Dear Fodorites,

A few days ago, you were all very helpful as we thought about splitting a few days between the Berner Oberland and Lucerne. We are now considering staying in Lucerne for four nights. Because our trip is so short (just four nights!), it might make sense to stay put in one place and do day trips from there.

First off, if money was not a concern, which hotel would you recommend in Lucerne? We are looking at the Palace Lucerne and the Montana but happy to take any and all suggestions.

Now for day trips. We figure we will spend day 1 in Lucerne proper (maybe boating on the lake?). Day 2 we will go to Mount Pilatus. Can you help us with Days 3 and 4? We love beautiful scenery, languid, easy hiking, castles, abbeys, and medieval towns. Perhaps the Abbey Library of St. Gall?

Thank you!

Oh, I should have mentioned that our trip is scheduled for beginning of August. Unfortunately we will just miss the music festival.

I have no suggestions to make as where you should go but just wanted to say you need to be flexible. There is no point in going to Mount Pilatus on Day 2 is the weather is bad.

Sorry amendment to the no suggestions you may like the monastry at Engleberg, it think it is only open certain days, or Einsideln (check my spelling) that is well worth a visit.

With mountains, you need to visit them opportunistically depending on weather. There are two mountains nearby, Pilatus and Rigi, and you don't have to do boat on the lake separately. You can integrate them into your mountain trips.

Of the two, Pilatus is more likely to be clouded in, so assign the best day for that. Also, you tend to get a better weather earlier in the day.

Best weather day: Pilatus. Take gondola from Kriens up to Pilatus. Come down on the Pilatusbahn to Alpnachstad. Take boat back to Luzern from Alpnachstad.

Next best weather day: Rigi. Take first boat of the day to Vitznau, cogwheel up to Rigi, come down to Weggis via Rigikaltbad, lunch at Rigi, boat back to Luzern.

Great points. I didn't realize the weather was so crucial for mountain trips. Thanks!

We loved the Hotel des Alpes. Our room had a balcony overlooking the river.

How important is AC to you? Of the hotels mentioned above, I think only the Palace Lucerne comes with AC. The locals would say ACs are needed, that is usually. That might be true for the locals or others who happened to have avoided heat waves and don't have a first hand knowledge of just how hot it could get, but I have stayed at Des Alpes and we managed to hit a heat wave. Our room was over 80F until late in the evening. That was not the hottest I had to deal with in Switzerland. I stayed in a hotel without AC in Bern and the temperature stayed above 85F past midnight.

Greg there is a simple solution to no AC open a window and use natural AC.

We stayed at Des Alpes, but not in a heat wave/

Want to recommend dinner in the restaurant in Hotel Des Balances. Outstanding.

If bad weather occurs, consider a day in Bern, which had miles of arcades (covered) shops and cafes for browsing.
Look at the town's of Zug, Einsiedeln and Murten.