My girlfriend and I will be spending 15 days in Switzerland in August, beginning with Neuchatel, where she hopes to learn the area that her grandfather was from. Appreciate any thoughts on where budget travelers might stay or things to do while there, and places to see.

Here's Neuchatel tourism information site: <BR>http://www.ne.ch/tourism/en/index.htm <BR> <BR>The area is really beautiful, and can easily be explored by public transport. <BR> <BR>One of the best view over the Alps is from a town called "La Vue des Alpes" (the view over the Alps), not far from Neuchatel. You can also go to Bienne and take the funicular to Macolin (Magglingen in German), for a fantastic view of the Berner Oberland alps. It is also a good hiking area. Neuchatel lake is considered more beautiful than Leman (there's an intense competition between Vaud, Geneva and Neuchatel on this matter - I live in Geneva, guess which I favor). <BR> <BR>The area around Lakes Neuchatel and Morat (or Murten) are well worth visiting. <BR> <BR>Except for Bienne (bilingual but mostly German) this is French speaking Switzerland.