Dianedancer

Dukey1 -Well, we didn't know when we booked the trip back in Feb and had us flying into Munich 2 days before the Big Event. Once I researched and found out what was going on, I couldn't change our plans as the plane tickets were already paid for. Before I found out, however, I wondered why all the hotels I looked at had rates that were suddenly going way way up!

NE - Do you remember when in September you went? We were in the BO from Sept 21-25 and it wasn't bad.

samikhan

I have 3 days in switzerland ime and my wife are visiting switzerland for the first time i have booked a hotel in engelberg we want to visit lucern interlaken titlis brunni kindly advise how we should plan regards Dr Sami

mokka4

I'm lucky to visit 'second, third and fourth tier' village gems in Switzerland. Few tourists (for now).

Because,generally speaking, many of the economies in Asia have been SO strong in the last decade, tourism has become greatly affordable to many more people.

Sadly, as each town becomes 'discovered', it undergoes change-not often for the better.
PBS had a special on Lucerne in the last year, wherein the city inhabitants bemoaned the everyday burdens of their heavily-touristed hometown.
Imagine how hard it would be to navigate for a dental appointment, to go to church or have a family dinner out!

pariswat

I should have said most tourists from Eurozone were refraining from going to CH due to very expensive CHF for now.
What will it be when/if Euro recovers...

PalenQ

I have 3 days in switzerland ime and my wife are visiting switzerland for the first time i have booked a hotel in engelberg we want to visit lucern interlaken titlis brunni kindly advise how we should plan regards Dr Sami>

Maybe a separate post would work best - but take the train from Engelberg to Stans or whatever the exchange station is for the Lucerne to Interlaken-Ost Brunig Pass scenic train line - once in Interlaken take a train into the hills like to Grindelwald - about 20 mins to really see this spectacular area - an Alpine Wonderland like Engelberg but much more vast and awesome IME.

Go the other was on that intersection around Stans to Lucerne - a good day is good enough there for most - from Stans you can also take boats to Lucerne and from Lucerne to Brunnen (or trains).

For lots of train info - www.swisstravelsystem.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

sandralist

>>>Imagine how hard it would be to navigate for a dental appointment, to go to church or have a family dinner out!<<<

Don't have to imagine. I lived in New York City (although didn't go to church). It's not that bad. I think it's worse if you have your hopes of a wonderful travel experience and then find it spoiled by tourist impact.

Both New York and much of the Italian Riviera are overrun with tourists from middle America, many carrying selfie sticks and spending loads of money on consumables. They are not better behaved. The Asians don't eat as much gelato (and it shows!) but I don't know why American tourists should only want to be among non-Asian tourists or fellow Americans. I would think it would be more interesting to encounter people you are probably never going to encounter elsewhere. A lot of Americans who travel to Europe never go to China.

PalenQ

but I don't know why American tourists should only want to be among non-Asian tourists or fellow Americans.>

Exactly! See a hoard of say Chinese tourists being led around is more memorable than a similar group of Americans so we hear of Asians overcrowding places now and not American tour groups which probably still outnumber the Asians.

And sandra is right on about be able to observe and interact with Asians we never see most places at home.

suze

I have no experience in Lucerne, but it sounds like you're painting with a pretty broad brushed based on a fairly short and limited experience. (like you just happened to be where a couple of bus loads of asian tourists were dropped off.)