nannibray, Your trip sounds wonderful. We did a similar trip last year so I'm sure you will have a fabulous time. Have you booked Villa Maria in Lucerne yet? We stayed there and Maria told us she was retiring in 2008 -- didn't say when. It's a great place to stay and I hope she's still open for you.

CRCKWC1 Yes! We are BOOKED at the Villa Maria! Am very happy to hear you liked it. We will have a room on the BACK with balcony , sink in room and private bath. Think the private bath is NEXT DOOR, but that is okay. Glad to hear it is a manageable distance from Lucerne.

Now to WENGEN The Eiger is out of our budget but Rick Steves recommends the BAREN hotel. I checked on Trip Advisor and the ratings were great. People really liked it. It is about 5 min from train station down hill. Has anyone been to this hotel? I'm going to inquire and am seriously thinking of switching from Lauterbrunnen to Wengen for our 6 night stay in the BO.
Nannibray

nannibray, About Villa Maria in Lucerne, it's a scenic walk from the house into Lucerne, along the waterfront, or there is a city bus quite near the house. We loved staying there. Maria will take good care of you. Enjoy.

Nannibray---we stayed at the Bären on our last trip to Switzerland. We booked rather late, and I chose it because it was one place that could still offer us a balcony. We loved it there and I would happily stay there again. But it is not for everyone.

Things you should know: it is basically a restaurant with rooms above. Not a full-service hotel---the desk is not staffed round the clock, and there is generally no one there in the afternoon. You pay the first night in advance (by credit card), and if you arrive in the afternoon when no one is around, they will leave a note and your key waiting for you. I don't believe there is an elevator, if that matters.

The rooms are simple and not furnished in typical Swiss pine---there are a lot of bright colors. (Our room had a lot of orange, both in the bedroom and the bathroom). The balcony was large and had a great view out to the valley and up to the Jungfrau. Frau Brunner, the owner, is very warm and welcoming---she will greet you at dinner. The food is wonderful---be sure and take half-board, as it is a very good value.

It is a pretty steep walk back up to the main village area and the train station.

ENZIAN
Thanks for the info on the Baren. I don't expect a lot since it is a 2 star. But the opinion is that it is the BEST VALUE going in Wengen. I have been confirmed a room on the FIRST floor, with BALCONY facing the VALLEY. I think this will be one of the BEST rooms. In all hotels, there are great rooms and not so great. Hope I get the best in the house. Will take the 1/2 board (a really good value at 20 SF PP). Am hoping staying in Wengen will not add TOO much extra travel time when we want to do the little towns on Lake Thurn and Brienz.
Hope our SENIOR legs can do the hill (will be good for both of us) My daughter also said the walk DOWN to Lauterbrunnen was a nice walk so perhaps we will do that a day or two.

Nannibray,

The first-floor room with balcony is what we had. They look out over their little vegetable garden and out to the gorgeous views of the Jungfrau, etc. You will like it.

ENZIAN Did the room at the Baren have twin beds? Hoping it does. The Swiss double beds are impossible!

As I recall, it was the two-beds-pushed-together. But I remember all the beds in Switzerland that way---I can't think of a "true" double bed (meaning one mattress and one duvet) we've ever had there.

Does anyone know if the Baren in Wengen has a room for 4? We are looking for inexpensive accomodations in the BO and this sounds like what we are looking for. Thanks, Karen

karen--they have a family suite on the top floor---two bedrooms and a bath opening onto a common (private) hallway. We had that room, in addition to the first floor room, for our family of 5. The only thing about that room is that it lacks a balcony. But the view is the same. Actually, one room looks out to the south, and the other one looks the other direction, up into the village.

You might also try Chalet Fontana in Mürren---just about the least expensive place around. The upstairs is a B & B (with shared bathroom for 5 bedrooms; no private bathroom). On the ground floor there is a roomy 2-bedroom apartment, with nice bathroom and a serviceable kitchen. I'd go for that. Prices for either B & B room and for the apartment include breakfast.

Thanks Enzian,

We have 2 adults and 2 teenagers. We will look into the place in Murren that you recommended. We were thinking of waiting to make recommendations....as Rick Steves says, "Wait and see if the weather cooperates", but maybe we need to have a plan. We are going in late May and even arrive on a Monday so I'm hoping it will be less crowded and that we'll easily be able to find a place for 3 nights. Karen

Karen, it will definitely be less crowded in late May. We were there in late June last summer, and most places (including Chalet Fontana) still had vacancies). Very different from August when we usually go.

You should be fine as long as you are a bit flexible on your lodging options.

I just heard back from Donna at the Chalet Fontana that the family apt is already reserved the days we will be there. They have 2 double rooms at 160 swiss francs plus tax for adults. I wonder if there is anything less expensive that would work. We love being in Murren, Wengen, or anywhere in Lauterbrunnen. Your recommendations are appreciated! Karen

Karen---40 CHF per person is pretty much rock-bottom for B & B-type accommodations.

A vacation apartment might be less expensive. You'll have to find one willing to rent for less than a week since it is early season. I'd try Chalet Bobs:

http://www.muerren.ch/boebs/

They have several apartments and get very good reports. There are others listed on the Mürren-Wengen website:

http://www.wengen-muerren.ch/index.p...ang=en&L=1

The less expensive ones are toward the bottom of the list.

bmk