Seeking Ideas/Suggestions for Post Rhine River Cruise in Switzerland
 

We are two reasonably fit senior couples from Canada in our late 60s and early 70s, who have never visited Switzerland. On June 17,2015 we will take a Rhine River Cruise with Scenic Tours which departs Amsterdam and arrives Basel on June 24th. On Jume 27th we will fly from Zurrich, Switzerland to Montreal, Canada.

We have three days, June 24, 25 and 26 to see a bit of Switzerland. Your ideas, suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

We enjoy moderate hiking, museums,exploring, shopping a bit. We would really like to see the Alps, by train if possible.

Also, could you recommend some moderately priced accommodation.

I would head straight for the Berner Oberland and stay either in Interlaken or one of the villages in the foothills of the mountains. This will give you Alps and hiking. For shopping you might want to head to Zurich the day before your flight - but do be aware that Swtiz is VERY expensive (much more than US for the same things) and many shops specialize in luxury goods.

For moderate accommodations - what is that to you in francs - and do you want 2 separate rooms or are you trying to put 4 adults in one room (possible but not typical in Switz)?

Yes head for the hills around Interlaken - the fabled Berner Oberland - glacier-girdled soaring peaks fronted by lush cow-dotted meadows. I'd stay right up in the hills in a mellow place like Grindelwald or Wengen where you are practically eyeball to eyeball with the majestic peaks.

Hiking for all degrees of energy - toy-like mountain trains and thrilling aerial cable ways going off in all direction - you can get there from Basel in about three hours or so. for lots on Swiss trains and special details about the Jungfrau Region I always spotlight these IMO superb sites: www.swisstravelsystem.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

Don't book anything ahead. Weather is always unprevisible in the Alps and June is rather on the wetter side. June is not yet high season and it will always be possible to find accommodation.

All famous places in the Alps are of easy reach from Basel; most Swiss trains run every 30 to 60 min:

Zermatt: 3 1/4 hrs, 2 changes
Saas Fee: 3 hrs, 2 changes
Wengen: 2 hrs 50 min, 2 changes
St. Moritz: 4 1/2 hrs, 1 change
etc.

If the weather is bad, you may prefer to visit medieval towns (with or without city walls), big cathedrals, castles, all kinds of museums, roman theatres....

You may have a look at
http://www.myswitzerland.com/en/home.html
http://www.swisstravelsystem.ch/en/
http://fahrplan.sbb.ch/bin/query.exe/en
http://www.museums.ch/en/museums/museum-finder/

There will also be direct trains from Basel to the Universal exposition Expo Milano 2015 (4 hrs ride).

If the weather is bad, you may prefer to visit medieval towns (with or without city walls), big cathedrals, castles, all kinds of museums, roman theatres....>

This is what makes Interlaken a nice base - even though not right up in dem hills it is just a few-minute train ride from Grindelwald or Wengen but if the weather is funky - never unusual for this area - then you can do easy day trips to Bern, one of the nicest old cities anywhere or Lucerne, a gorgeous gorgeous city that even in poor weather can be enjoyed.

I would go straight to something ABOVE Interlaken with the lowest being Lauterbrunnen and that is easily reached by rail from Basel with a change in Interlaken.

I would NOT go to St. Moritz (about as sterile a village as there is in Switzerland IMO although the scenery is great; NOT to Zermatt because other than the Matterhorn and the Monte Rosa Rose Massif there's only that high-priced goods village (and yes, i have been to all these places).

You will IMO find more varied scenic views as well as villages and sights to see and in a more compact area in the Berner Oberland than ANY of the other places mentioned.

First-time to Switzerland it's the Jungfrau Region hands down - the dreamhy picture of Swiss Alpine Wonderland that is perhaps etched in your mind's eye and which is easiest fulfilled here in the Interlaken-Grindelwald-Wengen area IMO.

Also, could you recommend some moderately priced accommodation.>

What does moderately priced mean to you - Switzerland is one of the world's most expensive countries yet Interlaken and Grindelwald have some surprisingly inexpensive, for Switzerland, accommodations - besides hotels like the Nature Friends House in Grindelwald - an all-ages semi hostel for hikers and skiers. Interlaken has IME the cheapest accommodations in all of Switzerland I've been to.

Most hotels include an unlimited buffet breakfast that is worth a ton in terms of what you'd have to pay for breakfast at say a restaurant. Stuff yourself for the whole day!

PalenQ/Nytraveler, thank you for your prompt replies. We are at present digesting all you great suggestions. Regarding accommodation dollars, around $200CAD a night.

You will have no problem finding places in that price range or below in Interlaken or Grindelwald - late June is on the cusp of the busy July-August period so you should have no problem.

Hi oldmacd,

$200CAD is around 170 chf.

My favorite hotel in the region is the 3-star Hotel Alpenrose in Wengen; I've stayed there 2 times. Wengen is a lovely car-free village perched high in the Alps above Interlaken.

www.alpenrose.ch

In June, you can get a double there for 162 chf or 187 chf with a balcony and a drop-dead amazing view and a balcony.

Have fun as you plan!

s

Hello again Fodorites, we are again working on our June 24,25,26th stay in Switzerland. It has been decided that Interlaken will be our base for June 24&25th traveling to Zurich on June 26th. Could we have your recommendation of accommodation in Interlaken costing around $250CAD a couple. Something quiet, central with a good breakfast. Also, accomodation in Zurich's old town on June 26th. I have been looking at Hotel Leoneck, Leonhardstrasse 1, is it near the Old Town? We have decided to purchase Swiss Passes(costing aprox.$264) to travel from Basel to Interlaken then on to Zurich. Have youa better suggestion?

We stayed at the St Joseph Hotel which is easy walking distance (with luggage) from the railway station and comfortable walking distance to the lake, shops, restaurants etc. Very nice hotel.

Swiss railway tickets, standard fares (if you buy the ticket just before the train starts):
Basel - Interlaken: 70 USD
Interlaken - Lucerne - Zurich: 55 USD
Total: 125 USD
If you plan to do day trips from Interlaken into the mountains, check the Swiss Half Fare Card and the Bernese Oberland Pass

We have decided to purchase Swiss Passes(costing aprox.$264) to travel from Basel to Interlaken then on to Zurich>

A Swiss Pass IMO would be a waste of money for your limited time in Switzerland and it only covers some trains in the Jungfrau Region 25% or so. I would just buy regular tickets with that limited time - no kind of pass will be cost effective I believe for three days.