Hi ripit. Wengen soulds like a winner. I appreciate the advice from all. Now, lodging...any recommendation?

We were in Wengen the first year. Loved it. Texas, no we didn't have reservations. We made our reservations through the tourism office and everything was booked for us. They were 3 star Inns, very nice, not fancy, but very reasonable! I guarantee, you wouldn't be able to find places that cheap in Zermatt!

With 6 nights for Switzerland, you could also stay in two different places. Say, TGV to Geneva and stay along the lake (Vevey? ) 2 nights, see Chateau de Chillon, Montreux, the vineyards above whose name I forget (but Swandav knows!); then take the Golden Pass route from Montreux to Interlaken and on to Lauterbrunnen for 4 nights, with daytrips to Luzern, Bern, Wengen/Mürren, a boat trip on a lake, etc.

I don't think Swandav was recommending that you actually stay in Bern (a city), but that you take the TGV direct to Bern from Paris, then continue to the Berner Oberland (the mountains in the region) for your base. This area comprises two valleys, the Lauterbrunnen valley and the Lutschine (better known as Grindelwald). The two high villages perched above the Lauterbrunnen valley are car-free and very pleasant for a stay, but Lauterbrunnnen is more convenient for travel around the area.

LLindaC: Read you trip report on epinions - great! We've been to Switzerland twice but have yet to get to the Graubunden. Sounds like you found it very worthwhile.

How would you compare it to the Berner Oberland? Less crowded? Easy enough to get around the area by train/bus? Is scenery as spectacular? Anything at all that you would like to compare.

Oh, we loved the Graubunden! Yes, definitely less touristy. Of course, both times we were there in mid-June; a great time. Scenery- gorgeous...probably a little more varied than the BO...Of course, the architecture is quite different with the colorful sgraffiti houses and cobblestone streets in the villages. I didn't like St Moritz at all...but only a short train ride away it was entirely different. It was easy to travel by train and bus...we had passes and jumped on and off buses, trains and boats at will.

Hi all,

Right -- the TGV goes from Paris to Bern, then it's a hop on to the mountains of the Bernese Oberland. Like others above, I favor car-free and magical Wengen, and my favorite hotel there is the Alpenrose (www.alpenrose.ch). It's a 3-star that thinks it's a 4-star with incredible decor, more than incredible views, and impeccable service. The only thing it lacked was a little fridge in the room.

Have fun!

s

With all this great advice I am ready to begin planning our trip. I cannot thank y'all enough.

I do have one more kind of silly question, I guess...what about luggage. We will have backpacks, 1 carry on with wheels and one larger checked bag with wheels. Will that work on the trains? We've never done trains so I'm clueless.

There is ample room for lots of luggage but you may have to lift it over your head into overhead racks. At each end of car are racks for huge luggage but if leave there keep an eye on it at stops. Sounds like it will not be a problem for you a'tall.

Texas, I'll give you a good hint. Every time we travel, we take less. We've bought hiking style travel shirts and pants from Sierra Trading Co, Campmor Packinglight. I always wear the heaviest outfit and shoes on the plane....usually a jacket if I need it there, cause you can store it. Pack your stuff in Vacuum bags. Take a little detergent with you and rinse out some clothes every 3rd day. I took 3 pairs of slacks, one airplane outfit (knit R Lauren) one pair of nice flats, one pair of hiking shoes, one pair lightweight sandals. 4 hiking shirts, two dressier tops and jewelry to match those (one necklace, one pair earrings. I transferred makeup, shampoo, etc to mini containers. Then, I got a backpack which I could attach to the carryon. You really can do Europe this way and all Europeans travel this way. You'll be so much happier if you both have a light carryon! Trust me, with all the hikers and tourists there, people are very casual!

Sorry....those are 3 websites, there should be a comma between Campmor and Packinglight.com
Magellan and LLBean also have travel weight clothes. Sierra consistently has the best prices!
btw...we always travel in June. You will miss the throngs of European tourists and mostly will have Japanese and American tourists. Always check weather.com before you leave, but we've been lucky w/Swiss weather the last 2 years. Year before, it was 93 in Lugano!

Thanks...great info. Wish we were going sooner. I like to plan ahead though. We were in Italy LY and this year we are going to Sicily. June 2008 is out target for Paris then on to Switzerland.

Thanks again!!

LLindaC has given you, a novice traveler perhaps the most important advice - pack light - especially if going by train or public transportation where there are inevitably stairs to climb and distance to walk within stations as well as having to stow all in the luggage racks.

This however as LLC says takes a long time to learn - i like the advice i once read: Pack everything you think you need then leave 1/2 of it at home.

Every year i amaze, or rather ridicule myself for having taken things to Europe that i never got out of my pack and carried around for some weeks.

Another advice i read said take twice as few clothes and twice as much money - also sage advice in today's Europe.

As far as packing light - make sure the airlines you are going on allow you a carryon PLUS a back pack, or personal item (like a pocket book). We recently went to Budapest and were allowed only one - and I mean one - carryon. I had to put my pocketbook inside the carryon. When I got on the plane, I took it out.

Thanks for the advice!!