Where can you "stay" in the Alps?
 

We are planning a trip to France and London for next year. My husband decided today he would like to go to Switzerland too for a few days (this trip keeps getting longer and longer!) So we are looking to fly into Zurich and add that on to the beginning of the trip, followed by Provence and then Paris.

He wants to stay somewhere scenic, perhaps near the Alps. What are some good towns that will have beautiful mountainous scenery? Or towns that are on a lake?

Both Geneva and Lucerne are set on lakes, as are a number of other Swiss towns. But you can also find beautiful scenery in northeast France--the town of Annecy, for example, is on a lake set among mountains. France is less expensive than Switzerland, too. From Annecy you can drive up to Chamonix and into the alps.

That's just what my husband and I did-went to Paris and then drove down to Annecy and stayed in a B&B there (and dined at Mark Veryat...highly regarded Michelin rated chef/restaurant. Restaurant was right on the lake. The most expensive, delicious meal I've ever had) and then drove to Chamonix and did some Alpine exploring from there. Unfortunately the weather wasn't great so we didn't even get to see Mt. Blanc but we have fun going down a luge and hanging out in Chamonix.

We stayed for 4 days in Brienz and had beautiful lake views with gorgeous snow capped mountains in the background. It was an easy drive to the Lauterbrunnen valley and we even drove to Montreaux one day and visited Castle Chillon. Just a thought...

The trains in Switzerland are so fantastic that you really don't have to restrict yourself. I have only been to the Bernese Oberland, where I stayed in both Muerren and Spiez, and visited the Lauterbrunnen Valley and Gimmelwald, and the scenery there is just spectacular.

Spiez has both a beautiful lake and Alpine scenery, with easy access to many of the most famous peaks by train and cable car.

Thanks - we are thinking of doing the Glacier Express too, if it's not too far "out of the way."