I'm traveling to Venice and Switzerland in August, taking a train from Venice to the Swiss Riviera for 5 days of sightseeing. we don't like to have to keep moving our luggage around, so we would like to find a place where we can have a home base for lots of day trips around the area of Lake Geneva and the wine country.

Our interests are hiking, wine tasting, museums and basically taking in the countryside. I'm looking for a quiet spot, so small inns or boutique hotels are what I'm most interested in. Does anyone have suggestions for a town and/or hotel based on your experiences that might fit what we're looking for? Thanks in advance!

Vevey? Montreux?

Hi travel_junkie,

August is going to be packed, so getting this done now will get you a better room!

For a quiet spot, I think Cully (www.cully.ch) would be ideal. It's close to Lausanne, a transport hub for your excursions, and it also has its own dock where the ferry boats stop (you can get to Lausanne, Vevey, Montreux, Chillon, everywhere by ferry). Cully is in the Corniche Lavaux, the winegrowing region. There's a Relais & Chateaux inn & restaurant there called the Auberge de Raisin

(http://www.relaischateaux.com/en/sea...aurant/raisin/)

that might suit you.

If you'd rather be in a big town or little city, I can recommend the Ermitage "restaurant with rooms" at the edge of Montreux/Clarins. Though when I was there in August, the noise from the diners in the garden kept me up until 1 am (no a/c), it's still a delightful little inn. Website at www.ermitage-montreux.ch.

Another option would be the Hotel Victoria in Glion, above Montreux. This is my favorite hotel in the area (for ambiance & service), and if it were on the lake, I would never go anywhere else. You get there by funicular from Territet or train from Montreux. It's also a Relais & Chateaux property. Glion will be quiet, with spectacular scenery over the lake. Website at www.victoria-glion.ch.

Another two options for quiet are the Hotel Masson (www.hotelmasson.ch) and the Golf Hotel (www.golf-hotel-montreux.ch), both in Territet/Veytaux. The Golf hotel is right on the lakeside promenade while the Masson is a few blocks uphill.

Let us know if we can help more!

s

Thanks for the usggestions! I'll check them out and let you know if I have any other questions.

www.vevey.ch
www.montreux.ch

Ermitage mentioned above is a gorgeous spot. I've only had dinners, not stayed there, but it was beautiful.

Caux, Glion, Territet, Clarens.

If you worry about your luggage then it means that you plan on taking more than necessary. That's the trip killer number one - traveling light is an art and has to be learned, and the rewards are worth it.

There are entire websites dedicated to it, do yourselves a favor and read up and practice whittling it down to a legal-sized (for the US) carry-on with wheels and a smallish backpack each. In August you shouldn't need more - buy clothes that wash easily and dry quickly, and every morning you have fresh things to wear, but you only take two of each.

WK

Usually we take one suitcase for the both of us together and then each have a carry on. It's not so much the amount of luggage we're carrying...it's just not very relaxing to me to be moving from hotel to hotel every other night.

These suggestions are great, but any ideas on places to stay for under $200 USD a night? Also, anyone have good suggestions for day hikes? I'm really interested in soaking up nature.

Is the Ermitage accessible by train? We will not have a car on our trip, so everything we do/stay will have to be accessible by train, walking or boat.

Thanks!

Hotel Masson in Montreux-Veytaux.
www.hotelmasson.ch

Have stayed there and loved the old-world charm. Excellent service. Bus No. 1 runs every 10 minutes to the railway station (and Castle Chillon in the other direction), the bus stop is only 3 minutes down the street.

The have rooms with lake view and balcony. It should be in your budget, but I am not sure ... been there a few years ago.

For hikes ... there are several cog-railways and so around Montreux/Vevey which take you up to the mountains. Or you start at the Masson in Veytaux. You can do excellent hikes from the Rochers-de-Naye above Montreux, maybe cross to Col du Sonloup and back by MOB railway.

I highly recommend to hike or bike along the vineyards west of Vevey. Cute villages, scenic views!

Is anyone familiar with Hotel Prealpina? I found it on a search for the Montreux/Vevey area. I'm leaning towards Montreux for now. Looks like there's a lot to do in this area and it's very accessible, so thanks for all the suggestions! If you have any other words of wisdom I would love to hear them!

Hotel Helvetie, right on the main street in Montreux. A bit of a faded grandeur kind of place but excellent location and in your price range.

Two smaller rolling suitcases (one for each person) is WAY better than one large suitcase you share, in my opinion.

Hi again,

Well, the Prealpina is in Chexbres; I've walked by it once or twice. I think that's going to be more secluded than you want for five days!

Your budget of $200 converts to 262 chf at today's rate.

The Ermitage in Clarens has standard rooms at 280 chf, **just about** within your budget, and they'll face the garden so will not get the noise from the lakeside diners. You may get a better rate if you e-mail them.

A double at the Masson is 150-230 chf, well within your budget.

There are some three-star hotels in Glion that should easily meet your budget.

Have fun looking!

s