I am trying to plan a trip to Switzerland for Christmas 2002. I do not ski. I am looking for a small village to stay in will be there aprox 7 days. Want to see snow and mountains and enjoy old world life in a hotel and resurants.

Good evening, Stephan<BR>Would strongly suggest the town of Murren located above the Lauterbrunnen<BR>Valley and at the foot of the Schlithorn.<BR>This would give you complete access to<BR>the Berneroberland, namely Lauterbrunnen, Wengen, the Jungfrau<BR>Grindelwald. The cable ways up <BR>Grindelwald First, the Mannlichenbahn<BR>from Grindelwald up, the cable cars<BR>from the Mannlichen to Wengen and<BR>the Wengenalpbahn and the funiculair<BR>bergbahn Wengen and cable cars up to<BR>Piz Gloria. From Kleine Scheidegg<BR>you take the train up to the Jungfrau.<BR>Check into some of the following ursl.<BR>www.grindelwald.ch/....<BR>www. murren.ch/.....<BR>www.wengen.ch/....<BR>wwww.lauterbrunnen.ch/....<BR>www. schlithorn.ch/....<BR>www.jungfrau.ch/....<BR>www.bernerobereland.ch/....<BR>www.interlakentourism.ch/.....<BR>Ricahrd of LaGrange Park, Il..<BR>

Hello Stephan and Richard. I hope all of our Swiss mountain experts will notice that your request is for a small village with 'old world life'. To me, that sounds like a village w/o condominiums. We've got to put our thinking caps on and find the perfect place. Ingo, are you out there? You might be able to suggest a place in the Engadine? I have no winter experience in Switzerland, but I'll be interested in hearing which of your favorite mountain villages have not taken on the look of ski resorts. Does Murren still fit that description? Chateau d'Oex is pretty during the summer. J.

There are some secret spots in Switzerland, small old villages far away from skiing crowds.<BR><BR>Muerren might be a good compromise if some people travel together and one of them wants to go skiing and the other does not. But I am not sure if it is the right place over Christmas to enjoy old world life. And at this time it loses a lot of charme because it is crowded (depending on the weather). Bern and several other cities are not far away and you have to expect lots of one-day-skiers.<BR><BR>I can recommend (yes, jw!) villages in the lower Engadin valley (Guarda, Ardez, Tarasp). Maybe we can find something for you in a small village in the canton of Valais.<BR><BR>Chateau d'Oex? I am not sure about snow at Christmas in the village.<BR><BR>The definite decision depends on your budget and what you mean with "old world life in a hotel and restaurants". Do you want to stay in a Belle Epoque style palace hotel or a small and cosy hotel built centuries ago?<BR><BR>Please tell us about this to enable us to give you some detailed advices.<BR><BR>Bye Ingo

Yes, Ingo! I was hoping you'd be nearby! I'll be following this thread to see which places make the cut, so to speak. I was kind of thinking of suggesting the Valais, but I've never been there either (good grief, my list is growing). Happy New Year! J.

to the top for Stephan's quest

I would recommend Hotel Meisser in Guarda. Guarda is a beautifully preserved town - there is nothing even remotely touristy here - and the hotel is a gem. You will find it highly recommended by those travel guides that dare to judge. The larger town of Scuol is nearby for convenience, and there are many similar tiny villages along the Inn valley to explore by day.