We're planning a trip to Switzerland in January. Ideally, we would like to stay a few nights in a city and then 4-5 nights in a mountain resort. We were thinking Zurich and St.Moritz respectfully. Is this a good itinary? Any other suggestions?<BR>Thank you!<BR>

Anna, That would not be my choice. I would pick Luzern as your city and then train to Interlaken but stay at Wengen or Grindelwald as your resort. You may be late for best places to stay at the resorts---that is high season.

Anna: Just should know that the Engadin where St. Moritz is located has usually much better weather than the Bernese Oberland. But it's also colder, especially in January/February.<BR>Right now, it's snowing in Zurich. Everything is white and it's very cold. I'd pick Pontresina or Celerina, if you want to go to the Engadin. St. Moritz is too much of a town for my personal taste.<BR>And yes, Bob is correct about the bookings. It's hard to find something anywhere. People tend to stay close rather than taking planes right now.

Anna, That would not be my choice. I would pick Luzern as your city and then train to Interlaken but stay at Wengen or Grindelwald as your resort. You may be late for best places to stay at the resorts---that is high season.

Hi Ursula,<BR><BR>How hard is it snowing? How much snow do they expect and will it stay cold? I'd love to see some snow in Luzern next week--perfect for the holiday season.<BR><BR>BTilke

Looks like you have a choice between the advice of someone who has always LIVED in Switzerland (Ursula) and has also traveled it well, and a foreigner who visits (Bob).

BTilke. I am not sure the snow is gonna stay long. Although the forecast says it's gonna be really cold the next days.<BR>It's white all over here in Zurich and Lucerne not being far must be the very same. What day you arrive? The bad thing is, it's very slippery on the sidewalks. I am glad I made it home safely. Traffic has slowed down as always, when we have snow. <BR>I would say chances are given you will see some snow. Maybe not right in town, but definitely on the hills surrounding Lucerne. With sunshine, it's absolutely gorgeous. Please let us know how you liked it, esp. the Grand Hotel National. Also, I think Lucerne has nice Christmas decorations in the shops and in the streets. It's very christmassy here, yes, but some 8 degrees under zero. Sorry, no idea what's that in Fahrenheit. Please bring warm coat, scarve, gloves, hat and above all, good shoes, etc. I bet temperatures in Brussels are not high either.

Hello all,<BR>yes, it has been very cold here around Luzern. I just wanted to add that even if there are low clouds in Luzern the top of Pilatus (or Titlis, Jungfraujoch, etc) may very well be crystal clear (as it has been this past week). The views are gorgeous with the lowlands filled in with fog and all the mountain tops peeking out from it shrouded in snow. In fact on Sunday my spouse and I hiked up Pilatus and were treated with some beautiful sunny weather. an additional note, Just be aware that the cog railway is now closed but the cable car from Kriens is open all year round. Other wonderful places for winter walking around Luzern are Klewenalp, Niederickenbach, and Truebsee (Engelberg), and Wirzwili. <BR><BR>Ursula, do you plan on being in Flims around Christmas? We'll be there from Dec. 22-26.

I want to thank Ursula, Bob and others for replying to my message. I still have some doubts, though, about where to go. How far Luzern is from Zurich? Is it a more beautiful town than Zurich? I heard it's very "touristy". But then I'm a tourist Also, I thought St. Moritz is one of the best skiing places in Switzerland but people don't mention it much on this board. We were planning on staying in Badrutt's Palace. Is it worth the money?<BR>Thank you,<BR>Anna

Anna--<BR>Well, everyone has an opinion. Here's mine for what it's worth: The Engadine is a great skiing area, but rather than St. Moritz you should stay in Silvaplana, only a couple of KM away from St. Moritz and much more of a "small village" feeling. Hotels are just as good, and costs are generally lower. If you arrive in Zurich in the morning as most flights do, you should consider going as far as Chur for the first overnight, then on to Silvaplana the second day. Chur is a lovely old (very old) city that has a lot of charm and is often overlooked by tourists. Zurich is nice, but frankly there are more appealing cities in my opinion. Whatever you decide, I know you'll have fun. It's hard not to have good skiing in January.

Chris good morning!<BR><BR>What a mess this morning. Last night, some 100 car crashes in and around Zurich. <BR>It's icy everwhere and soo cold. Everything slowed down.<BR>But now, the sun comes out and it is like in a ski resort here, if we were not at work....<BR><BR>No, I won't in Flims then So sorry. But I used to go there (Hotel Adula or Sunstar).<BR>Love the place. What hotel will you stay at?<BR>Enjoy your holiday up there! I bet it's gorgeous now and with that cold, the snow is gonna stay and will be of good quality.<BR><BR>I am heading for Basel and then for Paris on the 26th!

Anna: here is one more vote against St. Moritz; my adivse is to do as the learnt people said: go to Berner Oberland. I wonder why nobody mentioned Muerren, though (same B.O. region). This would be my pick. e-mail me to the address above if you are interested in more details.<BR>Ursula: I can't believe it started snowing already (even though you mention Zurich only). I feel sympathy for those unfortunate car drivers, but I MUST HAVE that snow; going to the B.O. end of January! Can you take care of that, Ursula, bitte sehr...

Eli! I will do my best. <BR><BR>The fact that it snowed in Zurich, Berne, Lucerne, etc. means it even must have snowed much more in the mountains. I am sure you won't have any problem in the B.O.<BR>PS: I wonder why nobody mentions the Gstaad area! Yeah, Muerren is nice, sure, but not enough possibilities for a good skier, just my opinion. <BR>But still, for a good skier, the Engadin is great, some real challenging tracks.<BR>Enjoy your holiday then!

The Engiadine is always a good choice. I am not a fan of St. Moritz itself, but the nice villages around (Pontresina and Celerina or even Sils) are fantastic. The weather is more reliable and skiing is just great.<BR><BR>I would not go to the Palace, because I don't think it is worth the money. A four star hotel in Pontresina (maybe Saratz) or Sils (Post, Margna) is a better choice in my opinion.<BR><BR>And Zurich is a good choice, too.

I stayed at the Saratz in Pontresina this past summer--what a pleasant place to spend to some time, and a lovely little village as well. I agree--DO NOT stay in St Moritz--stay in a surrounding village.

Ingo and Donna:<BR>I do hear a lot of good things as well about the Saratz in Pontresina. It seems to be a nice place indeed.<BR>www.saratz.ch

Ursula--only problem for me was the Saratz website was only in German--did not translate well on babelfish.

Sorry, Donna. A lot of hotels in Switzerland have an English translation just like the tourists boards as well. Can you manage with the Saratz? At least, you can have a look at the pictures. Most places work on English version, but it takes time.

Hello everyone. What about June? Of Sils, Pontresina, and Celerina, which might be the loveliest for a non-snowy visit? Or what about Guarda and Ardez?

jw: my reply concerning the Engadin is coming very soon. I am working on it. One advice in advance: go there in the second half of June or first days of Oct.<BR><BR>In the upper Engadin Sils is highly recommended as a lovely, quiet place between the lakes of Sils and Silvaplana with wonderful walking and hiking opportunities. Pontresina might be the best place for excursions by train (Bernina Express!) and bus, walking and hiking, too. It is more lively than Sils, but less than St. Moritz.