Long Weekend in Switzerland
 

My husband will be meeting me after a business meeting in Morge in early April. We want to spend 4 days travelling in Switzerland. Should we spend time in Geneva, take a trip to a ski resort, either to ski or just to visit? What small towns should we visit? Should we stay around Geneva and Lake Geneva, or venture out? We will have a car, and also need hotel recommendations. We would like nice hotels, but not excessive, since we wont be in the room much. Any suggestions will be appreciated.

Hi ElaineM,

Here's a link to your first question with some responses:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34754949

If you can tell us if those suggestions are good or bad, and why, we may be able to find a great spot for you.

s

here's a link for budget accommodations

www.rooms.ch

All of your responses have been a big help. I think we want to stay three nights in either Lausanne, Montreux, or Vevey, with possibly one night in Geneva before we fly out of Geneva. We figure we can set up camp, then take day trips to the other cities, including possibly Gruyere. If you were to pick a city ( we will have a car) which would you stay in, and where? We dont need a 5 star hotel, but would certainly like a nice place with a good view. We dont know if this is off season, so rates are lower, or not. Since its such a short stay, we dont mind spending a little more.

I would stay in either Vevey or Montreux. They are smaller and in my opinion somewhat more charming than Lausanne. You don't need to spend your last night in Geneva because any of these 3 places are a quick direct train ride into the airport (approx. 1 hour), note don't get off at downtown Geneva, the airport is the next stop and the termination.

See hotel listings at:
www.vevey.ch
www.montreux.ch

Suze,

Thanks so much. We are getting a car, so we can do day trips around, esp to Gruyere. Any issues with that method of travel, esp. in and out of Geneva?

Hi ElaineM,

I've only had a car on one trip to Montreux and regretted it. It's difficult to find parking, many of the roads are very narrow, windy, & confusing (up to Glion for example), and you're hampered getting to the nooks & crannies of the Lavaux. Much easier to take the train. A car is a special hinderance when going by ferry. I really think you'll just park it and not need it for this stay.

To get to Gruyeres by train, you just make a connection in Montbovon. Rail schedules at www.rail.ch.

Here's a link to my "review" of Gruyeres (w/photos):

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR..._Fribourg.html

Have fun!

s

Hi Elaine,

We have traveled this area on two different occasions. Once with a car and once by train. Depends on what you like to do. My husband is a "true American" ie, likes to travel everywhere by car. We enjoyed the freedom and didn't find it difficult to drive. We stayed in Lausanne, and enjoyed the variety of things to do. Made daytrips to all the places listed above, and also ventured into the Rhone Valley to Sion. Our hotel had a parking garage, so it wasn't a problem in Lausanne.

Agree with Swandav that it is very easy to travel via train. On our second trip we stayed in Glion. It would not have been fun to have a car - rather we enjoyed the funicular and walking in between train stops at the cities along the route. Took a side trip from there to overnight in Locarno, just because we wanted to take the centovalli train.

Have a great trip.

If everything you want to see and do is near the lake--I wouldn't bother with a car (I've done it both ways). Trips to Bern, Murten or Gruyere are easy by train. If you want to go up in the mountains or otherwise off the beaten path away from the lake, a car makes sense.