I will be hiking in Grindelwald w/a group for a week in June and have four nights afterward to visit another part of Switzerland before leaving from Zurich. I had originally wanted to go to Lugano, but heard you have to go back to Zurich from Grindelwald then it is a 6-hour train ride. So, now I am looking at Lucerne which is very close and I am concerned it will too much the same (albeit good)scenery, etc. as the Grindelwald area. Would Geneva be a better choice even though we may have to give up a night to get back to Zurich to catch our plane? Thanks

Hi snorklesue,

Lake Geneva, though not the city of Geneva itself, is one of my favorite spots in the world. I love the scenery and the overall French ambiance of the place. The train trip from Grindelwald/Interlaken to Montreux (via Zweisimmen) is pretty nice too! Here's a link to my journal so you can get an idea of what the area is like:

http://www.igougo.com/planning/journ...JournalID=7825

However, I do want to say that I love Luzern also, and that its scenery is really nothing (IMO) like that of Grindelwald. The main attraction in Luzern is the lakes -- with the mountains rising steeply around them. I love Grindelwald's scenery too, but Luzern's is just flat-out stunning. Here's a link to some of my photos of Lake Luzern: http://community.webshots.com/album/78545764nJmnyK

Let me know if I can help further.

s

Another way to Lugano from Grindelwald. Take postal bus from Meiringen (30 min from Interlaken) to Goschenen, on the Zurich-Lugano rail line. Bus takes 3 hours but is spectacular up and over the Alps ride and trains take 1.5 hrs from Goschenen to Lugano, running at least hourly. take train from Grindelwald to meiringen (1 hr); buses leave from opposite train station. Otherwise Lucerne is quite different from Grindelwald - one of Europe's loveliest cities on a lovely lake hemmed in by mountains. the train ride from Interlaken-Lucerne, part of the Golden Pass route, is also very scenic as this narrow-gague at times cog railway goes up and over the Bruning Pass. Lot less travel than Geneva. Lugano is also very nice, different with a bit of a semi-tropical look - palm trees and another swell lake. By the way it's 3 hours by train Zurich-Lugano. But you wouldn't have to backtrack to Zurich as you'd go Lucerne-Arth Goldau and goin Zurich-Lugano line there. Some direct Lucerne-Lugano trains (3 hr Lucerne-Lugano) via the scenic Gotthard Pass (tunnel) route - tunnel not scenic but approaches are. Don't blink when you seem to pass the same church three times as the train loops back and forth and passes the same church from different levels up the mountain. If doing Geneva or Lugano a Swiss Pass will be bargain for you - cheaper in States now quite a bit - check out RailEurope or Budget Europe (800-441-9413) and compare prices on www.sbb.ch Swiss Rail web site and see the significant savings. RailEurope charges $15 order fee; Budget Europe doesn't not unless rush orders. anyone doing Switzerland by rail should call BudgetEurope and ask for their free European Planning & Rail Guide as the Swiss chapter tells a lot about the areas you're interested in and gives all various Swiss Pass prices.
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Thank you both for the helpful information. Swandav, what was your hotel in Weggis w/the wonderful view? Your photos are amazing. I also heard of hotel Roggerli in Hergiswil, do you know it?

Hi again snorklesue,

My hotel was the Albana (http://www.albana-weggis.ch/). Yes, the views were really spectacular, and the staff was also extraordinary (manager gave me a piano-music cd as I left), but I didn't care for the modern decor in the room.

Sorry, I don't know the Roggerli, but I do know that one poster here recommends it (actually it's a secondhand recommendation from the poster's friend . . . ). I couldn't find anything at tripadvisor about the Roggerli, but I did find the post here recommending the hotel: http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34514900

Isn't Luzern amazing?? See why I always aim for a lakeview room!

s

Hi and welcome back, S! (Is there a trip report somewhere?)

snorklesue, My friends were pleased with the Roggerli (hotel-roggerli.ch). It was not fancy, of course, and a bit of an uphill walk from the train station. I notice that a lake-view room is 150 SW/100E. They did enjoy eating the meals.

However, Lac Leman/Geneve still has my vote. It would be more of a contrast to central Switzerland. Walks in the lakeside vineyards, etc. ahhhh. What a decision. J.

snorklesue: Another great hotel in Weggis is the Beau Rivage, family owned and operated for over 50 years. The rooms are quite nice and the hotel in on the lakeshore. We stayed there last October, with my daughter and her one year old, and they could not have been more accommodating and nice. The dining room is close to perfect!!

Snorklesue: Sorry, forgot the enclosed link! http://www.beaurivage-weggis.ch/english/home.htm

Here's an enthusiastic vote for Luzern. The lakes, surrounding mountains and beautiful Altstadt, not to mention the Lion monument (Lowendenkmal), Transport Museum, biking around the lake, great food and convenient location, make this our favorite place in Switzerland. We've been to Locarno, which we enjoyed a lot, and Vevey, which we did not enjoy as much, and would return to Luzern if we only had time to visit one place.