PortiaLucy

This is all terrifically helpful. Not surprising, as we always get great advice on these forums. (I even think PalenQ helped us on another trip a few years ago--many thanks.) It seems like we can't go wrong. Our next steps are to decide whether staying in Luzern the night before our flight (10:10 am) will make us too nervous and to find a BO hotel with some kind of cooking facilities. (We prefer being in a lodging with the warmth and advice of hosts and even other guests, rather than an apartment rental by ourselves.) We are leaning toward Wengen, but the right lodging may tip the balance. Either way we will definitely do the Mannlichen-Klein Scheideg and North Face hikes and will probably go up to the Shilthorn, though I have a fear of heights. We will definitely make time for Bern, but I don't know if it will be an afternoon/evening en route back to Zurich, a one-night stopover, or a rainy day excursion from Wengen or Murren. Again, it sounds like we really can't go wrong. Can't wait.

neckervd

I would NEVER sleep at Lucerne or Berne if I had to check in at ZRH before 8am.
But it's easy to spend the full last day at Lucerne/Berne and to reach the aiport hotel late in the evening. Trains at least every 30 min until 11pm.

Adelaidean

We have a morning flight from Zurich and are spending our night before in Zurich, I would not take the risk of another city base.
Have planned our final day to be a leisurely return from Sils Maria to Zurich, perhaps stopping in Rapperswil en route for a couple of hours, then have an evening to stroll lovely Zurich. That way it is still a wonderful day, with stupendous scenery and relaxing strolling, not a frenetic ‘travel day’ of stress. A not too rushed breakfast, jump on the excellent train system, and then be at airport.

We are returning to Wengen this trip, I am unaware of self catering options in town, but we loved the Alpenrose Hotel with half board, hotel itself is not budget but the half board is incredible value. Just worth considering.

kja

Bingo!
I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time no matter what you choose.

PalenQ

Half-board in Switzerland is worth a ton of money in light of high restaurant and food prices. But don't do a Rick Steves in an early book of his suggested stuffing pockets with things from the usual buffet! Think that has been edited out of new books.

Sue81

I agree with Palen, we had great food in Wengen, actually had full board and it was worth every penny/dollar. Lovely room, view of Monch/Jungfrau right out the window, view over the village lights at night with mtns in background. Not fancy, but typical Swiss. This is one place to splurge, you won'tbe sorry.

PalenQ

And be sure to ask for a room with a view of those majestic peaks.

Dukey1

We never ever stay at any airport hotel when we leave from ZRH. We always stay in town since the train takes 15 minutes to get to the airport.

neckervd

Hotels around Zurich HB are usually more expensive and may be more noisy than those around ZRH

Melnq8

We've been renting apartments instead of staying in hotels in Switzerland for years. We returned from our latest visit last week. We stayed in a lovely Air BnB in Flims (entire apartment), an apartment in Zuoz, and two apartments in Austria.

We've also stayed in apartments in Wengen and Lauterbrunnen on past trips. They're definitely out there, but some will only rent for a week at a time during high season and require a Saturday check in, Saturday check out.

I just googled Air BnB in Wengen and got several hits - you might want to take a look there. Also, Booking.com is a good source for apartments. As is e-Domizil.

As for self-catering, Murren, Wengen and Lauterbrunnen all have COOP grocery stores, as well as a bakery or two, and in the case of Wengen, a second small green grocer style shop.

Melnq8

I just saw your comment about wanting to stay in hosted accommodation with cooking facilities - not sure I can help there, but if you're leaning towards a hotel, you can't go wrong with Hotel Bellevue in Wengen.

Hotel Oberland in Lauterbrunnen has lovely apartments (and rooms) and I think the apartments might (not sure) include breakfast, so that might be a good compromise. There is a minimum night stay for the apartments, I think it might be five nights.

They also have a wonderful restaurant.

Sue81

HI Portia, I stayed at the Hotel Schoenegg in Wengen last year for 3/4 days. While it is a bit more expensive, 20 %off right now, the food ws excellent, and it is only about 2 blocks from the train station. It would be easy to bring food for sandwiches to your room, if you opted for not using the half board or etc. The Coop is nearby/near train station.. This is a lovely little hotel with fantastic vistas of the mountian as it is up just a tad on a little hill. ask for room with view, which is most of them. No cars allowed in Wengen, but hotel picks you up with little cart if you call them. Nice little patio too for drinks in Summer.

PortiaLucy

Sorry to have taken so long to get back and thank you all for your great advice. (Christmas got in the way.) We followed PalenQ's suggestion and emailed Wengen hotels. I found one, the Hotel Berghaus, that has minifridges in its south-facing rooms. (Anyone stay there?) At least that will do for storing leftovers and cheese. I have warned my husband that I can only do a couple of multi-course meals while in Wengen and that we may eat a few light suppers in our room. (I know--my lack of appetite is odd.) Does anyone know if any Wengen restaurants have takeout or if the grocery store sells prepared food? That's what he usually does when I am not hungry. Strangely, I did find more kitchenette options in Murren, but by then you had convinced me that Wengen was the better base. ;-)

So the current plan is: Arrive in ZRH late afternoon and head straight to Luzern for two nights so we have a full day there. Does anyone have a good hotel/B&B suggestion? Then it's Wengen for four nights, allowing three full days for walks, wildflowers, and soaking up views, or if the weather doesn't cooperate, leaving the higher elevations for Lauterbrunnen, Bern, or Thun. On our last full day, we will make our leisurely way back to ZRH, stopping to explore Bern if we didn't go there on a cloudy/rainy day. Adelaidean and neckervd, you are right that it isn't worth the stress to be starting elsewhere the morning of our flight.

And then I need to figure out which of the pass options--Swiss Travel Pass, Half Price, BO Regional Pass, Jungfrau Travel Pass (am I forgetting anything?)--makes the most sense. A major math problem awaits--but what a nice problem to have.

PalenQ

Seems Half-Fare Card or Berner Oberland Pass could be your best option but not Swiss Travel Pass for sure - only 25% off on Jungfraujoch trains above Grindelwald and Wengen.