Sunny

Someone help me please!!!!!! I am a nervous wreck with all this planning. We are going next Sat., April 15, to London to visit my daughter in school (21), afterwhich we will be traveling to Switerland for a week.(flight to Geneva on Thursday April 20) We also have my husband's sister (older), and will have my daughter and roommate for 4 days. We don't want hiking or thrill seeking, but walking is fine. I just found out things are likely to be closed on Sunday and Monday due to Easter, so I thought we should immediately hop a train to either Lucern or Bern (have purchased Swiss Saverpass, 4 con. days for girls, and 8 days for us.) We were originally planning to stay in Geneva for 4 nights, taking day trips to other cities, then going on to Zurick at our leisure. We want to visit Bern, Interlaken, Lucerne (Maybe take the Golden Pass between Lucerne and Interlaken.) The girls fly back to London Monday afternoon from Geneva, and we fly out of Zurich on Thur. 27th. <BR>I have Frommers on Switzerland, 2 smaller pocket guides, Insight Compact Guide and Berlitz, plus Fodor's Europe and Rick Steve's Europe, the later 2 for my daughter to use after school is out. I have been at the books, taking notes, and I am going crazy. My travel agent isn't interested in helping. Can someone help me? My time is running out. I have train schedules from Rail Europe also. We are open to suggestions; would even consider staying in Murren, or in the mts. for a night. <BR> I forgot to say we are not on a tight budget, but don't want to waste $$$. We are looking for 4 star hotels, and are currently booked at Crown Plaza Holiday Inn in Geneva (friend's suggestion & inexpensive), and if we travel first, we'll return there on Sat. for 2 nights to see Geneva. Also, the girls are looking for the nightlife scene. Thanks for your help! <BR>Sunny <BR> <BR>

Maira

Sunny, specifically what type of help are you asking for? It sounds you are doing fine, but just a bit overwhelmed by the possibilities. If that is the case, I suggest you discuss with all travelers their expectations and desires out of this trip. Then, plan accordingly. A draft itinerary per day should help. A list of potental lodging alternatives once an itinerary is drafted should give a sense of direction which should alleviate somewhat the confusion. It sounds to me you are doing fine and it may be just a case of info overload.

Al Godon

Sounds to me like the expedition lacks a leader. Tell folks what the possibilities are. Ask for input. <BR>If you don't get any, make out the plan, show it to those concerned, adjust where needed, and go with it. If they don't like it once there, tell them they had their chance and to shut up. <BR>If people are old enough, then go with your plan or do it themselves. If too young, then they have no choice. <BR>Rail Europe schedules are virtually useless in my opinion. If you are travelling in Switzerland, why not consult the Swiss national rail web site? <BR> <BR>www.sbb.ch it is in English and German and French, and Italian. <BR> <BR>Where are you going first? And do you have time to do all that running around?

Bob

I agree with above poster: What is the question? If you are looking for ideas, Interlaken is a good central place to stay. Plenty of hotels and they have a central booking office downtown with all hotels listed with prices and avbailability. It is a nice town and easy trip to see Lucerne (not much there except the Lion statue, lake trip and watches), or other direction to capitol of Bern. Murren is very close to Interlaken and beautiful, but not that easy to get into and out of if you are using it as a base.Cannot drive and no cars up there. It is very easy to visit while staying in Interlaken. My tip is to find one central place to park and travel from there as things in Switzerland are pretty close together. You do not need to use a lot of different hotels if you plan it properly. We always find that changing hotels is one of the great time wasters and hassles for any trip to Europe. The less you do this, the more you will enjoy your trip. I still don't know if this answered any question.....

Sandra

Do yourself a favor. Go directly to the Strandhotel Belvedere in Spietz. <BR> <BR>http://www.silencehotel.com/strandho...dere?lang=e%00 <BR> <BR>It is on Lake Thun (Thunersee), near Iterlaken, and is a perfect place from which to tour the Jungfrau region. The hotel is very quiet and Frau Schlatter will take good care of you. It'll be good for your nerves!

Sunny

Thanks to all those who took time to respond to a strange request. No one knows what they want to do, and I have trouble making a decision. I think I like the suggestion to stay in or near Interlaken, maybe SPIEZ, and go from there. Too many hotels and cities can be overwhelming. Whoever said we need a leader is absolutely correct, and unfortunately I guess I'm elected. I appreciate all the advice. The hotel site suggested in SPIEZ is not in English. I hope they speak it, as I have E-mailed them. If anyone has suggestions as to restaurants or other sites feel free to recommend. <BR>I'm starting to feel better already. <BR>Sunny

Christine

Hi Sunny, <BR> <BR>I'm an ex-pat currently living just south of Lucerne. I have a few suggestions (too bad you don't like to hike though!). <BR> <BR>I would recommend an itinerary like this: Geneva 3 nights (day trip to Bern), Lucerne 2 or 3 nights (base for visiting Interlaken or alternatively stay in Interlaken 1 night), you will only need one day in Zurich. <BR> <BR>Geneva and Bern-wonderful old town centers <BR> <BR>Lucerne: <BR>There are lots of opportunities for taking boat tours around Lucerne, and places to take a funicular or cable cars up to viewpoints (with nice walks around the top) www.pilatus.com <BR>http://www.buergenstock-bahn.ch/ <BR>Engelberg, etc. <BR> <BR>Restaurants at the top where you can have fondue, etc. <BR> <BR>Interlaken is beautiful, but remember to really enjoy the mountains you must get into them! <BR> <BR>Have fun and please feel free to email if there is anything else you would like to know. Sorry my knowledge is somewhat limited to the Lucerne area, and haven't stayed at any hotels. <BR>

Sunny

Thanks Christine. <BR>Sunny

Jerald

My wife & I with 2 grandchildren a arriving in London on the 15th. Wish we had the time to take them on the trip we took last June. We took the train from Paris to Geneva, then on to Zermatt @the Best Western Alpen Resort Hotel @ the Matterhorn. We then took the Glacier Express to St. Moritz BW. Hotel Albana, Then on to Lugano, BW Hotel Albatro. The Glacier Express was fabulos & the ice & snow was really spectacular in late June. Zermatt is a small town with no cars & the Alpen was great. The "express" is a day trip between eact town & 2 nites is recommended at each. Your group will have a great time where ever you choose. The food on the train is good but I go for a picknic lunch with wine & cheese. Also spend a little more & go 1st class with reserved seats. Have fun!

Al Godon

Leaders have to be a littl mean at times; particularly when they have to get the troops in line to go somewhere. <BR>You are not going to have time for people wanting to run all over the map in a foreign country. Although many Swiss speak English, you are still navigating new territory that is not quite like Hackensack or Hoboken or Chicago. <BR> <BR>Spiez is a great place. Interlaken to me is over rated. Spiez is right on the lake, too, and lovely views. <BR>Grab the train to Kandersteg and ride the chair lift up to the Oeschinensee. <BR>Or get up real early and go all the way to Zermatt and back. Long day, but doable. Or grab the train for Grindelwald. Change at Interlaken OST!! <BR>for Grindelwald. Easily doable in one day. Or go to Wilderswil, from Interlaken Ost, and take the choo choo up to Schynige Platte. Warning! The views from up there could be hazardous to your eyes. They tend to pop out when you get a load of the the Berner Oberland on one side and the lakes on the other. <BR> <BR>Of course being able to read timetables helps a lot over there because trains are frequent and go all over the place. <BR>(From Spiez you can go south through the tunnel at Kandersteg to the Valley of the Rhone; to Bern and beyond to Zurich and Basel, to Interlaken, and to Luzern via two routes.) <BR>The SBB ticket agents are helpful, and many of them speak a little English, but they cannot be a travel agent and spend 30 minutes trying to help you figure out where to go when 10 people are in line to buy tickets.

Sunny

Thanks again to all for helping out. Christine, I e-mailed you, but it was returned undeliverable; Sandra, I made a reservation at your recommended hotel. I forgot to ask if the rooms had a bathroom; I hope they do. On another site that had the Hotel Belvedere listed, it looked like they might have some room without. And, Jerald and Al, thanks for your suggestions. I'm definitely narrowing it down. Of course, it doesn't help when friends we were dining with tonight ask me why we want to stay near Interlaken, and Spiez is nothing special, and that the best places in Switzerland are Geneva and St. Moritz. To each his own, I guess. <BR>Sunny