these passes include most trains, trams, buses (not inner city), gondolas and boats (when running). There are 25 to 50 % reductions for most "tourist" excursions to certain mountain tops....Happy planning.

Just a few little notes & lots of encouragement for Mary...

I would not recommend a travel agent, they will not have the very most budget accomodations in their listings.

The area around Geneva including Lausanne, Vevey, Montreux don't get much snow in the winter, as they are right along Lac Leman. I mention this only to answer, that the question of weather in December varies greatly from one part of the country to another, and of course by altitude.

Not all, but many, low cost places to stay in Europe have shared bathroom facilities, that's just the way it is. You have them to yourself when you're in them, but a couple other rooms use them also.

As mentioned "en suite" are the words you're looking for meaning a private bath in your own room.

Another way to save money is not to move around alot. Just pick a few places to see. This saves cash on train tickets, and also saves trouble moving from hotel to hotel, town to town, too many times.

Good luck! Just keep working on the internet, and if you have a public library nearby, check out some guidebooks for ideas and suggestions too.

Like jmw I found this thread by accident only. Too bad you did not mention Switzerland or so in the title.

A agree with the previous posters - a great idea! Over the last years there was very little snow in Dec in Switzerland, and sometimes it had some nice and relatively warm days. Unpredictable!

You should know that in Dec the skiing season starts in the mountains (at least at higher elevations like Wengen etc.) But it is still low season and hotels offer good rates. Sometimes they also have packages for two or three nights.

How long will your trip take? If you're staying a week it might be the cheapest option to rent an apartment. There is a website www.interhome.com where you can book directly. If you wait till one week before arrival you can get a last minute deal for some apartments which saves you another 33%. These apartments are mostly located in the mountains.

Before you decide about a rail pass or so - please tell us more details: how long to stay, which day trips etc. There are so many options and you will hardly find a correct (read: cheapest) calculation on the internet. Let us do the job - it will be a pleasure to be of some help.

Although I think you should visit the cities (e.g. Bern, Lucerne, Zurich) I must admit these are more expensive than average Switzerland. What if you stay in the smaller towns/villages and do day trips? A village on Lake Thun or the controversially discussed Interlaken might be good bases.

For example, see www.interlakentourism.ch (English version available) and click on Accommodation to get an idea for prices. Apartments are offered as well as B&Bs or hotels.

Good luck!

Ingo

What a lovely idea! Do check out Untours for their packages; they're a marvelous company and quite inexpensive, considering you get airfare, two weeks in an apartment, and railpasses. They have folks over there to give you help and advice.

Their website often has special deals, as well.

One more thing--I would agree with some of the other posters that, whilst December would be lovely in many respects, it will limit you somewhat in getting about. September or late spring should be good, as this is your first trip.

Have a wonderful time!

THANKS TO EVERYONE WITH GREAT IDEAS..DON'T REALLY CARE WHERE WE STAY BUT WANT TO BE IN WENGEN ON THE 12 DEC,HUBBY B-DAY. PLANNING ON LEAVING FLORIDA ON DEC.10 RETURING ON THE 16 DEC I DON'T GET AROUND TO GOOD HAVE A BAD KNEE BUT HUBBY DOES & WANTS TO TAKE HIKES AND ALL THAT SORT OF STUFF ,,I CAN DO A LITTLE BUT NOT AS MUCH AS HE & HE'S 10 YEARS OLDER THAN ME.SO IF WE COULD STAY IN A INEXPENSIVE SMALL TOWN & DO A COUPLE OF DAY TRIPS THAT WOULD BE FINE.AND WE DON'T HAVE TO EAT AT THE MOST EXPENSIVE PLACES EITHER,ACTUALLY CAN'T REALLY AFFORD THIS TRIP BUT GONNA DO IT ANYWAY ..UNDERSTAND MOST HOTELS,etc GIVE YOU A BREAKFAST, ROLLS & COFFEE WHICH IS ABOUT WHAT WE DO FOR BREAKFAST ANYWAY,SANDWICH FOR LUNCH AND SIMPLE DINNERS.THANKS MARY