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hikes close to Interlaken without a wallet? (or maybe just a thin one!)

hikes close to Interlaken without a wallet? (or maybe just a thin one!)

Old Aug 11th, 2011, 12:07 PM
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hikes close to Interlaken without a wallet? (or maybe just a thin one!)

Hi there,
I very much hope someone can come up with some suggestions....we are staying in Interlaken for 3 nights (2 full days) on our way to Italy. We - that is myself, my husband and 3 children ( 12, 14 and 16 ) only have a budget of about £400 for the 3 days, to include food... we are self catering and we don't mind not eating out.But sadly the more I look into it the more I don't think we can afford any rides or trips either... a half fare card for all of us that would need one will cost £270 before we even start... so we will just have to go on nice walks instead... but the question is where can we go without finding ourselves at a ticket booth (gondola, cable car train etc)......... getting worried as I don't seem to be able to find any ideas of free or reasonably priced things to do in the area?

thank you in advance - we go tomorrow!
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Old Aug 11th, 2011, 12:12 PM
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I forgot to say we will have our own car as we are driving there. We are camping at manor farm.
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Old Aug 11th, 2011, 01:05 PM
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We just returned from a trip in Switzerland and Italy and both were just beautiful. Unfortunately, we also found Switzerland to be extremely expensive so be careful if you plan to eat out. For instance, fondue in Grindelwald (probably more expensive than Interlaken) was 25CHF, about $33 per person. Oops I see you are from GB so I looked it up and that is 20 pounds (does that sound right?) It was more reasonable for us to buy some meals at the Coop grocery store too.

I looked up a map for you, so maybe this will help you plan some hikes!

http://www.interlaken.ch/fileadmin/u...Interlaken.pdf

Have a great trip!
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Old Aug 11th, 2011, 01:26 PM
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It sounds like you'll be camping? The reason i asked is that when we were in INterlaken last year, we stayed at a self-catering apt AT a hotel. Because it's still a hotel, we were issued the free visitors' card (one card per person) which provides FREE public transport in the surrounding towns:
http://www.interlaken.ch/services/re...tml?L=3.#c1839

If you don't qualify for the card because you're camping, you can always walk along the canal and then along either one (or both) of the lakes. Both are very scenic.

Last year, I did a walk from Wilderswil back to Interlaken (route #37 on the pdf map linked by kwren). It's not particularly scenic so you can skip that one.
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Old Aug 11th, 2011, 01:34 PM
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thank you for the replies so far, your comments are very useful. yes we are camping and we have pre warned the kids that we will be using the coop for our meals! I think we may be eligible for a local travel pass because I have read that all overseas visitors should just ask for one. If we are very careful not to spend too much on food might treat ourselves to one boat trip or gondola ride, pr rent some bikes if we can find them cheap enough!

I had better get on with my packing
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Old Aug 11th, 2011, 01:55 PM
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True, Switzerland has currently a big problem, because its currency has increased in value by sopme 35 pct against USD, EUR or GBP in less than 6 months, and prices (in Swiss Francs) have remained unchanged...who is pocketing all this profit?
Still, hiking is free in Switzerland. Buy your food in local supermarkets (Migros, Coop, Denner etc), Swiss tap water is excellent. petrol is around the same price as in other European countries. Have a look at the local tourist sites for suggestions and specials, and don't hesitate to ask for tips at the touristz or railway information desks.
http://www.interlaken.ch/index.php?id=708&L=3
I am sure that you can have a good time within your budget limits, even if it excludes the Jungfrau rail trip.
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Old Aug 11th, 2011, 02:39 PM
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No one is "pocketing" this extra profit. For the people in Switzerland their income - and costs - have not changed. It's just that the other currencies are worth less. If you want to complain ask for a 35% pay hike.
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Old Aug 11th, 2011, 03:13 PM
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thank you everyone the encouragement has really cheered me up I was beginning to feel worried. As I am going to be travelling I will be quiet now but I will keep checking the forum via my phone. ciao for now
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Old Aug 11th, 2011, 04:49 PM
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with a car simply drive up to nearby Grindelwald where from town itself thaere are a myriad of nice easy walks - like one going to a glacier - all free and you'll just pay the gas and parking fee - cars can enter town but must be parked as they are not allowed to penetrate the gorgeous country beyond it - Grindelwald will fulfill the Switzerland of your dreams - awesome glacier-girdled peaks arising thousands of feet up from across the valley - the picture of Switzerland etched in your minds' eyes but which you would not see in Interlaken itself. It would by a pity not to go into the hills and driving to Grindelwald is a snap - or you can take the train for probably around $20 return - less for kids - only a 20-minute train ride or so.
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Old Aug 11th, 2011, 04:49 PM
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with a car simply drive up to nearby Grindelwald where from town itself thaere are a myriad of nice easy walks - like one going to a glacier - all free and you'll just pay the gas and parking fee - cars can enter town but must be parked as they are not allowed to penetrate the gorgeous country beyond it - Grindelwald will fulfill the Switzerland of your dreams - awesome glacier-girdled peaks arising thousands of feet up from across the valley - the picture of Switzerland etched in your minds' eyes but which you would not see in Interlaken itself. It would by a pity not to go into the hills and driving to Grindelwald is a snap - or you can take the train for probably around $20 return - less for kids - only a 20-minute train ride or so.
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Old Aug 12th, 2011, 12:12 AM
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There are many options for hikes with a car. Drive up to Grindelwald or Stechelberg, park the car there and start walking.

Kandersteg would be another idea, walk up to Lake Oeschinen.

Or do a three-passes-drive via Meiringen: Susten, Furka and Grimsel pass. Ok, not much hiking involved there

I.
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Old Aug 12th, 2011, 12:37 AM
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Perhaps you could drive to Grindelwald and take the short
ride on the Pfingstegg cable car. It's less expensive than most other options in the area and there's a nice walk at the top with some great views.

http://www.pfingstegg.ch/index.php?o...emid=9&lang=en cable car

I like the Stechelberg idea too - lots of walks in the area, including the walk to Lauterbrunnen along the valley floor. Or you could walk from Lauterbrunnen to Zweilütschinen and return. I've done this a few times - it's a nice walk.
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Old Aug 12th, 2011, 02:14 AM
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A bit off the question, but how do the locals pronounce 'Coop'? Does it rhyme with scoop or does it have 2 syllables?
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Old Aug 12th, 2011, 02:25 AM
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"Coh-opp". Two syllables and two clear "o" sounds, one long, the other short. Like in "cooperative", which is the origin of the name.

Another thought... since you are coming from Britain in your own car, load some non-perishable food, so all you have to buy in Switzerland is the fresh stuff.
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Old Aug 12th, 2011, 04:09 AM
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Charise:
Realize you're in transit just now, but 1)Check into the cheaper Harder Kulm funicular in Interlaken (roundtrip listed as 22 pounds per adult). Buy one way (up) and hike back down for great views.
2) Drive the short distance to the town of Brienz on Lake Brienz. Park and visit the local Tourist Info for map. Great hiking here (no cost).
3)I second (and third) the above suggestion to drive to nearby Kandersteg and hike up to Oschinensee for FANTABULOUS views. There is also an open chairlift up...I 'think' it runs about 20 Swiss Frances per person one way (just remember, hiking back DOWN is tough ON THE KNEES AND TOES!)
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Old Aug 12th, 2011, 09:38 AM
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In Interlaken itelf a sweet stroll goes from behind the Interlaken-Ost train station - north side of river west to the center of Interlaken - about a mile but along a forest and along the river - you'll see Lucerne type covered wooden bridges and a real neat part of Interlaken that is as nice as any old town in Switzerland really - a part of Interlaken that many tourists miss as they just traipse thru town on the one main tourist-shop-peppered street and then go away saying Interlaken is blah!

Or from Interlaken itself hoof thru town to Matten, a part of Interlaken near the famous William Tell Theatre and take nice footpaths thru farms to Wilderswill - really neat view of the Jungfrau Massif in all its majesty in the distance. Again another part of Interlaken few of the tourists who just transit the town ever see (and again if they did they would not be so down on Interlaken IMO).
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Old Aug 12th, 2011, 12:25 PM
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Thank you so much everyone I have just been reading all your very helpful suggestions- I feel spoilt for choice,they all sound so wonderful. I really like the sound of the hikes around Grindlewald- Stechelberg or Kandersteg and the cable car ride at Pfingstegg, sounds WONDERFUL. The furnicular ride to Harder Kulm and a hike down sounds awesome too- our knees are definitely up for any of the above! We will also make sure that we have a proper explore of Interlaken and find the nice part a walk around the lake(s). After a very long drive today we are tonight and tomorrow night staying in Luxembourg at camping Bikelt (it's very nice so far) We are planning on having an easy day tomorrow before we to set off for Switzerland on Sunday- will make sure that we find time to visit a supermarket some time tomorrow so that we arrive laden with loads of nice food goodies for lovely picnics in Switzerland- really can't wait now! thank you all again x
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Old Aug 12th, 2011, 12:30 PM
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If you are camping I would eschew Interlaken for the wonderful camp in Grindelwald that I have stayed at when driving - it is on the edge of town and has a wondrous, simply sondrous view of the ice-draped jagged peaks of the Jungfrau Massif - a veritable wall of rock going up thousands of feet - any camp in Interlaken would probably be like many camps in Europe - a fenced in field overloaded in summer with tent to tent, etc.
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Old Aug 12th, 2011, 12:30 PM
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If you are camping I would eschew Interlaken for the wonderful camp in Grindelwald that I have stayed at when driving - it is on the edge of town and has a wondrous, simply sondrous view of the ice-draped jagged peaks of the Jungfrau Massif - a veritable wall of rock going up thousands of feet - any camp in Interlaken would probably be like many camps in Europe - a fenced in field overloaded in summer with tent to tent, etc.
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Old Aug 12th, 2011, 12:50 PM
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We are booked in now and paid so too late to change- but will definitely bear that in mind for future trips
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