how different are towns of Murren/Wengen/Ginderwald
#21
Original Poster
Joined: Aug 2015
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Thank you for all the information provided
I do understand that the Swiss Family pass is free with the Swiss Travel pass or Half Fare card and the child below 16 years can travel free, but what does the child pay for the mountain excursions. For example if Jungrau mountain excursion is 50% off with Half fare card, then how much do we have to pay for the child
Furhtermore, will be staying either at Wengen or Lauterbrunnen, depending upon where can i get accommodation under my budget
Are apartments recommended for these 2 places ?
I do understand that the Swiss Family pass is free with the Swiss Travel pass or Half Fare card and the child below 16 years can travel free, but what does the child pay for the mountain excursions. For example if Jungrau mountain excursion is 50% off with Half fare card, then how much do we have to pay for the child
Furhtermore, will be staying either at Wengen or Lauterbrunnen, depending upon where can i get accommodation under my budget
Are apartments recommended for these 2 places ?
#22


Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,173
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I certainly recommend apartments, but it really depends on how long you plan to stay in each place. There are sometimes minimum night stays with apartments...not always, but sometimes. And you'll want to take into account cleaning fees, etc when comparing to hotels.
#23
Joined: Dec 2006
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#24
Original Poster
Joined: Aug 2015
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Have never stayed in apartments all my travelling life and always love to have breakfast before leaving the place, but hotels seems quite expensive and over my budget of CNF180/night
We wont be staying for a week at one place, rather about 3-4nights at each place
Any recommendations for budget hotel or apartments
Thanks
We wont be staying for a week at one place, rather about 3-4nights at each place
Any recommendations for budget hotel or apartments
Thanks
#27

Joined: Nov 2008
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NOT a good thing to do in Switzerland. Hotels will give you a better rate if you contact them directly. by all means search on Booking etc sort of sites. Make note of the site and the price. Then contact the hotel. This way you can get even a better rate and you do not run the risk that your reservation will be down-graded to an inferior category of room - or lost entirely.
Actually searching via the local tourist office website will save you a lot of time as well These have search engines for hotels and apartments. Enter dates of stay and all available come up. This saves a lot of hunting around. for Wengen - www.wengen.swiss/en
Actually searching via the local tourist office website will save you a lot of time as well These have search engines for hotels and apartments. Enter dates of stay and all available come up. This saves a lot of hunting around. for Wengen - www.wengen.swiss/en
#28
Joined: Dec 2006
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NOT a good thing to do in Switzerland. Hotels will give you a better rate if you contact them directly. by all means search on Booking etc sort of sites. Make note of the site and the price. Then contact the hotel. This way you can get even a better rate and you do not run the risk that your reservation will be down-graded to an inferior category of room - or lost entirely.
#29

Joined: Nov 2008
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I've been using booking.com for years and have never been downgraded or given anything inferior to what I've booked -- in contrast, I've sometimes been upgraded. I've sometimes gotten a better deal by contacting the hotel, whether in Switzerland or elsewhere, but often by giving up some flexibility in cancellation options, check-in or check-out time, etc.. Advising someone to contact the hotel is reasonable advice; saying that using booking.com to search for options (which is what I did) is not a good idea is not reasonable -- particularly when you go own to make that exact suggestion.
So I stick to my guns as it were. I search on the local tourist office website. I then compare traveller reviews for the short list of hotels that I have. And knowing that they have availability I contact them directly. I always get a good rate and sometimes extras thrown in...
#30
Joined: Dec 2006
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Again, the issue, Hambagahle, is about SEARCHING for lodging: As I said, advising someone to contact the hotel is reasonable advice; saying that using booking.com to search for options (which is what I did) is not a good idea is not reasonable -- particularly when you go [on] to make that exact suggestion.
Last edited by kja; Sep 13th, 2019 at 11:36 PM.
#31
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Joined: Aug 2015
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Have been using booking.com (for hotels) for last 15years and havent had a problem with the peace of mind of credit card security, but i do agree that if one has the time, then they should check with the hotel directly and there is always a possibility of a better rate.
I have always stayed at hotels and mostly with offers/inclusion of breakfast, but for Swiss Alps, i think that hotels are above my budget and for this reason i am trying to find apartments & i do think that in Apartments, booking.com may not be the best and a direct website of a local tourist office www.wengen.swiss/en may turn out to be a better otpion
I have always stayed at hotels and mostly with offers/inclusion of breakfast, but for Swiss Alps, i think that hotels are above my budget and for this reason i am trying to find apartments & i do think that in Apartments, booking.com may not be the best and a direct website of a local tourist office www.wengen.swiss/en may turn out to be a better otpion
#32


Joined: Jan 2003
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And I agree with you on that point asimm - IME Booking.com isn't the best option for apartments. IME they tend to have extra fees and stricter cancellation policies than booking directly with the owner or a local tourist office or agency.
I have had pretty good lucking using E-domizil throughout Switzerland, but my first choice (when it's an option) is always to book directly with an owner, or a site such as Air BnB.
Here's yet another option:
https://www.myswissalps.com/accommodation
And then there are BnBs - you might take a look here:
https://bnb.ch/en
Good luck with your search.
I can suggest a great apartment in Lauterbrunnen if needed.
I have had pretty good lucking using E-domizil throughout Switzerland, but my first choice (when it's an option) is always to book directly with an owner, or a site such as Air BnB.
Here's yet another option:
https://www.myswissalps.com/accommodation
And then there are BnBs - you might take a look here:
https://bnb.ch/en
Good luck with your search.
I can suggest a great apartment in Lauterbrunnen if needed.
#33

Joined: Mar 2013
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#35

Joined: Nov 2008
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We have used Interhome a couple of times with no problems at all... But that was before the days of the accommodation search engines on the local tourist office websites. Those have both hotels and chalets/apartments...and since they sort by date you don't waste time contacting someone about a property which is already rented...
#36
Original Poster
Joined: Aug 2015
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@hambhagle - yes you cannot search through dates and u have to contact each propert individually
rates shown fie the total no of nights ?
Furthermore , which is a good location in Wengen
& Sinilstly which is a good central view location in Lauterbrunnen
Melnq8 pls go ahead and suggest the Lauterbrunnen apartment
regarding air bnb, haven’t heard good about them in Switzerland
rates shown fie the total no of nights ?
Furthermore , which is a good location in Wengen
& Sinilstly which is a good central view location in Lauterbrunnen
Melnq8 pls go ahead and suggest the Lauterbrunnen apartment
regarding air bnb, haven’t heard good about them in Switzerland
#37


Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,173
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You haven't heard good about Air BnB in Switzerland? Not sure what you mean by that.
The apartment we rented (and loved) in Lauterbrunnen:
https://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p95287
It's probably listed on other websites as well.
We also rented this one, but didn't care for it - tiny! (note there are other units available in this same building though, we might have just picked the wrong one):
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/2819560...VdrgYpL89IK%2F
And I've had my eye on this place for years, but have yet to rent (the restaurant in the Hotel Oberland is our favorite in Lauterbrunnen):
https://www.hoteloberland.ch/en/apartments/
The apartment we rented (and loved) in Lauterbrunnen:
https://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p95287
It's probably listed on other websites as well.
We also rented this one, but didn't care for it - tiny! (note there are other units available in this same building though, we might have just picked the wrong one):
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/2819560...VdrgYpL89IK%2F
And I've had my eye on this place for years, but have yet to rent (the restaurant in the Hotel Oberland is our favorite in Lauterbrunnen):
https://www.hoteloberland.ch/en/apartments/
Last edited by Melnq8; Sep 15th, 2019 at 06:34 AM.
#38
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,525
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You might find this guide to Halal food in the Berner Oberland area useful:
https://www.havehalalwilltravel.com/...ave-you-in-awe
most of the options are in Interlaken, but one restaurant up at the Jungfrau offers a Halal chicken dish. TripAdvisor liss the Golden India Punjabi restaurant, with sites in Wengen and Grindelwald, as offering Halal dishes, but the menu doesn't list them. Maybe you have to ask. They get very mixed reviews.
The most affordable accommodation I know of in the area is Chalet Fontana in Mürren. This is a bed and breakfast and the rooms have a shared bathroom. The ground-floor apartment has a private bath and and a serviceable kitchen. Breakfast upstairs in the B and B is included in the price. We have stayed in the apartment several times in the past. The price per night would be either 170 or 210 CHF, depending on whether they charge for the child.
The location is very convenient to the grocery store. You do not get views from the room or the apartment, but the location is toward the end of the village that has much better views than the grim photo of the black wall posted above. Instead, you are looking across to snowy peaks, especially lovely at sunset. We had an apartment on the street above Chalet Fontana last summer and I could not stop gazing at that view. Unfortunately that apartment is a 3-bedroom and well above your price range.
https://www.havehalalwilltravel.com/...ave-you-in-awe
most of the options are in Interlaken, but one restaurant up at the Jungfrau offers a Halal chicken dish. TripAdvisor liss the Golden India Punjabi restaurant, with sites in Wengen and Grindelwald, as offering Halal dishes, but the menu doesn't list them. Maybe you have to ask. They get very mixed reviews.
The most affordable accommodation I know of in the area is Chalet Fontana in Mürren. This is a bed and breakfast and the rooms have a shared bathroom. The ground-floor apartment has a private bath and and a serviceable kitchen. Breakfast upstairs in the B and B is included in the price. We have stayed in the apartment several times in the past. The price per night would be either 170 or 210 CHF, depending on whether they charge for the child.
The location is very convenient to the grocery store. You do not get views from the room or the apartment, but the location is toward the end of the village that has much better views than the grim photo of the black wall posted above. Instead, you are looking across to snowy peaks, especially lovely at sunset. We had an apartment on the street above Chalet Fontana last summer and I could not stop gazing at that view. Unfortunately that apartment is a 3-bedroom and well above your price range.
#39

Joined: Sep 2009
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We just finished up 11 nights in Switzerland -- 3 nights each in Zurich, Wengen and Bern, and 2 nights in Montreux. Used booking.com for all locations.
Maybe I might have done better price-wise by negotiating separately with each hotel, but I didn't have the time or interest to do so after finding the properties while searching booking.com. I haven't used that site previously to book, but it provided a convenience to me that I appreciated this time around.
Of note, in Montreux we were upgraded to a very large, recently renovated corner room overlooking the lake. I speculated that perhaps they were hoping for a great review on booking.com.
Maybe I might have done better price-wise by negotiating separately with each hotel, but I didn't have the time or interest to do so after finding the properties while searching booking.com. I haven't used that site previously to book, but it provided a convenience to me that I appreciated this time around.
Of note, in Montreux we were upgraded to a very large, recently renovated corner room overlooking the lake. I speculated that perhaps they were hoping for a great review on booking.com.


