thanks again but keep in mind hotels or restaurants are not my expertise! but for a quiet location that I can attest to - really quiet but also only a short walk from the center of Interlaken where you will find practically anything.

http://www.walters.ch/anreise_e.html

Walter's B&B - also in Matten and I have stayed there several times - but it is not a hotel but a B&B with I think only shared bahtroom - but for anyone on a budget for Switzerland this is rock bottom. Walter, if he still owns it, if a chef working in Thun but makes the sumptious breakfast served in your room or on your balcony.

We stayed in Interlaken at The Bellevue Hotel on the river...it was very nice with a great breakfast and free wifi. The views were amazing! I was working a bit and the free wifi was a huge help! We didn't find much nightlife but that was OK...we were very tired from running around in different cities the few days before. We took the train to Lauterbrunnen and cable car to Murren and walked to Gimmelwald. Then on to the Schilthorn... it was beautiful and sunny. I had to strip off my layers to stay comfortable. I think I'll check out the accomodations in Murren for my next trip. Thank you all very much for helping me in my planning! We had an amazing time. Thank you all!

I always stay in Interlaken and love it but some folks do not - it's that kind of town - if you can overlook the tourist Schlock on the main drag and get off that commercial gauntlet you discover an Interlaken quite different - like the area you stayed in on the river. That said for a first-time traveler I may recommend staying up in the hills in a Wengen or Grindelwald - Murren is sweet but to me at least too isolated, involving an hour or so each time to get down to Interlaken or Grindelwald, etc. But at least with a Swiss Pass the conveyances to Murren are covered 100% - I just love the aerial cable way from Gimmelwald to Stechleberg, in the Lauterbrunnen Valley - kind of like bungy jumping or being in a place that is landing!

Glad you enjoyed your time in the region, to me the absolute high point both literally and figuratively of all of gorgeous Switzerland.

cable car to Murren and walked to Gimmelwald. Then on to the Schilthorn... it was beautiful and sunny.>

how about that cable car to Murren and back down - quite a thrill for me - did you go via Stechelberg - that cable car to me is more than breaktaking - nervous Nellies should stand in the middle as the large cage plunges down to the Lauterbrunnen Valley!

Hi PalenQ, yes! We did the cable car via Stechelberg! My stomach jumped on a few of the drops :) Such an amazing beautiful place! I can't wait to go back and explore more!

dkelly - Last time I was in Lauterbrunnen I took the antiquated on the ground funicular up to Grutschalp - this is now replaced by an aerial cable way similar to the one at Stechleberg I believe - but if you recall is this new cable car as dramatic as the one at Stechleberg to Gimmelwald?

Is it the same size I presume - I guess if you went up on either it would not seem the same as going down.