My wife and I are planning our first trip to Europe and particularly Switzerland next June. We plan to spend a couple of days in or near Geneva, then a week ib the Bernese Oberland,<BR>then a week in Vallais and finally two or three days in Vaud near Lake Leman. We have heard of the summer crowds and wonder when we should book lodging. As much as possible we plan to stay in B & B's. Any advice would be appreciated.

B. Daniel,<BR><BR>I think you'll really enjoy Switzerland, and especially the time in Vaud and the Berner Oberland. Montreux on Lake Geneva is one of my favorite spots in the world. I don't think you'll find either Vaud or the Berner Oberland particularly overrun in June -- I was there in August and it **was** chaos. Yet I'd still reserve as early as possible to make sure to get the lodging you want.<BR><BR>I don't usually stay in smaller B&Bs or inns, so I don't have any personal recommendations. However, these places looked charming to me from the outside -- and I've seen them recommended by other folks or guide books.<BR><BR>In Cully -- the Auberge de Raisin (a member of the Relais & Chateaux) and the Au Major Davel.<BR><BR>In Rivaz -- the Auberge de Rivaz<BR><BR>I'm also pasting here my own list of activities & web links for Lake Geneva.<BR><BR>Spend a morning walking along the 11km flowered lakeside promenade from Clarens to Villeneuve, passing the Chateau Chillon along the way; there are plenty of cafes to stop and have a coffee & snack along the way to replenish your strength. There are also plenty of benches to sit and read, watch other walkers, or simply stare at the majesty of the lake and the mountains in the distance. This is a favorite and necessary activity.<BR><BR>Top off your long walk with a wonderful pizza & beer lunch at a lakeside caf&eacute; in Villeneuve, then take the ferry back to Montreux (I think the ferry stops in late Sep/Oct). <BR><BR>Spend the morning in Vevey hunting down the antiques shops in the old town. Then have lunch at the Hostellerie de Geneve on the Pl. Marche (reviewed -- sort of-- in NY Times Travel section. Go to www.nytimes.com, then to the archives of "What's Doing," then find "What's Doing in Vevey" from summer '99). <BR><BR>Take the train (the “wine train”) from Vevey to Chexbres, then spend a morning walking the vineyards down to the lake, hitting Rivaz & St. Saphorin. For lunch, find the Auberge du Rivaz (in Rivaz . . . ) with a terrace lake view or see if any of the cellars are having a cheese/wine tasting. <BR><BR>Cully (esp. the Auberge du Raisin) and Lutry's well-posted tour of ancient sites are worth a trip as well. <BR><BR>Spend a day in the mountains, taking the train to the resort of Gstaad. On the way back, stop at Chateaux d'Oex, where the only successful round-the-world-by-hot-air-balloon trip was launched. Or stop at Glion for lunch at the Hotel Victoria with its panoramic views of the lake; then walk the rest of the way down to Montreux on a stair-step path through the forest (or take the train or the funicular to Territet). <BR><BR>Spend an afternoon in the medieval village of Gruyeres, making sure to sample the berries in creme-double. <BR><BR>Spend an afteroon in Nyon at the Roman museum and the Caesar's columns nearby. <BR><BR>Spend a morning walking up to Montreux's old city & the museum & the old church. Fantastic views from the old church (can't remember the name -- but it's prominent in the old city). Have lunch at the restaurant at the museum. <BR><BR>Here are the websites: <BR>www.montreux.ch (find their picture gallery) <BR>www.vevey.ch <BR>www.lake-geneva-region.ch <BR>www.gruyeres.ch <BR>www.nyon.ch <BR>www. lutry.ch <BR>www.concierge.com (type in "Switzerland" as a <BR>destination, then go to "Lausanne & the Alps")<BR>www.myswitzerland.com <BR>www.twenj.com/swissvisit.htm (a personal site with detailed & comprehensive information on all of Switzerland, a favorite place to vist & revisit)<BR><BR>http://www.cartogra.com/home/ViewMyA...oll_id=1035405 (my personal photos of Montreux & area)<BR><BR>Please feel free to e-mail me with questions.<BR><BR>s

Hi Bill and s: You know I can't resist adding my compliment to your choice of travel destinations. S is surely your best resource, but might I mention two things? First, let us know if you are driving or using a SwissPass for rail/boat travel. Second, I think that two-star or three-star hotels in Switzerland will meet your requirements. There are rooms in private homes in some places (through local tourist offices), but not "B & B's" like those you might be used to in the United States. Karen Brown's books and site are good resources for lovely accommodations. The two hotels that S mentioned in Cully are both nice and are mentioned in many listings. I've stayed in the Auberge de Rivaz twice (between Cully and Vevey), and it was fine for my needs, but rather than a hotel, it is actually a good country restaurant with a few simple rooms on the second floor (their 'first' floor). It may be too modest for your tastes. But the food. . . . ahh, I was happy to eat there every night but one when we boated to the Major Davel in Cully. For your nights in/near Geneva, you might consider Nyon or, if you are driving -- little Yvoire (actually in France) just up the lake a bit --- it's a dandy. Now, the real reason I'm barging in and contributing not much at all is that I remember a pretty little country hotel between St. Saphorin and Vevey, tucked into the vineyards but right on the route de lavaux. I cannot remember the name, but maybe someone can. It's address was St. Saphorin, but when the management told us that it was quite a walk out of town from the railway station, we chose the Auberge instead. Anyway, it looked absolutely charming from the train window, and if you are driving, I'll bet it's a winner. In the Bernese Oberland, I continue to suggest lake towns on Thunersee and Brienzersee (though most recommend Wengen and others in the mountains, and you'll find numerous small hotels listed here somewhere); there's a nice three-star hotel in Leissigen on lake Thun (Kreuz), though again I stayed in the little two-star Hirschen. I'll close by agreeing with S that June is a wonderful time to visit Switzerland. I look forward to hearing more as you continue to enjoy your planning. J.

(I know I'm making you crazy)but I forgot my most important piece of advice (guess it was one of those senior-moment things): Try to stay in each place 3 or more nights, because almost w/o exception that will get you a better room rate. J.

B. Daniel & jw,<BR><BR>I wonder, jw, if you're thinking of the Hotel Signal de Chexbres in Chexbres? It *is* quite a hike from the Chexbres train station -- actually out in the country. I passed it once during a walk from Puidoux-Chexbres to Rivaz. It's a four-star. If that's not it, I'm pretty well stumped (quite easy to do, really . . . ). I checked out the St. Saphorin web site (www.st-saphorin.ch) to see what I could learn, but they don't even list any hotels.<BR><BR>jw, if you have time & the inclination, can you stop by www.montreux.ch, go to "hotels" under tourism, then go to "lavaux" or "vevey" to see if you can find this place. You've got my head spinning!<BR><BR>s

Folks,<BR><BR>The Vevey site (www.veveytourism.ch) has a better and more extensive list of hotels. I found there this hotel for St. Saphorin:<BR><BR>H&ocirc;tel le Castel <BR>Rte cantonale <BR><BR>Maybe that's it?<BR><BR>s<BR>

Hotel le Castel! I think that might be it!!! s, you're amazing. Bill, it faces Lac Leman with vineyards all around. If you're driving, its on the route that runs just along the lake between Vevey and St. Saphorin.

s & jw<BR>Thanks to both of you for responding. Looks like we need to do more than we have time for. Am now really leaning toward the Berner Oberland for at least a week, with stays at Iseltwald, or Murren and Kandersteg. Vaud & the lake sound extremely nice also. Obviously more planning is required. Will be tough decisions but what a way to go. BTW, I think we shall try train and bus travel exclusively, making scenic train excursions part of the fun.<BR><BR>Bill Daniel

Hello, Bill. I just realized that I replied to your Iseltwald mention on another thread. Training is my love. No trains to Iseltwald, but if you are set on staying there, Swiss buses are fine -- and actually, I look for excuses to ride the lake boats on Thunersee and Brienzersee. The last time I was in Iseltwald was three Junes ago, so my impressions are a bit out of date. It was as quiet as I remembered from a previous trip (when I was enchanted), but this time it looked a little tired. Is that a strange thing to say? Maybe I was the one who was tired. Another thought, if you are looking for views from a balcony -- maybe places on the opposite side of the lake would afford better views of the mountains of the Oberland. See what others think. I'd be interested in reading other, more recent, comments on Iseltwald. And I do intend to go back to give it another look when next I'm in that neighborhood. It tugs at my heart. J. Have you found any websites for places to stay there?

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