Does anyone know if one can rent a car in Grindelwald? The major hire companies (Hertz, Avis etc.) dont seem to have branches there. Perhaps there is a local hire company? We will be in Grindelwald 14th -23rd January for the Snow Festival but might drive about a bit if the weather isn't too bad. Don't want to rent a car in the airport -someone on this forum reminded me that we could arrive in a blizzard!So we are taking the train from Geneve airport.

I know of no auto rental agencies in Grindelwald. In years past, I have rented in Interlaken through Auto Europe. Avis and Hertz both have agencies in Interlaken.

I have used both with equally satisfactory results.

The drive from Interlaken to Grindelwald is relatively short. I think it would take you about 30-35 minutes to drive it.

Why do you need a car in Grindelwald?
The only place to go from there is back to Interlaken. (Lauterbrunnen and Stechelberg are to the south, but the valley is a deadend.)



From Interlaken you can exit the valley only to the east and west. To the east, 3 passes confront you. Two of them will be closed in December, which leaves only the Brünig Pass as a possible escape route. That route leads mainly to Luzern.

To the west you have one route -- to Spiez, where the road divides.

Cod -

I can't find anything on car rentals in Grindelwald either - most rentals seem to be from Zurich or Geneva.

I'm sure the Grindelwald tourist office can help though - here's their e-mail address:

[email protected]

And their site:

http://www.grindelwald.com/

We've traveled in Switzerland extensively, but always by train.

You might consider traveling by train -you can get just about anywhere you need to go and you don't have to worry about snowy conditions, parking issues and parking fees. Swiss trains are reliable, frequent and easy to use.

Have fun!

As others have said there is a car rental in Interlachen. However at this time of year, I would use a train; a dogsled would be more useful than a car for routine tourism in the BO in Jan.

Many thanks for all your views. It looks like we might not bother with a car at all. Bob, I was just thinking that having a car might just lead to a little more spontaneity. We have been to Grindelwald before, but in the summer, and had a wonderful time. That's why we want to see it in the snow as well. Last time, we had seven children aged 18-8, and so had to have cars, if for no other reason than to carry the groceries from the supermarket. We'll only have four of the kids this time, and all a year older. They will ski, we will observe the snow! I have never skied in my life, and don't intend to start now.