travelgourmet

My distaste for Switzerland is well-known, but I can recommend the Rennaissaince in Lucerne. No views, but a very nice hotel and they always made my stays in Switzerland slightly less terrible.

isabel

While I agree that Interlaken's main street is extremely touristy and commercial, the town does have a small "old town" which is quite pleasant and both times I've been there, largely deserted (everyone is on the main drag). But the main advantage to Interlaken is location - between the mountains and the lakes. The time we stayed in Interlaken (5 nights) we went up into the mountains on the nice days and took trips on the lake (by boat or train) when the mountains were cloud covered. There's a webcam in the middle of town showing what it currently looks like up in the mountains (on some days all you saw was cloud). Our B&B host was wonderful about interpreting the weather forecasts and advising where to go depending. Both times I've spent a week in Switzerland (the other time I based on Lake Geneva but one day did a day trip to Interlaken and the lake towns) there were plenty of very cloudy (and rainy) days so having options is a good thing.

Speiz, Thun, Oberhofen were all worthwhile.We also did a day trip to Bern and Murten from Interlaken. Of course if you don't mind the extra half hour or so each way you could still stay in Wengen or Laterbrunnen and do those day trips.

Here's my photos: http://andiamo.zenfolio.com/f283697298

annhig

Again, thank you all for your excellent [if sometimes conflicting!] advice. apologies if i don't reply to you all individually.

A few have mentioned mobility issues and just at the moment, we're not sure what DH's situation will be in a couple of month's time. Hopefully he'll have recovered from the chemo treatment [last dose was this last Thursday] and be rearing to go, but being cautious, we are opting for places where there are things to do if he doesn't feel up to much walking. [though of course the wonderful transport system means that it's quite possible to get up the mountain and then walk down!]

Thanks for the thoughts about Interlaken/Wengen and the suggestion of Lauterbrunnen. I'll have to look into that a bit more. Just at the moment my thoughts are concentrated on Lucerne as it turns out that the music festival will be on at the time we will be there, so I'm trying to sort out accommodation asap so i can book concert tickets - we don't often see Bernard Haitink or Daniel Barenboim in these parts! So I'm starting at the end and working back!

Going to look for lake view hotels now!

frencharmoire

Regarding waterfalls, if the area has a particularly dry summer, the impact of the falls might be reduced. This could especially be true of Trummelbach falls, which roar impressively in spring, but much less potent as summer goes.

hetismij2

I have no suggestions but I hope you get your hotel and music festival tickets.
If your husband wants to stay in Wengen then stay there, never mind if there is much to do while you are there. Maybe some forced downtime and the mountains will do both of you good.

Good to hear he managed his last chemo. Hoping you have some good news soon.

margo_oz

Hi Annhig

I'm lurking here as I'm once again seeking that "White Christmas" and Bernese Oberland has come up in discussions.

Positive thoughts for your husband's improving health.

I understand there's also some cricket on this year also. Fancy a trip???

Dukey1

Have you decided on a hotel in Luzern yet? Let us know; I can think of several you might like.

Rubicund

Ann, have you written off Geneva itself as a base? There's lots to do there both in itself and as a day trip base. Have a look at this site:

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attrac...es-Geneva.html

and

https://www.timeout.com/switzerland/...o-do-in-geneva

There are a number of very good restaurants and excellent hotels in the town, so can recommend it.

Trophywife007

Signing in to watch this thread... spending 5 nights in Wengen plus more in surrounding area and Luzern is on my bucket list.

Christina

I would not want to spend 4 days in Lucerne myself, I don't think there is a lot to see/do there. Now if you are planning daytrips from there, okay, but not Lucerne itself.

I thought it was a pleasant enough city, though, and agree with TG about the Renaissance, where I also stayed. It was a very convenient location for me, as I wanted something within walking distance of the train station as that is how I arrived and departed. Of course you can easily walk over to the main part of the old town area and get to a lake boat ride from there, also.

WeisserTee

I am not a big fan of Luzern either, too much a city and really full of tour groups for much of the year. (I was there two days ago and stopped for a bit before heading on to Rotkreuz for a business meeting.)

I would go first to Gstaad, it's a nice break on the train to Interlaken anyway. lots of nice restaurants to choose from (better, IMO, than what you'll find in Wengen, Lauterbrunnen, Interlaken or even Lucerne for that matter), it's very pretty, the village itself is fairly flat. It has its own excellent summer concert series: https://www.gstaadmenuhinfestival.ch/en The Alpine scenery is softer, greener and less dramatic than in Wengen, but just as beautiful. It's very pleasant in August, busy without being mobbed with groups like Lucerne or Interlaken.

Then on to Wengen for the Dramatic Alps. I would pick Wengen over Lauterbrunnen, but I guess it's just a preference of whether you want to look UP at the mountains or DOWN at the valley

If you opt for Wengen, you really should pick a hotel room with an Alp view and preferably one that has a balcony as well. It's wonderful to sit with a glass of wine in the evening or coffee in the morning and just take in the scenery. We liked the Alpenrose, but there are several hotels that fit the bill. Just be careful that they're not too far or too uphill from the Wengen train station just in case your husband isn't up to a lot of walking.

I am a YUGE (as our President would say) fan of the Ticino as well, but Lugano can be hot and busy in August, ditto for Locarno, which also hosts a film festival that month. OTOH, both cities have gorgeous lakeside settings.

Whatever you decide, I'm sure you will enjoy it, I love living in Switzerland as much as TG hates it and wish you all the best for a lovely holiday!

Dogeared

Here's the problem. If someone is interested in the kind of things Switzerland has to offer, there are simply too many choices to try and define the 'best'. Really, I could name dozens of places worth visiting but could not name which would be 'best' unless you had some very specific criteria to meet. The term 'spoiled for choice' is very applicable to Switzerland.

So with that said, here are a couple of comments based on MY preferences and experiences in Switzerland.

Interlaken is where I would expect a travel agent to send someone. That is a travel agent who does not know Switzerland well. The same to a lesser degree applies to Lucerne. It's the 'usual suspects' syndrome.

Most people who have much experience of visiting Switzerland will tend to say you should avoid Interlaken in favour of one of the smaller villages in the Bernese Oberland as some posters here have suggested. I agree with them.

There is nothing wrong with Lucerne but then there is nothing wrong with Geneva or Montreux either and both of them are closer to your arrival/departure city. Geneva is your arrival/departure city, so why not explore it and the area around it? I also happen to love Basel, the Ticino and the Engadine/Graubunden area. Bern is lovely to visit for a day or two as well. Back to too many choices you see. People can name dozens of places but all that does is create more choices, not narrow down anything for you.

So I would suggest you consider just keeping it simple. Since you are arriving in Geneva, look at the Golden Pass Panorama train and choose your stops from it. It runs from Montreux (just take an ordinary train to there from Geneva) to Lucerne or the reverse obviously. If you use that as your first criteria, you will immediately reduce the possibilities to consider.

You still have choices of where to stay in the Bernese Oberland area if you wish but I would suggest you then decide whether you will go beyond that (to Lucerne) or just stay between Geneva and the BO. Again, it will reduce your choices.

Personally, I would choose between Geneva, Montreux, Gstaad and the BO. Shorter travel overall to/from Geneva than going to Lucerne and back.

http://www.myswissalps.com/goldenpass/gettingthere

frencharmoire

Gstaad is indeed very nice for its soft beauty & tranquility.

PalenQ

Actually Interlaken may be a good base for 3 days or so for your non-Alp day trips - like the two lakes and maybe Bern (also possible from Lucerne- best city I've seen in Switzerland. Get a place on Lake Brienz - like Bonigen sp? and hae dreamy view of lakes and Alps in distance and be walking distance to Interlaken-Ost.

I think you'd like Wengen more than Lauterbrunnen - most here seem to but Lauterbrunnen certainly has its pluses.

Kay2

Ann,
Best wishes for your husband.

I won't offer advice on Lucerne because it has been years since I visited except passing through on train.

Half board--When we stayed in Wengen the first visit to the BO region early in the season, we checked into our guesthouse planning just B&B, but once we walked around to check menus, we decided that the half board was a good financial deal, so we added on dinners. The pros--we lucked out in the quality of the food at the guesthouse, the dining room had lots of windows to continue viewing the scenery, and the meals were filling. The cons--the dining time constrained our sightseeing and we ate more than we normally would at dinner. There was limited choice, but we like most everything, so not a problem for us. When I returned and stayed in Murren, I did not get half board so I had more flexibility with time plus some nights I only wanted a bowl of soup or dessert, so I could get just that at a restaurant.
I can't help with a hotel in Wengen with elevators, but the quality of our guesthouse was high. The quality of my hotel in Murren was OK, but I knew that. I was staying for the fantastic view and moderate price.

I am one of those people who are content to just sit and stare at the mountains, take walks, eat picnics, and stare some more. For me, staying Wengen (more convenient that Murren) is heaven because you truly are in the mountains. From there you can take the gondola up to the flat walk (with occasional benches) with great views of the Eiger and Jungfrau. Or take the train up to Kleine Scheidegg for a sit with a drink and a view. If budget allows, take the train up the Jungfrau from there. I'm sure you know about checking the cameras up top before paying for the trip. You can take the train around to Grindelwald where short walk to First gondola for views and walks from different perspective. You would take the train down to catch bus or walk to the waterfalls in the valley or up to the Schilthorn, which would take some time, but are you in a hurry?

If you want a larger town with faster access to the lakes mentioned, then Lauterbrunnen is not so bad. It just has cars/buses, a grocery, more people and noise. But you can look up and feel you are surrounded by the mountains more so than in Interlaken. I took a half day trip from Murren to Brienz that involved 3 changes of transport. Starting from Lauterbrunnen would have been 1 change, from Wengen 2 changes. If I were there again, I would take the other trains like the Schynige Platte railway from Wilderswil up to the Schynige Platte viewpoint.

I think because of the slow modes of transport and the transfers that moving about in this region takes more time, so days fill up faster than expected.

As for evening, I am usually tired from so much town outside, so don't "do" much. I did find a listing of local events my last trip and went to a performance of locals in Murren that to me was a perfect outing. About a half hour before scheduled performance, people started walking from their homes dressed in traditional garb and carrying instruments. They put on a music, singing, yodeling, and dance performance in the community center for donations toward purchase of the outfits and equipment. So much better than the dinner show I saw years ago in a hotel restaurant with a group. There seemed to be events like this scattered among the towns on different nights. Not quite the professionals at the music festival, but quite genuine.

I would also agree that a couple of nights along Lake Geneva could be nice for contrast with lovely waterfront and boat ride, but you might get enough of that in Lucerne. We once stayed 2 nights in Vevey after Wengen and rode train from there to Geneva Airport. It was nice contrast my husband enjoyed, but for me as a mountain/nature lover, it was a too soon reintroduction to towns with cars and heat.

We'll be back in Switzerland July 1--so excited!

Peter_S_Aus

Ann, I can't offer anything on Switzerland (visited once in 1975), but have a great trip.

My best wishes for Mr Annhig. Some things are a real bummer.

Ciao.

Peter

PalenQ

Unfortunately the area gets Englsh-type foul weather for spells - even in summer - plan on some non-Alpine journeys in poor weather- Bern, lake boats (may be foul up in dem hills but nice down below), etc.

Best wishes to Mr A and of course Mrs A!

annhig

Thank you again for all your thoughts. Yes, we are intending to use Interlaken and Lucerne as bases for exploring [why would we not?] and walking if that turns out to be a possibility. We spent some time on Lake Geneva a few years ago, which is why I've rather rushed past it and Geneva itself doesn't appeal to DH, [which is at the moment the main criterion] so Interlaken it is. Were things different we might have been more adventurous and made for the Ticino or Engadine [a very good friend of ours wrote the book about walking there] but they aren't so we must make the best of it. But as Pal says it seems to me that there will be plenty there and there about to entertain us and we can always get the train to Bern if it rains.

Many thanks for the idea of the Golden Pass train but unless i've misunderstood the links, [entirely possible] as a means of getting from A to B it seems to require a lot of getting on and off - not really suitable when we will have luggage with us and we're trying to cut down on hassle. OTOH I can see that we can work it into our transfer from Interlaken to Lucerne, plus we can get 50% off due to the discount that comes with the Lucerne Music Festival concert tickets. I'm not sure that there is much difference between the normal Interlaken to Lucerne trains though apart from the fact that there is a restaurant car on some of them. Anyone got any ideas about this? [Pal - this is usually your specialist subject!]

but I will take another look at Gstaad and see if it will fit into our itinerary - I like the look of the music festival!

Kay - I think that three nights in Wengen will probably be enough sitting and staring for us - but I'm sure that it'll be very pleasant while we do it! The convenience of having all those means of getting up the mountain is indeed why we have chosen it; the idea is to do boat trips etc while we are in Interlaken and walking in Wengen - weather allowing of course. We have opted for B&B - we've no idea how DH's appetite will be when we get to August but I suppose if he's eating like a horse, we can change our minds.

I hope you enjoy your trip to Switzerland this summer and have a great time.

Thanks Peter - I still have hankerings after Venezia.

And to those to whom I have not replied specifically - apologies. I have read every post, promise - and I'm grateful for all your advice.

scrb11

Watch out for Dynamic Currency Conversion. All the terminals in BO seemed to display charges in Swiss Francs and Dollars and you had to make sure to choose dollars if you didn't want to pay the higher rate.

Adelaidean

Ann, here's a lovely day out in Bernese Oberland...hop on/ hop off at cute towns, visit gorges, enjoy a coffee or beer at a bergrestaurant with stupendous views, opt for a short walk between stops eg Rosenlaui to Schwarzwaldalp if up to it, add a lake cruise to the journey...

https://www.grindelwaldbus.ch/en/hik...ters-roundtrip

Best wishes to your husband. I can't imagine a nicer place to recuperate.