Hi all. We are in the throes of planning our 2nd trip to Switzerland. POssible itinerary is as follows ...
Venice - Lugano
Lugano - Lucerne
Lucerne - Murren
Murren - Fribourg / Gruyeres??
F/G?? - Zermatt
Zermatt - Arosa (via Glacier Express)
Arosa - Lucerne
Lucerne - Zurich

We had a hugely succesful trip in 2005 during which we stayed Lucerne (des Alpes), Murren (Alpenruh), Zermatt (Welschen). We were so happy with our accomms in those places, we'll be going straight back. We also stayed in Vevey - charming but this time looked at guidebooks and are thinking about Fribourg.

This is my current problem .. the guidebooks make it sound so pretty but I can't seem to find the old town accomm to match! We don't like chain hotels, we think small 'Swiss' or family run places are the way to go.

All our travelling is by train & Swiss rail passes.

Can anyone advise:

* A 'nice' place for a family of 3 to stay in Fribourg for 2 nights
* OR What about the option of staying in Gruyeres at a similar kind of place (is it train friendly) ..
* Also possibly somewhere in Arosa but I haven't started looking there.

Swandav??? I linked to your Gruyeres travel review - and did love the description of Swiss Brigadoon!

Timetabling .. we're having 3 weeks in Italy first and will be in Ch in July.

ANy thoughts much appreciated!

In Fribourg: www.hotel-sauvage.ch
It's expensive, though: a 'romantikhotel'

Or Hotel de la Rose, not as good, but still nice (a 3star hotel with charm)
www.hotelrose.com

Honestly, I would probably prefer Gruyeres for the mountains
for example see:
www.st-georges-gruyeres.ch

In Zermatt you might consider the Best Western Butterfly hotel.

Also, for budget accommodations www.rooms.ch

Hi Pleiades,

So happy you liked my description of Gruyeres --

Though I haven't been to Frbourg (YET!), I would tend to agree with Ingo (not unusual!) and head to Gruyeres. It's such a lovely spot, seemingly forgotten by time and the rest of the world (well -- except for the hordes of toursits).

When are you going? If you're going at the height of summer, you may want to avoid staying in Gruyeres because of the tourists. On the other hand, I've read posts where travelers leave town during the day and enjoy the ambiance of the town at night, when they have it to themselves.

Yes, Gruyeres is easy to get to by train. The station is at the bottom of a hill while the village is at the top of the hill. Takes about 10 minutes to walk up. I believe a hotel would meet your train & transfer you --

Good luck! And let us know what you decide, eh?

s

(INGO!)

Thanks so much, yes I think the de la rose is probably the one for us. There was one mentioned in another guidebook the Berthold but its website is no longer operational so perhaps its out of business.