Marcie

Would appreciate any hotel recommendations for a CENTRALLY located hotel in Berne,Montreux, Wengen and Lucerne. "3 star" seems about right (balconies are a big plus if possible)but price is important as well. <BR>Thanks! Marcie

Mika

Hi, I can only help you with Berne, Here is their Hotel Site. I only know 2 of them in the center, the "Goldener Adler" *** and the "Belle Epoque"**** <BR>Both are right in the middle, but as Berne was built in the middle ages, there are no balconies. One hotel, which I DO NOT recommend is the Hotel Berne.

Mika

http://www.berntourismus.ch/en/frameset.html <BR>I forgot the Hotel Site...sorry.

Ursula

Marcie: In Lucerne, go for the "Balances" (www.balances.ch) or the "Rebstock" (www.hereweare.ch), the "Hofgarten" (www.hofgarten.ch) or the Art Déco hotel "Montana" (however not that centrally located). <BR>For more info about Lucerne,check: <BR>www.stadt-luzern.ch <BR> <BR>I do second Mika advice for Berne, Hotel "Bern" is not terrible. I do know the Belle Epoque Bar and would not mind staying in that hotel either. <BR>For Wengen, check out <BR>www.wengen.ch <BR>or some other experts will show up soon. ;-) (Ed and Wes). <BR>Montreux: <BR>Hm, I think there is the Villa Toscana, right? I only do know the "Montreux-Palace". Otherwise, I suggest the "Raisin" in Cully or the "Trois Couronnes" in Vevey, very nice small town where Charly Chaplin used to live.

Georgine

Marcie, <BR> <BR>We can recommend the Sunstar Hotel in Wengen. The web site is: <BR> http://www.sunstarhotels.com <BR> <BR>Unfortunately, the web site does not do the property justice. The photo of the room is not representative (ask for an alpine furnished room). All rooms have balconies. Rooms are either mountain facing or overlooking the main street in Wengen. (We requested a mountain view.) <BR> <BR>The common areas and the rooms were tastefully furnished. The hotel's heated indoor swimming pool was very large, glass enclosed on two sides which gives gorgeous mountain views, and there is an adjacent flagstone and grass terrace with lounge chairs for sunning in pleasant weather. <BR> <BR>We took the half-board and were very pleased with the four-course dinners. <BR> <BR>The hotel is on Wengen's main street, about 1 block or so from the train station. If you have wheeled luggage, you can walk or they will send an electric cart to the station to pick you up. <BR> <BR>Although rated a four-star, the price was quite good ---summer season is about $130 for a double with bfst. and taxes. <BR> <BR>The Mannelichen lift is a half block from the hotel. <BR> <BR>For convenience, we booked through their stateside representative with no extra charge, and she sent us tons of brochures and helpful info. <BR> <BR>We've been to Luzerne and Berne, but I would not recommend to others the hotels we had in either city. <BR>

Ursula

Marcie: Now, I found it. The website of the first jailhouse hotel in Switzerland. It's called "Hotel Löwengraben" in Lucerne, very centrally located. It must be quite an experience to stay there overnight in a cell!! <BR>Check it out: <BR>www.loewengraben.ch <BR> <BR>PS: I do not think that there are any balconies

Marcie

Thanks so much guys! Keep it comming! Georgine, which hotels in Berne and Lucerne would you NOT recommend (I want to make sure I don't end up there) Thanks!

ricahrd j vicek

Good aternoon, Marcie Placing the\ <BR>name of the HOTEL HELVETIA, 32 Av Du Casino, Ch 1890 Montreux, it is a three <BR>star hotel with 60 rooms. It is a very <BR>old hotel but service and accomodations <BR>are excellant. Brings you back into <BR>an era of the early 20's. Loved it, if we ever return to Montreaux would stay <BR>there again. &lt; [email protected]&gt; <BR>Also keep in mind the boats running on <BR>Lake Geneva and Lucerne, an excellant <BR>way to pass the time, especially on <BR>overcast or rainy days. <BR>Richard of LaGrange Park, Il... <BR>

BOB THE NAVIGATOR

Marcie, The Des Alpes in Luzern is hard to beat for location and price. I will be there for 3 nites starting 4 Oct.

Maureen

My husband and I just returned from a 2 week trip to Austria and Switzerland. I would recommend Hotel Krone in Lucerne (a three star and approx. $158/night including breakfast). It was conveniently located in the old town (WeinMarket 12). I believe it was renovated in 1994. The rooms were good size and the bathroom was nicer than most in Switzerland. Sorry, no balconies. They have a website: krone-luzern.ch <BR>Have a great time!

jw

May I mention the community of Hergiswil just outside of Lucerne. Some friends stayed at the Hotel Roggerli and loved it. jw

jw

p.s. I do want to second Ursula's suggestion of the tiny lake town of Cully on Lac Leman. We stayed in a small two-star place at Rivaz, but visited Cully several times to eat supper. It's a lovely place. That entire shore from Lausanne to Montreaux is super. Walk the vineyards, ride the boats. We liked Vevey as well (bigger).

s

Marci, <BR>Wow, a lot of traffic today for Vaud. Anyway, I'm surprised I haven't seen anyone recommend the Alpenruhe in Wengen, a great 3-star with great views. Although it's on the outskirts of the village, it's only about a five-minute walk to the train station; it's a pretty tiny little beautiful place. <BR> <BR>In Lucerne, I also loved the Balances, but lately there have been some bad reviews because of street noise (I've only been there in Nov). However, I've decided that for my next trip to Lucerne, I'll try to stay elsewhere on the lake as jw suggests. If I were you, I would look into Vitznau and Weggis. <BR> <BR>For Montreux, look at the L'Ermitage in nearby Clarens (right on the lake about a block from the Auditorium Stravinski). I've never stayed there but will make my first visit next month. You can find it on Montreux's web site at www.montreux.ch, then go to "Tourism," "Hotels," 3-stars in Montreux. It's listed as an "inn with rooms." <BR> <BR>Feel free to e-mail me if I can help. <BR> <BR>s

s

Marcie, <BR>Sorry, my head must be in the clouds . . . on the plane . . . on the way "home." I leave in about 10 days, and I'm quickly losing my mind. <BR> <BR>The hotel in Wengen is not the Alpenruhe but the Alpenrose. The Alpenruhe is in Muerren (and I've skid past it at least twice; it too looks to be a cosy place). Anyway, you can see the Alpenrose at the Wengen website www.wengen.com (I prefer this to the .ch wengen website). <BR> <BR>s

jw

If you are interested, the website for the little Hergiswil hotel is hotel-roggerli.ch. My friends say there's an uphill path from the train station to the hotel. They used a taxi when they first arrived, but found the path a 10-minute do-able walk. I've heard good things about staying in Fluelen (at the southern end of the lake), and I've been tempted to stay in pretty Gersau (no train). One more thought (I think I've mentioned this previously): we visited Berne while staying on Lac Leman. The train connections are quick (we were in the Lavaux section--love those vineyards). That's just in case you'd like to combine your Berne & Montreux places-to-stay. jw

Jay

Marcie, <BR>Wow - when did Vaud get to be so popular? I stayed many times in the Montreux/Vevey/La-Tour-de-Peilz area. The Trois Courrones in Vevey is very nice. The Eden au Lac in Montreaux is also very nice and has great balconies with the most beautiful views of Lac Leman south to France! One of my favorite memories! Enjoy! <BR>

lucky

Can't help with most of the towns..but was in Bern for a few nights about 2 months ago. Stayed at the Sweitzerhof Hotel which is directly across from the Bahnhof. Older hotel, quite nice..and the location relative to walking to most sites was excellent..

Judi

I also love the Alpenrose in Wengen. It is a bit of a walk from the train station but they do have an electric cart to take you to and from the train station. We had half board and the four nights we were there we were served great meals. The staff was very nice; the owners came out to bid us goodbye when we left. I would stay there again if I ever get back to Wengen.

Claudia

Marcie, <BR> <BR>We recently stayed at the Beausite Park Hotel in Wengen. It's a little way out of the town but that's all relative - an 8 minute walk from the train station but well worth it. We paid about $150 for a beautiful modern apartment with half board. <BR> <BR>In Lucerne we stayed at the Continental Park which is right near the train station. It was a perfect location for us since we had to catch an early train. <BR> <BR>In Montreux we stayed at the Hotel Helvetie and it reminded me of a sterotypical European hotel - large room with step up bathroom. <BR> <BR>All of these places were nice - and clean - and well within our budget. I don't have the URLs but I'm sure you could get them with a search.

leggleston

Actually, there is a Hotel Alpenruhe in Wengen, and a Hotel Alpenruh in Murren -- turns out I made my reservation at one thinking it was the other. Anyone know anything about the one in Wengen??