Adelaidean

Good to know about that construction, will cancel that booking.
Am likely to book La Rouvenaz in Montreux instead.
Thanks.

Also, re Villeneuve, it's on my list now if we want to keep walking.

Hambagahle

The town of Villeneuve has one lovely street which is one block back from the lakefront. IF you continue on to Villeneuve, leave the lakefront when you see the sign for the Coop and walk in one block. You are then on the Grand'rue which is the street in question. For the rest Villeneuve is quite "suburban" though the lakefront is pretty as well. A bit taken up with "cheapie" perches cafés for my liking.

Adelaidean

Hmm, Montreux looks like it has very busy few streets by the Grand Rue, also likely to be affected by construction for jazz festival?
Would Corsier sur Vevey be a reasonable alternative? It looks less busy, but a climb to a bnb each day plus not sure about dining options. Sounds like it is actually a 10 min to 15 walk from Vevey Gare but reasonably steep. Reviewers seem to think area is charming, which sounds appealing.

Adelaidean

Okay, husband has now taken final vote and insists we ‘stick with the original plan’...
we have daytrips scheduled and he wants to be close to the train station. Construction might detract from ambience, but he doesn’t want to schlep up a hill to avoid it. (He works in the construction field, so that interests him rather than disturbs him, LOL.)

suze

I don't think you are understanding how HUGE the Fete is. Luckily I was there for the 1999 one. It was absolutely amazing but it most definitely took over the town. Jazz Festival happens every year. Fete des Vignerons is a 2-3x in a lifetime event!

Adelaidean

Thanks,suze, was hoping you'd chime in! Would you suggest Montreux then? Is rue du Marche 1, a reasonable option, location wise?

swandav2000

Hi again,

The La Rouvenaz is one of the most popular, busiest restaurants in Montreux -- both locals and tourists keep it packed to capacity every hour it is open. I personally would be worried about noise at night. And if it's warm and you want to open the windows, the street noise will also be a factor. You may want to ask the hosts how well the rooms are insulated for noise.

I don't think that you need to head UP to avoid the construction & crowds; I would rather recommend you slip down the lake a bit, toward Territet/Veytaux. There are a few hotels there right at the lake -- Hotel Bon Port (3 star I think) and the Golf Hotel Rene Capt (4 star). Going on farther toward Chillon is the Hotel/Residence Bristol in Territet, where I stayed on my last visit. It's very easy to get to these hotels from the Montreux train station... just leave the station, cross the street, and go downstairs to the road that hugs the lake. Stand with your back to the lake and hop on bus #201; busses come by every 10 minutes. Without luggage, it is about a 10-minute or 15-minute walk.

Or in the Vevey area, take a look at the Hostellerie Bon Rivage, a 3-star hotel in the town of La Tour-de-Peilz (in a Vevey suburb between Montreux & Vevey). It sits right at a bus stop, right on the lake, and it's maybe a 15-minute walk from the Vevey train station. I'm betting it will be quiet there. I always think about staying there, but I usually tend to go for Territet when I can. My old boarding school from 1968 is in Territet, so I have some heart-ties to that area.

Have fun!

s

Hambagahle

To be clear - the construction involves putting up a temporary stadium - mostly with metal pipes. That sort of construction is incredibly noisy. Not like pouring concrete etc. which is noisy enough but isn't constant clanging! And Swiss construction sites start work at 0730.

If you want to be close to the station in Vevey the Hotel Astra is right AT the station. 3 star and not bad at all and far enough from the place du Marché to be quieter even though it is on the route cantonale. The Bristol mentioned by another poster in Territet is part hotel and part EMS - old peoples home - with a terminal care wing as well. Sort of like staying in a wing of a hospital. Food is very good there and the rooms are large IF you don't mind the older residents.

Montreux during the Jazz festival is wall to wall people on the quais around the Stravinsky Hall and down to about the Casino but once you get further towards Chillon from there things are relatively quiet. That said of course all the hotels in the area raise their prices during both the Jazz Festival and the Fête des Vignerons.

Adelaidean

Thank you, swandav, a list was just what I needed! I've been struggling with this...the Golf Hotel with half board looks perfect. A lakeview room, terrace for drinks, gardens, stylish dinner ....I might not get to any of my daytrips

Thanks, Hambaghale, I appreciate all this local knowledge. We will be there in 2 nd week of June.

swandav2000

H, I believe the Bristol is no longer an old person care facility. It was closed for a few months last year, then re-opened, now with no mention of the permanent residents.

But anyway, when I was there, I didn't notice it at all and didn't mind it. I actually enjoyed seeing the same people every day at breakfast and exchanging greetings.

Yes, some of the rooms are large, with a seating area and a kitchenette, which is what drew me.

s

Hambagahle

It is still an EMS - Etablissement Médico-Social and listed as such on the Federems website (Vaudois association of EMS).

swandav2000

Great! Hope it works, Adelaidean!

Thanks for the update, H.

s

suze

Glad to see you've got more input. I could only help a little since I've been lucky enough to always be put up by friends in Vevey, then Montreux (they moved apartment).

I just know I've never before seen anything in my life like the Fete (too bad you won't be there during that time even though it's kinda crazy it is a world-class event... they dye the sheep blue, parade the cows thru town, people are often in their festival costumes even at the grocery store, wine gardens set up in basements and apartment courtyards, etc.) the Swiss do know how to party, believe it or not!

Oh before this came up I was going to mention Rochers de Naye. If the weather is clear taking this tram up the mountainside in Montreux was really fun. And no I wouldn't stay at La Rouvenaz, for exactly the reasons mentioned. The location is fine. If it were my trip I'd probably go with the faded grandeur of Helvetie

Hambagahle

Suze - SO glad you enjoyed the Fête des Vignerons in 99. But you need to know that it is different every time. Totally different. Our Granny went to 4 and ranked them - 99 being one of the best in her opinion. She was 96 when she saw that one (and had sung in one much earlier!). Right now we don't know what to expect though I have friends who participate and might get some feedback from them when they start to rehearse. Interestingly my daughter will have been to 3 of them after this year but she saw her first one at age 8! We are taking our grandchildren with us on 1 August which will be a very special day! (Swiss National Day). Come back this summer - it will be different, for sure!

suze

OK sure. And fantastic your grandmother got to see 4 in a lifetime! Wow!!

That said... I thought the main point about bringing it up here was about them not staying right on the Place du Marche when the arena/stage is under construction? Since this trip is in advance of the dates for the Fete.

Adelaidean

I appreciate all your comments, we have now booked the Golf Hotel. I could have messed up my stay without your input, many thanks for your valuable insight.

Thanks, suze, I might add Rochers de Naye, stopping at Glion on return and walking back via Chauderon gorge and the old town.

suze

You mentioned the Tuesday Vevey street market, there's also a Saturday one, and one on Friday in Montreux.

Adelaidean

Yes, thanks, we arrive Sunday, leave Friday, so might stop at Chexbres Thursday market when we do that walk, and pass through the Montreux Friday on our departure.

kja

I enjoyed both the Rochers de Naye and Glion greatly.

Adelaidean

Thanks, kja, am looking forward to it.