Again thanks soo much for all your information and recommedations. We do love to be able to look out our over our balcony and see the mountains. All your suggestions are so very appreciated.I am doing alot of research. It looks like Grindelwald may be a place to really consider.

Cicerone-we fell in love with Wengen and the Caprice last June and will be going back to take in more of Switzerland next June. We will be staying in Tarasp and you mentioned Guarda in another post. Is this area even more beautiful than Wengen? What is the name of the new tunnel that goes to Guarda? Thanks for your help

yankee- pull up my trip report- I was in Guarda in June. Tarasp is gorgeous! The area is different than Wengen, but there are incredibly beautiful mountains/rivers/lakes in the Engadin. The architecture is far different, with colored limestone buildings decorated with sgraffiti. Soglio is another incredibly beautiful place. The train ride from Pontresina to Scuol is very cool! However, to see Guarda, you have to get off the train and hike up the hill, or take a bus! There are really lovely villages all around there.

LLindaC-Thanks for your response and I read your wonderful trip report already.We will be back at the Caprice and then driving to the Engadin area. Of Guarda, Schuol, Tarasp-Vulpera was there a particular village that you would suggest staying? Thanks for the train trip recommendation.

I am disappointed that the time of year that we will be in Switzerland that the Wengen area is out of the question. So we are definitely looking at Grindelwald. Any suggestions on hotels etc., would be greatly appreciated. Phyllis

I just went to trip advisor to check what hotels were reviewed. #3 was a hotel named Hotel Gletschergarten in Grindelwald. Has anyone stayed there? The reviews were pretty good. Some of the other hotels including #1, and #2 did not seem to be much better but more expensive.

Phyllis -

Wengen is not out of the question, you just have to be prepared for all those closures. The gorgeous scenery is not affected by closures and there are some gorgeous walks above Wengen that are assesible by train, which run all year.

We stayed a Hotel Eiger in Grindelwald one November when just about everything was closed - I believe they are open year round and they have some apartments as well.

http://www.eiger-grindelwald.ch/content-n8-sE.html

Phyllis -

Regarding the Hotel Gletschergarten in Grindelwald, I'm not familiar with it, but noticed there were no rates posted from March 31- May 23, which leads me to believe they might be closed.

You might want to contact the Grindelwald tourist ofice for a list of hotels that will be open during your stay.

[email protected]

Good luck.

Hi Melnq8,

Thanks so much for heads up on the hotel in Grindelwald. I took your suggestion and emailed the tourist office and ask if they would email a list of hotels that are open during the time frame that we are there. Thanks again, Phyllis

You're very welcome Phyllis. FYI - there's one hotel in Murren that's open year round as well - Hotel Alpenruh (3* - we always stay here).

There are two restaurants in Murren open year round, the Hotel Alpenruh restaurant and the restaurant in the Schilthorn cable station - both operated by the same company and with similiar menus. We've eaten at both several times and they're both good.

I looked up some mountain excursion operating schedules to give you an idea of what might be open when you visit - keep in mind these are 2006 dates:

Jungfrau & Schilthorn - open year round, but the cable car from Stechelberg-Schilthorn closed for maintenance from April 24-26 and from Nov 6 - Dec 1.

Murren-Allmendhubel funicular - closed for maintenance from April 18 - June 2 and Oct 16 - Dec 1.

Harder Kulm - OPEN from April 29 - October 29.

Schynige Platte - OPEN from May 27 - Oct 15.

Grindelwald-First cable car - OPEN from May 13 - Oct 22 & early Dec - April 9.

Can't find the schedule for the Mannlichen, but I really doubt it will be open.

Don't let these closures discourage you. You'll no doubt still find plenty to do. The trains run all the time, so you can still see plenty in the area. The weather might be iffy, but then again, it might be really nice. You just never know.

If you have a train pass, you can be really flexible and hop on a train to go elsewhere if the weather turns.

Another option would be to stay in Engelberg - yes, it's another ski village that will have many closures, but it's a short train ride from Luzern and Zurich. Engelberg is very pretty and has the mountain views you're looking for (weather permitting)). If the weather is bad you can easily hop a train to Luzern or Zurich for some shopping, museums and a huge variety of restaurants.

www.engelberg.ch

If you look at my earlier review, we stayed at Gletchergarten...its great, kind of at the end of the main drag, and the innkeeper Gary is fantastic. Authentic Swiss Chalet style, clean rooms views all around, 3-5 minute walk to town, close to all the hiking spots, etc.