Interlaken or further up?
Apr 18th, 2004, 10:01 AM
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Interlaken or further up?
We will be driving up from Lugano towards Zurich on a work trip end of June and we have two spare nights. From what I've read on this forum the Bernese Oberland is a must! Bearing in mind that we have a car I thought we should stay the 2 nights in Interlaken and take the railway up to the Jungfrau and see the lakes on the other day. But after reading some of the posts I'm beginning to think Interlaken is the wrong choice. Does anyone know how high it is a.s.l.? Should we go further up the mountains? We'd like to stay in a nice characteristic hotel for no more than about 200 euros per night. Any suggestions?
Thanks
Thanks
Apr 18th, 2004, 10:20 AM
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Just returned from my trip to Europe that included a week in Interlaken. It was my 4th trip to this region and would ONLY recommend one location for your situation and that is WENGEN. Once you stay there you will know why most people suggest it. Have a great trip!!! Mike
Apr 18th, 2004, 10:42 AM
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Wengen is indeed a nice town, we stayed there for 5 nights. But we found that to get to other places, Murren, Schynige Platte or Jungfraujoch e.g. we had to take a train from there to get to the train we wanted. Also think vehicle traffic in Wengen is very restricted, locals only.
Apr 18th, 2004, 11:00 AM
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I've travelled to that area about 8 times in the past 2 years. I suggest Grindelwald (http://www.grindelwald.com/index-uk.php). Wengen is nice but transportation is a bit of an issue.
Lauterbrunnen is very crowded, and to me seems mainly like a traffic hub.
From Grindelwald you can take the train and sielbahn system to Wengen, Murren, Jungfraujoch, Lauterbrunnen, and many other places in the region. You can also drive. Grindelwald has a nice selection of restaurants and hotels, hiking trails, and absolutely breathtaking views of the Eiger and area mountains. It is my favorite place in Switzerland.
Hotel Residence in Grindelwald has a great restaurant. It doesn't look like much from the outside, and it isn't listed in the guidebooks, but they have a chef on contract there (I think this summer is his last on the current contract - hope it wasn't last summer!) that is great. The hotel is nice but may not be what you call 'characteristic' - we always stay there because we can get an inexpensive apartment with a great view, but it is not luxurious and doesn't cost near 200 euros/night. There are many other hotels and places to eat.
Have fun - it is a beautiful area, and no matter where you choose to stay, I do think you should head higher into the hills than Interlaken.
Helen
Lauterbrunnen is very crowded, and to me seems mainly like a traffic hub.
From Grindelwald you can take the train and sielbahn system to Wengen, Murren, Jungfraujoch, Lauterbrunnen, and many other places in the region. You can also drive. Grindelwald has a nice selection of restaurants and hotels, hiking trails, and absolutely breathtaking views of the Eiger and area mountains. It is my favorite place in Switzerland.
Hotel Residence in Grindelwald has a great restaurant. It doesn't look like much from the outside, and it isn't listed in the guidebooks, but they have a chef on contract there (I think this summer is his last on the current contract - hope it wasn't last summer!) that is great. The hotel is nice but may not be what you call 'characteristic' - we always stay there because we can get an inexpensive apartment with a great view, but it is not luxurious and doesn't cost near 200 euros/night. There are many other hotels and places to eat.
Have fun - it is a beautiful area, and no matter where you choose to stay, I do think you should head higher into the hills than Interlaken.
Helen
Apr 18th, 2004, 11:41 AM
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With only two nights to spend there I think you should choose Wengen. Its setting is gorgeous and it is convenient for rail trips/hikes up to Kleine Scheidegg, Jungfraujoch, Maennlichen etc.
The three star hotels Alpenrose and Bellevue received good reviews here and are definitely in your price range. Maybe still in your price range (or only a little splurge) is the four star hotel Regina. Have stayed there and loved it. The rooms to the south (with balcony) provide unbelievable views of the mountains, glaciers, the Lauterbrunnen valley etc. Food is fantastic too.
Wengen is car free, so you have to park your car in Lauterbrunnen and go to Wengen by mountain railway. Easy to handle.
Ingo
PS: for the most scenic drive from Lugano take the route via Airolo - Nufenen Pass - Grimsel Pass - Meiringen - Brienz (not motorway) - Interlaken.
The three star hotels Alpenrose and Bellevue received good reviews here and are definitely in your price range. Maybe still in your price range (or only a little splurge) is the four star hotel Regina. Have stayed there and loved it. The rooms to the south (with balcony) provide unbelievable views of the mountains, glaciers, the Lauterbrunnen valley etc. Food is fantastic too.
Wengen is car free, so you have to park your car in Lauterbrunnen and go to Wengen by mountain railway. Easy to handle.
Ingo
PS: for the most scenic drive from Lugano take the route via Airolo - Nufenen Pass - Grimsel Pass - Meiringen - Brienz (not motorway) - Interlaken.
Apr 18th, 2004, 12:56 PM
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Hi carrom,
Can't add much, as usual, to Ingo's great posts. Just to answer your latest question -- there are two Regina Hotels in the BO. One is a five-star in Grindelwald, and one is the very inviting four-star in Wengen.
Just to add something else -- there are no vehicles allowed in Wengen, so you may want to ditch your car before you get there!
s
Can't add much, as usual, to Ingo's great posts. Just to answer your latest question -- there are two Regina Hotels in the BO. One is a five-star in Grindelwald, and one is the very inviting four-star in Wengen.
Just to add something else -- there are no vehicles allowed in Wengen, so you may want to ditch your car before you get there!
s
Apr 18th, 2004, 02:38 PM
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I see no reason to discount Interlaken as a place to stay for a short visit.
You can pick a hotel near Interlaken Ost, and take an early morning train to any of several destinations up the line.
Then you would be in a good position the following day to take a boat ride from Interlaken to Thun and Spiez or to Brienz on the "other" lake.
As for where to go in the mountains, there are far more choices than you can carry out. I personally would suggest taking the train to Grindelwald and then take the gondola up to First.
From there you can walk as little as you like or as much as you can do!
For a one day trek, I would suggest visiting First first. (NO pun here, First as a noun in German means ridge.)
Then descend after looking at the world from there and take the smaller cable way up to Pfinstegg. From there hike the trail along the glacial valley to a restaurant at a spot called Stieregg.
The whole valley is one of glacial origin and you peer intimately into the glacial world.
After a pause there, with a meal at the restaurant, you can return to Grindelwald.
If you and your money still have the energy, you could take the train downhill to Grindwald Grund and then take the goldola up to the Männlichen, that long ridge that separates the Lauterbrunnen Valley from Grindelwald.
The views from the ridge are eyepopping.
From the crest of the ridge descend steeply on the cable lift to Wengen and take the train from there back to Lauterbrunnen and to Interlaken.
An option would be to walk down from the Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg and take the train back to Wengen and Lauterbrunnen.
It would be a long day, and expensive if you take all the rides, but the views are tremendous all the way.
Other options include the Schilthorn trip and, of course, there is always the big one: the Jungfraujoch.
I have enjoyed my trips up there for the big view, but my first choice of a day in the mountains would be the First - Stieregg - Männlichen trip.
This one gives you lake views, mountain views, some hiking, a peek at the inner mountain world of ice and valleys, a glacial ridge that spawns avalanches, and the depths of a beautiful glacial valley.
As for Lauterbrunnen being busy, I supposed it is. But it is a quiet busy. The town changes when the stores close and things suddenly shift gears.
I have visited there often and we like it because it is just minutes away from Wengen or Mürren and points up and out.
I can also add that the trip over the Grimsel Pass is a thriller. There is a place to stay overnight up on the pass. The views from up there are almost Himalayan in character.
You can pick a hotel near Interlaken Ost, and take an early morning train to any of several destinations up the line.
Then you would be in a good position the following day to take a boat ride from Interlaken to Thun and Spiez or to Brienz on the "other" lake.
As for where to go in the mountains, there are far more choices than you can carry out. I personally would suggest taking the train to Grindelwald and then take the gondola up to First.
From there you can walk as little as you like or as much as you can do!
For a one day trek, I would suggest visiting First first. (NO pun here, First as a noun in German means ridge.)
Then descend after looking at the world from there and take the smaller cable way up to Pfinstegg. From there hike the trail along the glacial valley to a restaurant at a spot called Stieregg.
The whole valley is one of glacial origin and you peer intimately into the glacial world.
After a pause there, with a meal at the restaurant, you can return to Grindelwald.
If you and your money still have the energy, you could take the train downhill to Grindwald Grund and then take the goldola up to the Männlichen, that long ridge that separates the Lauterbrunnen Valley from Grindelwald.
The views from the ridge are eyepopping.
From the crest of the ridge descend steeply on the cable lift to Wengen and take the train from there back to Lauterbrunnen and to Interlaken.
An option would be to walk down from the Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg and take the train back to Wengen and Lauterbrunnen.
It would be a long day, and expensive if you take all the rides, but the views are tremendous all the way.
Other options include the Schilthorn trip and, of course, there is always the big one: the Jungfraujoch.
I have enjoyed my trips up there for the big view, but my first choice of a day in the mountains would be the First - Stieregg - Männlichen trip.
This one gives you lake views, mountain views, some hiking, a peek at the inner mountain world of ice and valleys, a glacial ridge that spawns avalanches, and the depths of a beautiful glacial valley.
As for Lauterbrunnen being busy, I supposed it is. But it is a quiet busy. The town changes when the stores close and things suddenly shift gears.
I have visited there often and we like it because it is just minutes away from Wengen or Mürren and points up and out.
I can also add that the trip over the Grimsel Pass is a thriller. There is a place to stay overnight up on the pass. The views from up there are almost Himalayan in character.
Apr 19th, 2004, 06:21 AM
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Wow! Thaks again all for precious suggestions. Have now asked for offers at Regina Wengen and Belvedere Grindenwald. That should help us decide. While we're at it has anyone stayed or eaten at the Motto del Gallo in a place called Taverna near Bellinzona? Thought we might stay there on our way down instead of Lugano but any ideas on Lugano also appreciated.
Thanks
Thanks
Apr 19th, 2004, 07:53 AM
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There is no shortage of good choices in Grindelwald. Not sure what 200 euro gets you these days, but we sure did enjoy our stay at the 3*** Hotel Gletschergarten. Here's the view from the front porch:
http://community.webshots.com/photo/...11424317eCiWPM
http://community.webshots.com/photo/...11424317eCiWPM
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