What is Grindlewald like in late May? For some hotels it is neither high nor low season. Would it be better to stay in Interlaken at that time of the year? Thanks.

Grindelwald will have people in it. It is a very popular destination for Japanese tourists as well as those from the USA and Europe. <BR><BR>Why would you want to stay in Interlaken?<BR>

Bob, you seem to know so much about Switzerland and I value your expertise. I'm concerned about why you asked "why would you want to stay in Interlaken?" The travel books I've read describe this as a perfect location to explore the entire region. I've met one person who was in Interlaken about 3 years ago and raved about it. Could you tell me your reasoning, I'm having 2nd thoughts now about staying there for 4 nights.

I think my reason for asking the question what one expects to find in Interlaken is closely tied to asking people this questions: What are your travel objectives? What do you expect to see and do once you are there?<BR>Having spent 3+ weeks in that area all told now, I have yet to see a good reason for me to stay in Interlaken per se.<BR>Lauterbrunnen is where I have based my self for all of my visits to the Berner Oberland. The first time, by luck. The other times by design. <BR><BR>OK here is my logic, which is fully subject to debate, revision, challenge, and differencing: The greatest views of the main range of the Berner Oberland are from the ridges and trails on the heights above Wengen, M&uuml;rren, Kleine Scheidegg, and Grindelwald.<BR>They are all readily accessible from Lauterbrunnen. <BR>Ed (of web site and Fodors fame) and I debated the issue of Lauterbrunnen versus M&uuml;rren at length. I stay in Lauterbrunnen mainly because the apartment I rented has parking virtually at the door, a good view of the M&auml;nnlichen Ridge and Staubach Falls, and the train station-bus stop is 5 minutes away by foot. I can go anywhere in the region fairly quickly.<BR>If I want to go farther than the immediate area, the main road from Interlaken to the west that leads to Thun, Spiez, Kandersteg (and the train ferry to Goppenstein), Bern, Basel, etc., is about 5 miles down the road toward Interlaken. I can also go east to Meiringen, Innertkirchen, even Luzern via the Br&uuml;nig Pass.<BR>Grindelwald is a short drive or a 30 minute train ride away. <BR><BR>Interlaken is of course a little larger than Grindelwald, being built on the only large flat area of ground in the area between the lakes. It does have a few more restaurants, hotels, etc. than Lauterbrunnen and M&uuml;rren. I doubt if it has more hotels than Grindelwald. And it does have a gambling casino, which does not interest me. But, if I wanted to visit Interlaken, I can and then drive back to my apartment which is about 7 miles away.<BR>I think I ask the question because a lot of people go to Interlaken wisth the idea that they can see the mountains from there. Knowing what lies behind the ridges to the south of town, I do not think any thing much is visible from Interlaken. Certainly the peaks are not viewable to the same degree that they are from Wengen, M&uuml;rren, Grindelwald, or any of the other villages south or east of Zweil&uuml;tschinen.<BR>As I have said elsewhere, the world class viewing points include, but certainly not limited to, the First gondola station above Grindelwald and any point along the trail above the Bachalpsee on the way to the Faulhorn, Wengen, the M&auml;nnlichen Ridge, M&uuml;rren, the top of the Schilthorn, Kleine Scheidegg, the Jungfraujoch itself. And, for real close ups where you start to invade the mountain glacier world, Pfingstegg and Stieregg are without rival in that area. Stieregg is tucked away behind that giant wall of the north face of the Eiger, right on the edge of the glacial valley and in full view of the glacier that comes off the ridges and peaks behind the Eiger.<BR>(Behind being south in this case.)<BR>So those are my reasons. <BR>I agree Interlaken has some appeal or else there would not be so many people there. But, if they are there to see the mountains, they have a ways to go to do it. I am sure each person has his or her own reason for being in Interlaken. Personally, I have not come up with a reason that lures me to Interlaken long term. But, I will be back this summer, and perhaps a new vista will open to me. New evidence can always revise old conclusions.<BR><BR>

Thanks Bob! I appreciate you taking the time to answer my question. I do believe that Interlaken will work fine for us because we want to do day trips up into the mountains but we also want to visit some villages around the lakes and visit Bern. As far as having more restaurants etc. this is a plus for us as we will be eating all our meals out and using only trains and public transportation. Who knows, we may even pop into the casino as well. Like you say, everyone has different needs, for us I believe we've made the right choice for our first visit to Switzerland. We may fall in love with the area and return someday and do like you do...rent a car and an apartment and stay further South. I hope so!! Thanks again for your insight. Ida

We will be in Switzerland in July, right now we plan to stay in Hasilberg Reuti, is this too out of the way for day trips to Murren or Luzern? We will have a car?

Do you know where your lodgings are located? Can you get there by car?<BR>Or, are you bound by bus and/or cable lift schedules?<BR>