My wife & I are planning 3 nights in Lucerne and then a train ride to Innsbruck , Austria for 2 nights. Travel dates are 5/22 thru 5/30. Any comments about sights, hotels and weather would be extremely helpful. <BR> <BR>Thanks!

Scott, <BR> <BR>I loved the Hotel des Balances in Lucerne, a 4-star on the river with views of the Chapel Bridge. My room had a great view of the Jesuit Church. Their website is at www.balances.ch. Other posters here have recommended the Hotel Wilden Mann, another 4-star in the old town -- a member of the Romantik Hotel group (www.romantik.de). <BR> <BR>There's lots to do in Lucerne. The old city is worth half a day, offering two ancient bridges, the Jesuit church, the old Rathaus, and three ancient squares in its many tiny little streets. Lake Lucerne is worth at least a day, taking the ferry out to Fruelen and return, or stop at one village and walk around and catch a later ferry back. There are also excursions to Mt. Titlis, Mt. Pilatus, and Mt. Rigi. <BR> <BR>You can get more info at these websites: <BR> <BR>www.lakelucerne.ch <BR>www.lucerne.org <BR>www.titlis.ch <BR>www.pilatus.com <BR>www.rigi.ch <BR> <BR>Have a great trip! <BR> <BR>s

In Innsbruck, be sure to see St. Jakob's Church. It has a beautiful painted ceiling, and on the way toward the front there is a sculpture of the crucifixion, a Pieta, and then on the altar Jesus seated wearing a crown of gold. It's awesome in the true sense of the word. On a more mundane level, eat pastry at every opportunity.

We still laugh about the time we took the cable car up Mt Pilatius to see the sights when it was a "little foggy" on the bottom. We thought that would clear. It did not. I have beautiful photos of my wife and gray background. Don't do the cable cars if you cannot see a clear top. <BR> <BR>Ride around Lake Lucerne in a regular commuter boat. Fun few hours. <BR> <BR>Gotta see the sleeping lion statue in Lucerne. Mandatory. <BR> <BR>Innsbruck: Old town area and shops. I would spend more time in Switzerland.

I visit Lucerne quite often within the last couple of decades,I do like Hotel Des Balance for the river view & location, but I like it less after they remodeled their rooms with formica like so many hotels in Lucerne. <BR> For a simpler & practical choice, I found the Vierwaldstaetter Hotel (Four Forest-state) to be a better value. It's not riverfront but the rooms still have the old classic interior with alcoves/balconies and it has a comfy restaurant serving typical homemade swiss meals downstairs. It is right across the street from the tourist info of the train station (just wheel your suitcases) & it costs considerably less. <BR> The Stadtteller restaurant in the old town is the only place to have dinner/lunch with yodeling & folk music. You have to book in advanced if you want a good center table due to tour groups(Tel 41-41-514733) otherwise you may end up getting only a peek of the show. <BR> The best wienerschnitzel I've had in my life was in the Old Swiss House(near the lion monument)Tel 516171. It's not just an ordinary schnitzel. They fry it right by the table. It's a bit pricey but the food & service are great. <BR> I agree with Bob as far as Innsbruck,. Have you considered Salzburg instead. It's more dramatic and enjoyable than Innsbruck. <BR> <BR>

Can anyone tell me what the temperature would be like in Lucerne and Innsbruck in the May, please? The sites I have looked at, don't have there temps. Thanks... Also, are these towns still okay for 1 or 2 * hotels? Any suggestions, please?

Debbie, <BR> I looked at three low star hotels on the riverbank in Lucerne for some friends last June. I found Mr Pickwick Hotel to have the cleanest rooms (well remodeled)starting at CHF 70 for a single(not bad for riverview). the public rooms below are looking rather shabby, but the rooms are new. In my college days Mr Pickwick bar used to be the place where Americans gathered. <BR> Hotel Zum Weissen Kreuz & Hotel Des Alpes along the same side of the riverbank have much better public rooms but I thought the rooms were not as clean (for swiss standards)and they cost more(CHF 98 & up) They all have nice riverview. I remember Des Alpes having rooms with terraces overlooking the river. Hope that helps.