foolforfrance

We just found out our son will be in Frankfurt, Germany until January. We will fly into Frankfurt and spend 4 days in Mainz and then take a train to Switzerland (I want to stay in a smaller town as a base) then depart from Geneva. I have printed a lengthy thread Mr. and Mrs. Annhig need your help..., and know I will get lots of good info there. My pressing questions are related to timing and availability. We have two windows of time we can visit him, 9/6-17 and 10/11-22. We would prefer the October dates, but wanted feedback on the weather in Switzerland in mid-October. Also, will we have trouble finding lodging at this late date for either of those sets of dates?

Thanking you in advance!

PalenQ

Weather would be better usually in September - and everything is open - I think in late October some lifts close for maintenance and some hotels may close for lack of patrons - in between summer and winter high seasons.

Anyway trains are the best way to go- from Mainz get discounted tickets -book far in advance to guarantee getting them - can always get on trains but if you wait till Mainz to buy tickets you will probably pay a whole lot more for full fare- easy to book your own: www.bahn.de/en - I'd do like annhig -stay in Lucerne area and Interlaken area and bop over to Geneva.

But it depends on how long your are in Switzerland. Anyway for lots on Swiss trains (and Swiss passes, etc) check www.sbb.ch- official site of Swiss Railways; www.budgeteuropetravel.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.seat61.com.

Wengen in Jungfrau area seems tailor-made for what you desire as a base in awesome Alpine surroundings.

greg

You are dealing with weather uncertainties, and if you are heading the the mountains, it is even more unpredictable. While statistically you would probably get better weather in September, it is not a done deal. I have had fair skies at Zermatt at the end of September while rained everyday and cold at Berner Oberland in July. I have also been hit by a heat wave at the beginning of September in Bern.

What is certain are the maintenance days. You need to check these for each places you plan to visit. For example, Mt. Pilatus looks like this: https://www.pilatus.ch/en/inform/timetable/

Your October visit would probably come before the maintenance periods between the hiking and the sky season.

Melnq8

I'd choose the October time frame personally, as September is still high season and places like the Berner Oberland will be packed with tourists.

Mind you, I'm assuming you'd choose that area, as most first time visitors do, and yes, you do run the risk of potential closures and adverse weather, but not dramatically so. Take a look here for weather averages in the area:

http://www.holiday-weather.com/wenge...rages/october/

If you're considering the Berner Oberland, take a look at this site to check operating schedules - it might make your decision for you:

https://www.jungfrau.ch/en-gb/

You could well have trouble finding accommodation for your Sept dates if you plan to visit busy tourist areas, less so in other parts of the country.

Fussgaenger

We have two windows of time we can visit him, 9/6-17 and 10/11-22... will we have trouble finding lodging at this late date for either of those sets of dates?

You can check lodging NOW for both Mainz and the Swiss destinations. That's the only way to know if you'll have trouble.

The September dates would be good if you wish to get in on the local wine festivals that take place north of Mainz in the Middle Rhine Valley. Oberwesel hosts a fest on the 8th, 9th and 10th and again on the 15th and 16th. On Saturday the 9th the "Night of 1,000 fires" fireworks exhibition, street music, and of course lots of wine stands, are part of the festivities. On Sunday afternoon the 10th, there's a big parade. Admission is free.

http://www.oberwesel.de/uploads/pics/P1060485.JPG
http://www.oberwesel.de/uploads/pics...urist-Info.JPG

The Middle Rhine Valley is a UNESCO World Heritage site with medieval castles, vineyards, and attractive old-world towns like Oberwesel, Bacharach, Boppard and Braubach.

http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1066

Getting to the MRV towns from Mainz takes less than an hour by direct train. A nice 1.5 hours is the cruise from Bingen to St. Goar (the most scenic part.)

http://www.bingen-ruedesheimer.de/wp...t-Objekt-1.jpg

lavandula

Mainz is absolutely super in September and October. With 4 days you can get out and explore the region (Middle Rhine Valley, Wiesbaden, maybe Bad Kreuznach at a pinch). There is a charming old town and some very good museums (Gutenberg, ancient Roman ships), Roman ruins and the 1000 year old Mainzer Dom. Also the Chagall windows in the Stefansdom.

October is still OK but you have the last of the big fruit harvests in Sept (Zwetschgenkuchen, or plum cake, is available at this time) and the first of the new wine and onion tart (Zwiebelkuchen). By October many of the trees will have lost their leaves and the cool weather will have set in. Irrespective of whether you pick September or October I would still bring along a light jacket and layers. Days in Sept can be sunny and warm but nights cooler and you may be glad of that jacket.

Lavandula

PalenQ

In either month it can get cold at higher elevations like Wengen or Murren - I was in Interlaken area one mid-Sept and there was ice on sidewalks in Murren and the popular Three Pass bus tour was cancelled the day I wanted to take it because highway passes were blocked by snow.

I'd stay especially in mid-October in a lower elevation place like Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald -each with scintillatingly awesome views of the glacier-girdled Jungfrau Massif.

foolforfrance

Thank you all for your input. We now feel comfortable booking or prefered dates of October 11-22. We will be prepared for cold weather and lodge at the lower elevations. Train and public transport will be our mode of transportation. The first few days in Mainz and surroundings and flying out of Geneva are definite. I know we have lodging in Mainz. Once I determine my base or bases, I can research threads for lodging in those towns and maybe start a new thread.

W 10/11 Travel day
Th 10/12 Arrive Frankfurt@8:50a. Travel to Mainz
F 10/13 Mainz
S 10/14 Mainz
S 10/15 Mainz or possibly depart to Switzerland
M 10/16 Mainz or Switzerland
T-Sat TBD
Sun 10/22 Dept Geneva 10:30a

We are considering making Lausanne our single base. Does that make sense or should we have two hotel stays...one in say Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald for any Berner Oberland travel and one in Lausanne for travels in the French side of Switzerland.

Now time to dig into Mr. and Mrs. Annhigs thread for more helpful information.

So thankful to all you Fodorites who generously give of your time to help other plan great adventures.

swandav2000

Hi foolforfrance,

No, I wouldn't recommend that you stay in Lausanne for your single base in Switzerland. For one thing, it is a big city, and Switzerland is at its best in the villages and the countryside. For another thing, it is in the French section of the country, so in architecture, ambiance, cuisine, etc, it looks and feels more like the French Riviera than it does what most tourists think of as Switzerland. And lastly, Lausanne isn't near any big mountains for you to ascend, and most folks go to Switzerland primarily to go up a mountain.

I'd recommend you find a base in the mountains, in a village perched up high. As both Melnq8 and Pal have both imagined you to base in the Berner Oberland, I would too. That is, as Melnq8 says, where most folks go for their first trip to the country. It has dramatic scenery of high mountains that are easy to ascend, and it has a really wonderfully developed infrastructure for foreign tourists (hotels & restaurants at every price level, great transportation in & around, and most folks speak excellent English).

To shorten this ... I recommend you investigate Wengen, in the Jungfrau region of the Oberland, or maybe Grindelwald or Lauterbrunnen.

https://jungfrauregion.ch/en/summer/#landing

If you want to spend your last night or two at Lake Geneva to make your flight easier, you could stay in Montreux or in Vevey, both nice towns on the Lake.

Have fun as you plan!

s

PalenQ

I would not base in Mainz -a nice but large city lacking the charm of smaller towns down the Rhine - any town between Bingen/Rudesheim and Boppard - but if you have some kind of family or friends lodging in Mainz fine but if just doing hotels look at the smaller towns IMO.

foolforfrance

PalenQ: We are basing there because my son is living in Mainz and lodging will be provided.

Swandav2000: Based on PalenQ's rec, I think Grindelwald or Lauterbrunnen at the lower elevations may be best bet. Thanks for rec's around Lake Geneva.

PalenQ

PalenQ: We are basing there because my son is living in Mainz and lodging will be provided.>

OK -and it is a neat city! Be sure to take K-D boats down the Rhine -part from Mainz to Bingen/Rudesheim bit inudstrial - maybe take train Mainz- to one of those - many cruises start there.

www.k-d.com

foolforfrance

Pal-Thanks for the K-D boat suggestion. Adding it to the itinerary.

Swandav2000-I would love to spend my entire 6
days in Switzerland in the mtns, but my
husband and son want to spend time on
the French side so I guess we will
have 2 bases...Lauterbrunnen or
Grindelwald and Montreux

I read the entire Mr. and Mrs. Annhig need help post
And got a lot of good info. I would appreciate hotel or
Apt recs for Lauterbrunnen, Grindelwald and Montreux.
Since our son is with us, we will need 2 rooms.

I wish we could stay in Wengen, the rec of so
Many fodorites and where the Annhigs landed, but
It seems prudent to stay at the lower elevation in mid-
Oct.

After I figure out lodging, I will focus on buying my train
Pass.

By the way, this is a fairly low key trip. Staring at the
Beauty of the mtns, hiking, boating, biking and eating
are on the list of activities.

I'm so glad Mr and Mrs Annhig had a good
trip and I am looking forward to the trip
Report.

swandav2000

Hi again,

What is your price preference for your hotels per room/per night? Here are some options:

The Eden Palace au Lac, 4 star, right on the lake in the center of town near the Casino (I've stayed there 3 times, but some time ago, before they added the pretentious "Palace" to their name)

The Royal Plaza, 5-star, right on the lake, outside of the central area in the area called Clarens

The Au Fil de l'Eau, 4-star, right on the lake also in Clarens (stayed there once with my mom under the last owners -- be aware that it can be noisy at night due to the diners)

The Golf-Hotel Rene Capt, 4-star, in the suburb called Territet (never stayed there, but it's right on the lake in a quiet spot).

Another place I haven't stayed at but like the location of, is the Hostellerie Bon Rivage in La Tour-de-Peilz, between Montreux & Vevey. It's a 3-star right on the lake and right at a bus stop.

Your hosts will give you a Riviera Card, making the busses free, so you can be in Montreux quickly.

While you think about Lauterbrunnen, I should remind you that it sits at the base of some cliffs. Some folks don't even notice the cliffs, and others think they add to the drama and the beauty of the town. However, if I had planned to stay there, and I wasn't aware of the cliffs, I would not be happy! For me, the cliffs overhang the town and render it all a bit depressing. If you think this may bother you, take a look at some photos at google images and see if it might be a concern.

Have fun as you plan!

s

kja

If choosing between Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald, allow me to extol the merits of Lauterbrunnen, perhaps at the very welcoming Hotel Staubbach. JMO.
http://www.staubbach.com/en/summer/
The cliffs are noticeable at the train station. The valley opens out just a bit further on, and so the cliffs are some distance from the Hotel Staubbach. Swandav has told us before that she has never actually stepped outside the train station….

You might find some useful information in my trip report. Please use the search function, as I added a lot after posting my initial report:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...any-thanks.cfm

swandav2000

That's right kja, I haven't gone beyond the train station in Lauterbrunnen (why would I .... so much to see that draws me elsewhere). I'm glad you've linked your TR so that the op will have another opinion!

Oh, but ... the valley opening out wouldn't do it for me. It's still the bottom of the valley, and views are still of the valley floor and UP to the mountains. Views from above are OVER to other mountains and down into the valley. No contest imo.

s

kja

@ swandav; I'm glad I saw the area from both above and below! And I hope you step out to the open part of the Lauterbrunnen Valley one day.... For those on a budget and with limited time in the area, I think the Lauterbrunnen Valley well worth considering. I splurged for a night in Wengen -- and yes, it was, for me, a serious splurge -- and I was disappointed, as my hotel did not afford one of the views that so draws people to Wengen. For those who have the time and money to stay at one of the hotels there that offers one of the jaw-dropping views, I say: Go for it!

swandav2000

It's just not for me, kja! Please save your wishes for my travel opportunities for things on my wish list ��.

Btw, I live in a town in the fields at the foot of the Alps and can see a town in the shade of mountains by walking for about 30 minutes...

s

kja

@ swandav: If you won't step out of the train station at Lauterbrunnen, of course, that's your call. But then, I would think you might stick to your previous agreement to quit telling people it is oppressive, since you've never actually seen it.... JMO.

kja

@ swandav: Sorry, I just realized that you didn't actually say "oppressive" this time -- you said "a bit depressing." But maybe you can simply say what you like, without commenting on places you have never been?