Swiss Bliss
 

Hi All,

Just happened to see the Conde Naste magazine last night, and the April edition has a story on the Engadin, called "Swiss Bliss."

Here's a link to the online version:
http://www.concierge.com/cntraveler/...rticleId=10670

It's really great! It describes Pontresina, Poschiavo, Guarda, Sils-Maria, & Fex in addition to the standard St. Moritz.

Perhaps now more Americans will want to see this little-known area!

s

^

Hi Swandav,
I bought that issue a few weeks ago; that article motivated me to consider changing my trip itinerary. Alas, I think it will have to wait.

Fodor's Engadin expert -- Ingo -- is the one that convinced us where to go a couple years ago. We had been to St. Moritz before, but discovered teh real area by staying primarily in Poschiavo.

Hi,
You suggested we stay in Montreux after arriving at the Geneva airport from France. Could you guide me to a reasonably priced hotel or pension for one night? Also, we will be mostly home based in the Chur area. I would like to take the train on day trips from there. Which train would you reccomend, the Glacier or Bernina Express? My partner would like to see the Wengen area and we will probably explore the Engadin. I am thinking of doing only point to point costs on the train. I am not sure a pass would save us much money.
Thank you,
Suzanne

Hi suzwarr,

For a hotel in Montreux, I stayed in the Hotel TraLaLa when it was the Auberge des Planches, but I think it's still a lower-priced option. The bad news is that it sits waaaay up in the hills of the old town, away from the lake. Another option is the Hotel Masson, which is just at the edge of town, not far from the Chillon castle.

It would be easier to recommend a hotel if you would give us a specific price range -- "reasonably prices" can mean vastly different things to different people.

I recommend the Bernina Express. The Glacier Express is about seven hours long in one direction, so it's obviously not a good choice for a one-day trip. The BE is stunning and gorgeous as it takes you over the Bernina Pass, past glaciers and mountaintops, and then drops you into the lush Poschiavo Valley.

To find which Pass, if any, will work for you, you (or someone) just has to do the math. Get all the fares for your probable trips, add them up, then compare the sum to the various passes. For my own trips, I've found that the Half Fare Card works the best -- it costs 99 chf and gives you half off of every train, ferry, cable car, and Postbus ride in the country.

Have fun!

s

Thanks S!
I will check it all out.
Suz