k_marie

We'll be in Europe the first two weeks of July--July 1-July 15, arriving and departing Basel. Our daughter and son-in-law live there so, of course, we'll be spending some time with them. I think they'll not be taking any time off from work so we'll do our travel during the week. Plans now are that we'll definitely return to Basel for Sunday, July 10, since that day's etape of the Tour de France ends at nearby Mulhouse.

My husband, the jazz enthusiast, is looking forward to spending a few days enjoying jazz in Montreux and I think we might also like attending jazz events in the Roman ampitheatre in Vienne (just south of Lyon).

We'll travel by train. If we stay in Switzerland one week, and go to the Rhone Valley the other, I think we'll have no difficulty outlining an itinerary.

My concern is that the schedules of performances for both festivals have not yet been released and, without the schedules, we have not decided which days to attend--consequently, we have not made hotel reservations.

The Montreux program will be available April 12. We'll order tickets, then hope to find a hotel that will be convenient (without a car). Do you think there's a chance of finding a double room at a 3* hotel (or recommended 2*) at that late date? In Vevey, maybe? La Tour-de-Peilz? Another place along the bus route? Or should we look in another direction?

Once we know what we are doing for Montreux, we'll plan for Vienne the other week. Do you think we can expect to find a htoel in Vienne during the festival if we start looking in April? Any recommendations? If Vienne is not likely, where should we look? Would it be feasible to take the train back to Lyon after an evening concert?

I'd especially like to hear from anyone who has attended either festival. Thanks for your suggestions!

swandav2000

Hi k_marie,

Well, I'm afraid that, yes, you will have a bit of trouble getting a room at the best (location, price, etc) three or two star hotels. But you WILL find a room! I want to suggest you also consider Villeneuve (www.villeneuve-tourism.ch), the town on the other side of Chillon. There's a lakeside 3-star (www.duport.ch) that looks very nice. Villeneuve is just 5-7 minutes from Montreux by train, maybe 20 by bus. I've walked to Villeneuve from Montreux, and it's closer than Vevey -- but largely overlooked (so better chances for getting a room!).

You can also consider Glion, the town above Montreux; there is the three-star Hotel des Alpes there. You can get information on it through the www.montreux.ch site. You can get to Montreux from Glion two ways: funicular to Territet, then walk or bus; or 12-minute train. I've walked between Glion & Montreux a few times. The views are spectacular from Glion, and in fact my favorite hotel (the 4-star Victoria) is in Glion. Rooms in Glion don't sell out quickly because, again, it's often overlooked.

I have attended the Jazz Fest, but it was 1968 so not very helpful! Well, really I didn't "attend" it, but I was in Montreux at the time it was going on.

I envy you your time in Basel, an absolutely wonderful city!!

s

k_marie

An update, with my belated thanks, s'. I appreciate your specific advice to my query and your many generous contributions here relating to Switzerlaand.

We went ahead and made our hotel reservations before the Montreux jazz festival schedule was released. So we did decide to stay in Montreux because the jazz fan would like to experience as much of the festival as possible. We booked the Hotel Helvetie.

The schedule of performances was on-line yesterday and we have already bought tickets for a concert at the casino. We may decide to do more of the larger events and we'll definitely take in the music in the smaller venues.

I'm hoping we'll get to some of the smaller towns nearby to do some of the walks you have described in other posts.

As for our plans for the days after the Tour de France experience back in Basel, we may not go to Vienne after all. Maybe Bern, Murten, Lac Neuchatel, or simply day-trips from Basel.

Thanks again for all your help!

suze

My reply to this post would be exactly what you already did...

Make a reservation & Hotel Helvetie would be my personal first choice! I have a dear friend who lives in Montreux so I visit often (but never during the festival because her guest bedroom is booked solid too -LOL).

So far I have always had the good luck to stay with friends, but visited that hotel last summer in anticipation of future trips, if I needed a room. The atmosphere is a tad 'faded grandeur' at least in the lobby and restaurant (which honestly is my style anyway), good price, excellent location, and there's a lovely rooftop patio that no one ever seems to use.

k_marie

Thanks, Suze, for the reassurance about my choice of hotel.

I, of course, had seen your earlier posts about Hotel Helvetie--we expect it will be a fine place to stay for a few days in Montreux.

We're looking forward to boat rides and walks and near-by vineyards by day--and music in the clubs and casino by night.