Help , need tips for Switzerland and a few other spots?
 

I am traveling with my 20 year old daughter from Florida for her college graduation. We are starting in Amsterdam then to Nurenburg on to Fussen or Munich then Switzerland then Paris and last but not least Belgium. Does anyone have any tips on places to stay. I am especially stuck on Switzerland not sure wether to stay in Interlaaken area or Lucerne. We want one day in the mountains but also a cute town with lots of charm. I am trying to stay within a reasonable budget also and make the trip fun for both of our ages. (20 and 48)

You probably want to ask the moderators to post this on the Europe forum.

Click the little yellow triangle up at the top (don't worry that it says "Report Abuse"—they will see that you are the original poster!) and then tell them you posted in USA but should have posted in Europe.

Agree that you need to have this moved to the Europe forum. But, I haven;t heard Switzerland and reasonable in the same sentence any time in the last 20 years.

You have an awful lot on your itinerary already. Are you sure you even have time to include Switzerland?

It would help if you would tell us how much time you have for this trip - it sounds like 3 or 4 weeks to me - and what your biggest must sees are.

Brugge is one of the most beautiful cities I've ever seen, if you are definitely going to Belgium I highly recommend Brugge over Brussels a million times.

The essence of the dreamy Switzerland etched perhaps in your minds eyes is the glacier-girdled peaks of the Jungfrau region - to me both the literal and figurative high point of Switzerland - lush alpine valleys dotted by bell toting cows - cute chalet-style guest houses with balconies with views to kill for - tiny mountain trains going everywhere - thrilling aerial gondolas - Lucerne has not of this though it is a pleasant town on a nice lake.

The Jungfrau Region will fulfill any picture of Switzerland you may have. Interlaken itself is a cute town that you may want - you can day trip to Lucerne over the scenic Brunig Pass train line - anyway for lots of great info on European trains I always spotlight these fine sitres - www.seat61.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com. Even if in Switzerland just a few days check out the Swiss Pass, valid not only on trains but lake boats (LakeLucerne makes a wondrous trip) but city buses and trams, many mountain trains, etc. www.swisstravelsystem.com is a font of great info on Swiss trains, boats, etc.

You are going by train?

Our trip is 19 days and yes we will be on the move, probably too much. Typical first time european travelers trying to fit everything in!! I originally posted this on the american forum and they just switched it to european forum sooo since that time I have found places to stay in all the above. But am still vacillating on staying in Lucerne vs interlaken. We will be coming in by train from Munich and will be in Switzerland 2 nights. Not up for hiking but would like to see a cute Swiss town and some pretty mountains. The Jungfrau Region sounds beautiul. How difficult is that to get to from Munich by train and where would you stay, (Interlaken)? I have reservation in Lucerne but can cancel. We will be there at the end of May. I will check out the websites but any personal suggestions would be great!

The essence of the picture of Switzerland etched inb many folks' minds is that of the Jungfrau Region - Lucerne is a sweet city of a nice lake but it in no way is the Alpine wonderland many dream of seeing - glacier-girdled sheer peaks of the Jungfrau Massif - toylike trains impossibly climbing prodigious inclines - thrilling aerial gondolas - hiking paths for all degrees of energies and experience - cute mountain towns like Wengen, Murren, Grindelwald or Lauterbrunnen - all having chalet-style guest houses or family-run hotels with balconies with awesome views - under the peaks lush meadows dotted with ows with ever so softly tinking bells, etc.

Lucerne is neat but it is not the Switzerland most folks dream about seeing IMO.

It sounds like you've already got it all planned out. 19 days to see various places in Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, and France. You're right, that's a lot.

Oops I see this also tagged for the Netherlands. Are you going to Amsterdam too?

I am traveling with my 20 year old daughter from Florida for her college graduation. We are starting in Amsterdam then...

duh yeh they are starting in Amsterdamned!

PalenQ, Yes I missed reading A'dam in the OP. There are a number of separate posts right now from cindy that I was reading, about each of the various different places she plans to go. Pardon me.

Why don't you stay in Thun, Switzerland?

As charming as Luzern, but closer to the mountain towns of Wengen and Murren.

Interlaken is a dull town in my opinion.

Interlaken is OK to stay in if you just want a base, but it isn't as beautiful as other towns in the BO.

The BO is one of the most beautiful places on earth.

Thin, Wengen fan

Size, take no heed.

You are dealing with one of the rudest posters in the history of this forum.

He has admitted on another post that he reduces first-time posters to tears!


Thin, hates hypocrites

Suze

I so agree with choosing Thun as a base. The old town is beautiful. It has several nice restaurants, including EurAsia, my favourite Asian restaurant in that part of the country: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...rant-Thun.html
Not expensive and really, there's a limit to the number of wurst, rosti and Manor/Coop/Migros restaurant meals a person can eat.

PalenQ, Yes I missed reading A'dam in the OP.>

Well you said it to the OP dripping with sarcasm - like you are going to Amsterdam too?

<He has admitted on another post that he reduces first-time posters to tears!> This is simply not true - a blad-faced liew - prove what you say or retract it please. Expecting sounds of silence!

Thank you kindly, Mr. Von Snoot. You are a gentleman.

PalenQ, oh keep it to yourself. I did NOT say anything "dropping with sarcasm".

suze - my apologies but you could well see how someone could jump to that conclusion the way it was written - I believe you were not and apologize for thinking so - the 'too' would normally be read as sarcasm given how much OP is trying to do in such a short time.