As previously posted, we're going at the beginning of May and I made reservations for four nights Montreux, two nights Interlaken, and three nights Lucerne. But...a friend working for Marriot can get us the Marriott in Zurich for about 55USD a night which is quite tempting. Would you eliminate one of the other cities and stay at the Marriott for three or four nights at that cheap rate and just do train trips from Zurich?

IMO, skip the temptation to save a few bucks, and stick to your original plans. You'll end up spending all of your time traveling, be worn out at the end of the day, and wish you'd be staying at one of the other places.

The rate is tempting, but is it worth the time lost each day sitting on a train? Is the Marriott near the Zurich train station, or will you lose even more time each day making the trek back and forth to the station? (I assume you'll have a train pass; otherwise, all those little day trips will erase the Marriott savings.)

As to Zurich itself, others may disagree, but I can't see spending more than one night there in what I think you present as a 9-day trip and I wouldn't want to choose which of the other towns to subtract a night from...

Thanks for your suggestions. I will stick to my original plans. The only thing I am debating changing now is the stay in Interlaken. I was thinking of staying in Grindelwald instead.

You can see the mountains much better from Grindelwald. If the First Gondola is running, ride it up as far as it goes. The view on a clear day is enough to cause eye strain.
I remember the first time I took it in 1998. I was so thrilled that I have gone back for seconds and thirds.

First means ridge in Swiss German.

Another great trip, if the gondola line is open and running, is from Grindelwald Grund to the crest of the Männlichen, that huge ridge overlooking Lauterbrunnen.

That is the problem with going in May.
It is between seasons and many hotels and facilities are shut down until later in the spring.

If you want a real view of the mountains, up close and personal, go to Mürren or Wengen. The Jungfrau is in full view on the clear day.

I stay in Lauterbrunnen, but I am usually there for 8 days or so.
I go there because it is more in the middle of it all. I go to Mürren and Wengen each trip just to drink in the views.

Hi, orangetravelcat. A couple thoughts. I think you're right about changing from Interlaken to a town up in the mountains (if those two nights are your junfrau experience, so to speak.) I can't vote on which one. As to the tempting Marriott. . . . if you do indeed have a rail pass, and the hotel is convenient to the station, then I can say that it is only a 48 minute ride from Zurich to Lucerne. And from Zurich you can also train to Schaffhausen and Stein am Rhein or St. Gallen, and boat to Rapperswil --- all dandy destinations. Is the Zurich Flughafen your departure airport? What time does your flight leave? That would be a big factor, if I were trying to decide. Your trip sounds like a great one. You will have a wonderful time, whichever places you select. J.

"jungfrau". I hate typos.

Dear Orangetrvlcat
I, too, would recommend staying in a mountain village rather than Interlaken. I've also stayed in Lauterbrunnen and love it. I've stayed at the Hotel Stern,(next to the trainstation--maybe it was Hotel Bahnhoff, oh well) but the most recent was almost 15 years ago and it may not be open. I find the mountain villages very charming and the views more stunning than in Interlaken itself.

Both the Hotel Sternen and Hotel Bahnhof are still there and both are very near the train station. So Ally could be recalling either one of them, or both.

The Sternen is on the same side of the street and a little north of the train station, between the tracks and the road.

The Hotel Bahnhof is near the Drehtseilbahn, that elevator on wheels that goes up and down the hillside all day long for those going to Mürren.

One thing about Lauterbrunnen is that it has a view of several waterfalls, and the Männlichen towers more than 4,000 feet above the floor of the valley.

Some people prefer Wengen or Mürren because they are up a little higher on the shelf of the valley, about 1500 feet up. But the view of the yosemite-like valley walls with water pouring off of them most of the year is also spectacular.

I don't think you can go wrong with any of the hotels in Lauterbrunnen. The Silberhorn has a good restaurant, and so does the Crystal.

The Crystal's restaurant is small, but the cook is very efficient. One night I was there eating when 16 people suddenly came in as a group. They soon had their food much to my amazement.

It is my personal favorite of the group.
It is upstairs one floor and the view to the south is right at the Breithorn and the western flank of the Jungfrau.

Incidentally, be sure you note that most Swiss hotel prices are per person/per day, and breakfast is included.