Any suggestions. Which is the best way to get to Interlaken. If we do drive, how long a drive is it and what are the roads like?

Very much depends on what you'll be doing, and for how long. If you'll be staying in the area mainly to visit the mountains (and perhaps cruise a lake or two) a car is virtually worthless. At the least you'll be spending a lot of time on trains, cable cars and funiculars and you'll wish you had a SwissPass or Berner Oberland Pass. <BR> <BR>Either by train or car it's about 2 to 3 hours from Zürich to Interlaken. Roads are excellent. If you take the more scenic Luzern route (and it appears more direct) it'll take a bit longer, usually, if there's truck traffic on the Brünig Pass. (It's very low and not a challenging drive.) The route over Bern is arguably a bit faster, mainly on motorways, but boring. I'd take the Luzern route. <BR> <BR>More important, I'd not stay in Interlaken. You'll find lots of threads on this site on the subject. Basically it's a place to change trains, catch boats, go to the casino. It's outside the mountains. If you're going to the area for the mountains, stay IN them at Mürren or Wengen (or Lauterbrunne, Gimmelwald or Grindelwald). <BR> <BR>Almost as important, the area's not for driving. You'll find public transport unbelievably good, extensive, and appealing, especially in this area. <BR> <BR>A couple of helpful web pages: <BR>www.twenj.com/swissrail.htm <BR>www.twenj.com/swissbycar.htm <BR>www.twenj.com/bovisit.htm

Ed hello! Good description and advice as always. Just a small detaiL: <BR>Maybe Emily HAS to stay in Interlaken for a congress or whatever. <BR>The outstanding "Victoria-Jungfrau Hotel", member of the leading hotels of the world, has a lot of incentive travellers and its a dream of a hotel. <BR>Of course, Interlaken is not exactly the place I would spend my holidays, but I would not be sad at all having to go to a congress and stay at the said hotel. <BR>

Hi Emily. I have driven the route from Zurich to Interlaken via Bern and the road between Interlaken and Luzern. <BR>The Luzern route is slower than the Bern route because the Bern route is freeway. The road south of Luzern over the Brunig Pass is more spectacular in some respects. Sarnen is a picturesque town on the shore of a scenic lake. I do, however, disagree with Ed on one issue: The day we drove it, there were many large trucks on the road that made driving at times a little difficult. It was raining lightly but constantly, and the dirty spray from those big tires was a hazard because it smeared on the windshield. We were very glad when we had descended to the valley and the road widened and became straighter. <BR> <BR>I agree with Ed on Interlaken. We have used Lauterbrunnen as our base of operations because it is a mountain transportation center. Last year, we rented a car and drove over from Lausanne, but for most of the week we used the car only for brief trips until the next to last day when we took the "Three Pass Drive", which goes over the Grimsel, Furka, and Susten Passes. Although sections of this route can be done by post bus, having a car gives you more control over stopping and lingering to admire the views. <BR>The drive over the passes can be started from several places. We headed east from Interlaken, through Meiringen to Innertkirchen where we took the road over the Grimsel Pass. We descended on the Rhone Glacier side and drove over the Furka Pass before returning over the Susten Pass. <BR>The Berner Oberland Pass will pay for itself if you take the most expensive rides: The Schilthorn, the gondola from Grindelwald to First, the long gondola ride from Grindelwald Grund to the Männlichen ridge, and the train to the top of Schynige Platte. We did all of those plus some more. <BR>The pass offers 3 free days out of a total of 7; on the other 4 days you can ride trains and cable lifts at a 50% discount in the Grindelwald - Lauterbrunnen area. Only two rides in the area are never free: the last section of the Jungfraujoch excusion from Kleine Scheidegg to the top and the section of the Schilthorn Bahn from Mürren to the top. The regional pass is valid over a fairly wide area, stretching from Bern to Zermatt. You do not get free days there, but you do get discounts of various sizes; either 25% or 50$ depending on what you are selecting to ride. <BR>I would sum up the various villages in the area as follows: <BR>Grindelwald is the largest of the villages and draws an international crowd. The main street is often crowded and has many hotels, shops, restaurants, and other visitor services. <BR>Wengen is perched on the mountain side and can be reached normally only by train from Lauterbrunnen. (There are also trails, but most people don't take them.) The views from Wengen are good. <BR>Mürren, also car free, is a little smaller than Wengen. Its position on the west side of the Lauterbrunnen valley gives stunning views over the Berner Oberland range. <BR>Lauterbrunnen is on the floor of the valley. The views are a little nore restricted because of its position, but we could see the Jungfrau from our apartment and we had a good view of Staubach Falls. We also had a good view of the Männlichen Ridge and the sound of cow bells in the distant pastures were always audible during the day. We took full advantage of Lauterbrunnen's central position to go somewhere everyday. Because we were amost always somewhere else, the immediate view was of little consequence. <BR>There were several days when we were on the 7:26 AM train to Grindelwald and returned to our apartment after 6 PM. <BR>I think you will enjoy your visit.

Gruetzi, Ursula: <BR> <BR>Sadly we've found the Victoria-Jungfrau the worst 5-star hotel in which we've ever stayed ... certainly in Switzerland. The staff is the least engaged of any we've experienced. And, as it would happen, of several dozen hotels we have comments on in our website, the V-J is the only one about which we're received a complaint (agreeing, actually, with our assessment). T grand old dame of the Oberalnd, and the physical plant is superb. Unfortunately our experience shows the staff lacking. If staying in Interlaken for whatever reason we'd recommend the Beau Rivage as a preference for a 5-star property, the du Lac for a 4-star. <BR> <BR>Of course if it's an incentive trip, and indeed the V-J is sadly full of groups all summer long, one has no choice. <BR> <BR>Ed

Ed, I am sorry to hear that about the Victoria-Jungfrau. My sister just spent her weekend for an incentive. I have been there some time ago, and I just loved it. The room, the spa, the staff. But it is regrettable to hear such a thing. I am sorry, because the hotel itself IS terrific. But believe it or not, my sister's handbag was stolen in the restaurant there, while she was at the breakfast buffet. Of course, it was HER fault to leave in on the chair. <BR>What do I always preach: Thieves are, where money is!

Topping for Emily.

Bob said: &gt;&gt;Sarnen is a picturesque town on the shore of a scenic lake&lt;&lt;&lt; <BR> <BR>Sorry for the copy and pastin' again. I just can't heps myself. LOL <BR> <BR>Anyway, One of my most pleasureable days spent in Switzerland was the day I walked down from the Engstlenalp over past Tannensee and Melchsee over to Melchseefrut cable down to Stockalp. I took the train from Sarnen over to Luzern. <BR> <BR>That day was fabulous. I didn't see to many tourists that day and there was some sort of Marathon going on that day also. <BR> <BR>BTW, if anyone has any information on the marathon or a web link to that Swiss marathon run, I'd like to hear about it. <BR> <BR>This was a great day. Took a leisurley stroll (those are the best kind yah know) and it was fabulous.