After visiting Montreux (2 nights), Brienz (1 night) and Wengen (4 nights) we have 2 nights to spend in either Weggis or Lucerne. Our original plan was to opt for Lucerne, but after reading various posts and checking out prices, I'm now considering Weggis. I'm traveling with my 18 year old son and want to spend less than 200CH for a hotel.

Lucerne seems pretty expensive, but has the potential advantage of night life, which we may or may not be interested in after touring all day. Hotel Krone. which has good reviews is 200ch; Hotel Flora, which received poor reviews on TripAdvisor is 107CH.

In Weggis, we received price quote from Hotel Friedheim of 170CH; (1 excellent review on tripadvisor) Garni Hotel Frohburg (190ch)-no reviews.

Any thoughts?

I should have mentioned that the two hotels in Weggis have lakeview rooms, although I doubt we'll spend much time in the rooms. Also, parking is free at the first hotel; 6ch per day at the second.

tt

I'll follow up here with my usual recommendation:

"We stayed at a plain-but-clean hotel called the Goldener Stern about 1 block behind the Jesuit Church on the other side of the river, and near the other wooden bridge. Our twin/dbl was about $90, including some breakfast. It is across from a small church whose bells ring a couple times an hour. My husband thought it bothered him, but now he says he'd go back to same hotel should we revisit.
We walked to the hotel from the train station - it's about 800 meters or 1/2 a mile. We easily walked to the old town area, up along the Museggwall, and all the way over to the Lion Monument. Lucerne is quite compact and good for walking."

http://www.goldener-stern.ch/hotel_e.htm

We stayed there during October, left our window ajar for coolness and were not bothered unduly by traffic. Very plain rooms but clean and serviceable. They run a restaurant on the ground floor, where breakfast is served. Didn't eat dinner there but I'm sure it would be good. Breakfast was breads, juice, coffee...maybe cheeses and cereal.

Weggis, Weggis, Weggis! Take a day trip to Lucerne by ferry to see the little bits of the old town. Otherwise, views and ambience and noise levels will be much better in Weggis, and crowds will be much smaller. If you want night life, you can stay in Lucerne until late, check the ferry schedule, you may also be able to get a bus back later than the ferries run.

Hi stillhouse,

I spent a few days in Weggis in 2002 and totally concur with Cicerone on the delights of the town -- views, serenity, & ambiance are stupendous! Here's a link to my photos at webshots so you can see for yourself how nice it is there:

http://community.webshots.com/album/78545764nJmnyK

But, of course, there is a drawback. I was there in November, when the ferries were running on a limited schedule (only two or three ferries a day). As a result, I felt sort of trapped out in the country; without the ferry, it takes 30-40 minutes on a bus and a train to commute between Weggis & Luzern. The ferry schedules are posted through the summer, so check them out before you make your decision:

www.lakelucerne.ch/index.cfm?page=236&lang=E

s

As it happens, a coworker and friend of mine who grew up very near there walked in just as I was reading this. Her answer: Weggis.

I stayed in Luzern, also at the Golderner Stern, and liked it, but I remember thinking that if I came back I'd like to stay in Weggis (transport allowing, of course).

Thanks for all of your responses. I wil be renting a car, so we have the option of driving to Lucerne, although if the schedule in May is not too limited, I probably rather take the boat.

Since we will be staying near the lake in Montreux I wasn't sure if we should vary our experience by opting for a "city/town" stay in Lucerne, but it seems like the consensus is Weggis.

Any feedback on the specific hotels I mentioned? I'm leaning toward Hotel Friedman

I've never been to Weggis, so this post has it's limitations. That having been said, I can't say enough about Luzern. There's lots to do-which might be nice for your 18 year old, great views, many, many eating and shopping choices and, given the "quiet" places you will have visited beforehand, you might find the livelier Luzern a nice complement to your trip.

As for reasonably priced hotels:
--Hotel Mr. Pickwick has great Pilatus view rooms for cheap.
--Hotel Baslertor, and its partner, Pension Rossli, across the river are reasonably priced alternatives (150-180 chf/nt).

We got off the lake cruise at Weggis and walked around for about an hour. I don't think I'd like to base there as it is very small, not many cafes/restaurants, and <i>very</i> quiet except for the charming cow bells. That would be great as a big-town antidote, I suppose...

Really liked Lucerne - it's a city but still appealing along the river, up the Museggwalls, in the old town, over the little wooden bridges... and there is much to do both day and evenings there.

Hotel Pickwick is a budget hotel situated above a tavern and does not serve breakfast. I was hesitant to stay there for fear of late noise from bar patrons, smoke and the no-breakfast thing.

Enjoyed Goldener Stern, as I mentioned above, and have the Hotel Roesli as a second choice. www.roesli.ch

I too love Luzern, and I have always liked Kathy Lee and Kelly much better than Weggis.

bobthenavigator -

I stayed in Weggis as a teenager and remember considering it the most boring place I'd ever been.

I'm sure I'd appreciate the view, peace and quiet, picturesque setting etc. now, but I'm not sure it's really a place for teenagers!

(I liked Lucerne though - we visited it on the same holiday).

If you are in Weggis, either in hotel or just for the day, and the weather is good, take the gondola up to Rigi-Kaltbad. From there you have two great choices. Hike the Panoramaweg (basically flat), or take the train to Rigi-Kulm (summit). You won't be sorry.

Bob, chuckled out loud..it caught me by surprise..on the second reading, oh too funny. I think I didn't pick up on it right away because I didn't know how to pronounce Weggis...will never forget it now!!!! LOL

Actually, it's pronounced Veggis (hard G); sounds more like Vegas than Regis. At least that's how my friend who grew up right near there pronounces it -- but what would she know?

Ah...tbe german part...OK..but i'm glad I got the joke...oh how clever am I. By the way..I don't know about Veggis..but I loved being in Lucerne.