Switzerland

Favorite discoveries or tips:

Tip: if you are headed to the Berner Oberland in late Spring (early June) and you plan to ride the Goldenpass train, I would suggest that you go ahead and book the 1st class tickets (make the reservation if you have a Swisspass). I wish we had, as several schoolgroups were taking up many of the train cars and it was difficult for us to find a seat (and 2nd class was crowded). I would have felt better with a reservation.

Victoria Van Wie in cypress, tx USA 06/22/2008

Consider adding IPR guesthouse as inexpensive, but nice budget-minded lodging in Zurich (and it is near the train station). We found it to be clean, quiet, and the rooms were very well appointed (although we did have to share a toilet & shower with 3 other rooms). Weblink is below: http://www.sleepinzurich.ch/4394.html

Victoria Van Wie in Cypress, TX USA 06/22/2008

homepage.sunrise.ch/homepage/schwitte/ This url is in your web Switzerland section referencing a list of the secret underground armories. I cannot get it to work. I cannot seem to find this information via google either. Can you point me to the right place?

Barbara Robichaux in Friendswood, TX USA 02/05/2008

Fiadan.com info@fiadan.com Lucie Pochon/owner Lausanne Switzerland

Beverly Clauser in Ramona, CA USA 01/31/2008

One thing I wish I'd known before scheduling our trip: on a sunny weekend, trains and cable cars are packed with locals going hiking up in the mountains, but the same trains will be empty on weekdays. In particular, at Interlaken Ost; Lauterbrunnen; and Gornergrat in Zermatt. Plan accordingly if you wish to avoid crowds. We also heard that the toboggan run on Mt. Pilatus had a 45-minute line on a Sunday, but when we showed up the following Monday it was so quiet they were offering discounts. In Montreux, as of September 2007, the old town is under construction; looks like they're replacing lots of underground pipes. We stayed along the lake, which was pretty and quiet, with a short walk to the train station. It seemed more convenient than staying in Lausanne. In Zermatt, Kleine Matterhorn was also undergoing lots of construction.

Nikki in San Jose, CA USA 09/27/2007

Basel? Where is it. Basel is one of the artistic and cultural centers in Switzerland hosting the largest Carnival, Art Basel, Tri country region bordering the Black Forest and the Alsace Region of France. The over site of this region to of Switzerland was surprising.

Demetria Clark in Princeton , MA USA 09/16/2007

Jungfraujoch experiences Response. The trip is expensive (the early bird special is cheaper) and it is a long trip from Muerren, but just right from Lauterbrunnen or Wengen. The train may be crowded with noisy foreigners (after all - it is Europe), ours had a group of French ice-hikers complete with gear. But with proper planning this can be a fun trip - we enjoy the time we spend planning the trip, and getting excited abut the trip, before we ever leave. There is more to do than what some found. They missed the main level exit onto the dogsled, sledding, beginning skiing and hiking area. We hiked to the Moenchsjochhuette for lunch - 45 minutes uphill, at elevation, in the snow and watched the climbers ascending. There were additional views from this mountain pass too. Then a stop at Kleinescheidegg (Clint Eastwood's "Eiger Sanction" was filmed here) on the way down for ice cream and listen to the alpine horns, then hike down from there to Wengen, look around town, and catch the train for the return. While you may not want to go back a second time, if you have never been in a glacier ice-cave or to the top of an alpine mountain, then this is a good opportunity. We found plenty to make it an enjoyable experience and continue to re-live our visit through the many webcams in the area.

mike in owensboro, ky USA 08/07/2007

When traveling from Lausanne to Evian, remember to take some Euros as they don't use Swiss Francs in France.

Mitch and Helene Hamlin in Tempe,, AZ USA 07/15/2007

1) Hotel Arabelle - Bern, Mittelstrasse 6 (less than 10 minutes walk behind train station; quiet University area). Contact info: info@arabelle.ch, tel: +41 31 301 0305, fax: +41 31 302 4262; June, 07: single room with private WC/shower SF90 on weekend, SF130 weekdays (including buffet breakfast). Liked it because: friendly, good value, clean, bright, and because it was exceptionally quiet at night during my stay. Free internet access in a private room. Good location. (note that some may find single room very small, though for me space was adequate)

2) Day trip from Lausanne to Aigle (hiking in vineyards), and then to Sion exploring scenic Old Town. Valais region. Easy access by train (Aigle about 30 mins from Lausanne, and Sion about 30 mins from Aigle; then about 1 hour direct train from Sion back to Lausanne.)

Audrey Hermanutz in Edmonton, AB Canada 07/12/2007

Public transportation (trains) is the only way to go! Swiss Pass was an excellent deal. We used the trains like buses.

Michael Maturo in North Haven, CT USA 07/05/2007

Hotel Chevaliers in Gruyeres is quiet and right at the entrance of town. Great views from back rooms and nicely decorated. chevaliers@chalet-gruyeres.ch

Kathleen Burkley in Peoria, IL USA 06/13/2007

I'm writing to suggest that you mention The Alpenhof as a place to stay in any of your guides to travelling in Switzerland. It's a wonderful little bed and breakfast in the tiny village of Stechelberg, a twenty minute postal bus ride from the nearest town of Lauterbrunnen. Diane Sifis and Marc Jones run the place with friendly charm, never too busy for a conversation and always ready to give advice and help. The beds in private rooms are comfortable and clean, and a steal at 25 francs per person per night. The bathroom facilities are shared, and hot showers are a franc for five minutes. A big, delicious breakfast of locally-made yogurt, cheese, and bread, along with sliced meat, granola, fruit, juice, and coffee costs 10 francs. The kitchen is available for travellers looking to save some money, since dining out in the area can be a little expensive. The Stechelberg area is wonderful for hiking and skiing and just enjoying the beautiful Swiss countryside, and the Alpenhof, with it's wonderful owners and great facilities, is the perfect place to stay.

Michael Kaiser-Nyman in Sacramento, CA USA 04/17/2007

You suggest skipping Geneva because it is a "big, dull city." It may not be the most pleasurable city in Switzerland; but it does have treasures I think are not to be missed. One unknown (and unadvertized_ treasure is the museum at the International Red Cross/Red Crescent headquarters. With displays on wars and natural catastrophes in which the IRCRC has served, its exhibits are emotionalloy powerful--as much so as any holocaust memorial I have visited. The city also has worthwhile Reformation history sites to visit. (Zwingli in Zurich; Calvin in Geneva). Although not in Switzerland, Chamonix and Yvoire are easily accessed from Geneva--two worthwhile day trips.

Dwayne Daehler in West Lafayette, IN USA 02/20/2007

Although the Matterhorn is a classic (Zermatt), I prefer the Saastal region (Saas Fee). Memorable was the 11km off-road downhill ride from Kreuzboden to Saas-Grund on a Kick-Scooter with extra-large wheels. There are so many activities in the region, from feeding the wild marmots to visiting an under glacier ice gallery at over 3500 metters altitude. Check out these websites: www.sassfee.ch, www.saastal.ch and www.kreuzboden.ch for more info.

Ralph Bassfeld in Illnau, Switzerland 12/27/2006

We followed the book's suggestions in scheduling our 10-day trip at the end of Sept 06 and found them to be generally accurate and extremely helpful. Our itinerary included Luzern, Lauterbrennan (and environs), Lausanne, and Lugano; each of which we enjoyed greatly, and each was very different from the others.

We used Swiss Pass which provides tremendous economies on the extras, such as the 50% savings for the Jungfraujoch train. Although costly, Jungfraujoch was an awesome excursion (the day before we also took the wonderful walk from Mannlichen to Wengen via Kleine Scheidegg); I think the key is to take an early train and to experience the 45-minute walk along the glacier from the Jungfraujoch observatory to the mountain hut; it takes 45 minutes because the altitude slows you down. Also the hot chocolate at the hut is terrific. This glacier walk is a unique, memorable experience for those of us who are unlikely to be hiking at 12K feet any other way. The views & guiet & clear air are wonderful up there.

In Lauterbrunnen we stayed at Staubbach which was very good as others have noted; many of the other guests also were carry the RS book, we noticed. In town, the by-far-best food we had was at Oberland. Probably the worst meal and most ditsy service we had in Switzerland was at the Jungfrau in Lauterbrunnen.

Hotel Elite in Lausanne was very comfortable and convenient; the lakeside walk from Montreux to Chateau de Chillon is beautiful and the chateau itself well worth the visit (and free with SwissPass). The Cafe Grutli in Lausanne was excellent.

In Lugano -- which we thought was a hoot -- we stayed at the historic Hotel International au Lac which was excellent... La Tinera restaurant was very good... and we thought the boat trip to Gandria was extremely worthwhile, Gandria itself is extremely picturesque and the walk back to Lugano (plus bus for the last boring bit).. all free with Swiss Pass.. very memorable. We also took the boat to the Italian town at the end of the lake... boat trip was pleasant, the town nothing much to see for a short visit.

We thought Luzern was wonderful and great fun; the Manora cafeteria was excellent and rooftop seating also great. (Manora's cafe in Lausanne was much less good, however, in every respect). We liked our hotel in Luzern, the Waldstatterhof; could not beat the convenience.

One tip for the trainrides: the connection times are very short. It helps to ask at the originating station or to ask a train conductor about the gate number for the next connecting train. When you have 4 minutes to scramble from Train A-to-Train B it's useful to know where you are going beforehand. Also concerning Swiss Pass: 2nd class was comfortable and uncrowded on all trains that we took, we never needed reservations, and paying extra for 1st class would have made no sense in our opinion.

Peter Shapiro in Lexington, MA USA 10/30/2006

We just returned from taking Rick's 15-day train trip through Switzerland, following his suggestions exactly, and staying in his hotel reommendations whenever we could. Some tips I thought we could share are as follows:

The Swiss are precise, their trains leave on the minute. Our 8-plus hour Glacier Express arrived just one minute late. Think about your dates and time for departure prior to leaving home and visit www.sbb.ch/en/ and enter your estimated travel times/destinations for each trip segment (eg. Luzern to Lugano) Print the resulting schedule because it's full of clues you'll need such as train number, platform and departure times.

The true key to "training" is being NIMBLE. Getting off the train, and getting to the next one is for many a feat. Changing platforms may require going down steps, through a tunnel-passage and back up other stairs in less than seven minutes. Be prepared. Some regional trains (Appenzell) are narrow gauge and do not use the same tracks in the normal stations. They are frequently in an adjacent building. Be alert.

Pack light! Pack small. We used Rick's wheeled luggage and it was perfect. Watching other travelers struggling to handle larger luggage or more of it was gruesome. Putting one large bag into two smaller ones won't cut it either. Just pack fewer items. A secret not readily known is that the Swiss aren't really sharp dressers. They'll never recognize the difference with your compacted wardrobe.

The tap water in Switzerland tastes great. We did not buy bottled water at all. The food is delicious and we tried to eat dinner in our hotels and were never disappointed. The Hotel Golderner Stern in Luzern, a recommended hotel, has an outstanding restaurant not mentioned anywhere, but frequented by all the locals. Best meal we had on the trip.

We purchased the Swiss Pass from Rick and it worked great. We happened to buy the First Class tickets and there isn't much difference between the seats, First Class is three wide, Second Class is four wide. There are fewer First Class travelers and it was easier getting a seat.

Make reservations for the Glacier Express well ahead! Tours take this trip and eat up the available seats. The Bernina Express is so-so, but Pontresina is great. We followed Rick's suggestion and took a two hour Luzern boat cruise (Swiss Pass) and avoided the William Tell Express. The cruise was great and the train trip quicker. The Swiss Pass also saved a lot of money on buses and museums. We always asked if they took the pass.

Overall, this was an exceptional trip. Everything worked well and our hat is off to Rick and his staff for laying out a precise and interesting train schedule and location itinerary. Hope you enjoy your trip as much as we did. P.S. Did I mention pack light?

Bill in Cumberland, RI USA 10/24/2006

Exchanging for Swiss Francs-- we found that the easiest exchange was using our Credit Union debit card at ATMs all over Switzerland. They were on the Cirrus network, which is used at almost all banks in Switzerland. There was no additional exchange fee added (check your own bank). Of course, you are withdrawing funds that you have on deposit before you leave home.

Our visit to the Zentrum Paul Klee outside of Bern was very worthwhile. This Swiss artist was amazingly prolific and varied in his works.

We attended the cow fights in Martigny on October 1, held in the Roman amphitheatre. After attending the cowfights in Raron on our last trip to Switzerland, we had to do it again! The Herens breed has a natural aggressiveness to each other in the ring, but no blood or injury to the cows. They push against each other head-to-head, until one sort of gives up. It has to be seen; extremely entertaining. Unique to the Valais region (Rhone River area). While in that area, we stayed at the Hiking Sheep Aubergerie in Leysin, a very quaint Swiss Backpacker Hostel at the top of the Aigle-Leysin cog train. Recommended, but bring your groceries with you from Aigle, or stop at the store near the Leysin-Feydey train stop. Jim & Deb - Indianapolis

Jim & Deb Weinmann in Indianapolis, IN USA 10/23/2006

In Lausanne, a local tipped us off to a wonderful Greek restaurant named (in American) the Lyre. It’s authentic name / information is: Lyrique, rue Beau-Séjour 29, 1003 Lausanne, Phone 021 312 88 87, Fax 021 312 88 92 (easy walking distance from Hotel Regina). For our money, and taste, this was by far the absolute best restaurant we ate at during our entire trip.

Gary & Kathy in Marion, IA USA 10/18/2006

Rick, your favorite easy alpine hike from Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidegg (Jugfrau side of the Lauterbrunnen Valley) can be improved by adding a one hour scramble to the top of the Lauberhorn, arguably the best 360 degree alpine view in the world. Top it off with a scenic lunch on the deck of the Start-Bar, near the top. Great hospitality, authentic alpine food, reasonable prices and the most outstanding view of the Monch, Eiger and Jungfrau you have ever seen.

Frank Reiter in North Vancouver, BC Canada 10/09/2006

The origin of the North Face Trail from Allmendhubel is deceivingly marked. In fact the first sign points UPHILL when you should really start walking downward at a skew angle. You need to warn your readers about this so they don't follow the signs and wind up lost for six hours (like we did).

Daniel in Morin, NY USA 10/01/2006

Zurich: add 2 "must sees" - (1) take local train to Uetliberg (30 minutes).The Uetliberg is a mountain in the Swiss plateau, it offers a panoramic view of the entire city of Zürich and the Zürichsee. Easy walk on paved trails. restaurant & lookout tower. (2) Best rainy day option is Zurich Zoo. 22 swiss francs, but it's world class with many huge indoor exhibits, restaurants, from penguins to giant fruit bats. More than you could do in a day. easy tram ride #5 or #6. Lucerne - add one "must see" - the old city has a medieval rampart wall on the north side with towers about every 200 feet. Great walk though nice quiet residential neighborhood outside wall. Local tourist maps shows the wall. Gets you away from the usual. Zurich - also worth a note is that although it's a sophisticated city, the dress is casual.

Susan in Miami, FL USA 09/21/2006

In Luzern, there's a great public recreation area just down the block from the Swiss Transportation Museum - LIDO. (If you take the boat to the museum, the boat docks right next to LIDO park). This has a large playground for kids, swimming pool (with fountains in the pool) and lakefront beach. Great place to spend on a hot day or if you want a break from hiking around or if your children want a playground. Also good for a family where not everyone wants to go the the Swiss museum; some can go to the park. Entry is 6CF for adults and 3CF for kids (6 & under free). Towel rental available as are lockers, changing areas and snack bar. Location is beautiful and park is well maintained.

Maxine Weber in Merion Station, PA USA 09/04/2006

Sledging in Switzerland!!!This is an almost unheard of by tourists but probably one of the most fun experiences we have EVER had. Plus, it's cheap.We have gone sledging on rented wooden sleds in Zermatt, Grindelwald, and Arosa. In Arosa, with a visitors card, the only cost is your sled rental of 7 or 8 francs, as the city bus takes you to the top of the sled run every 30 minutes-and it takes about that long to go down! In Zermatt and Grindelwald, you need to pay for train or bus, but it is so worth it! I laughed out loud all the way down, and I'm 45 years old. The runs are 5-11 km long, and some are lighted at night. I can't imagine having a better day than sliding down the well groomed track in the frosty sunshine with the views of the Swiss mts all around!

Laurel Dallmeyer in Canandaigua, NY USA 08/30/2006

By the time we got to Murren, a wonderful place to stay with amazing views, we were sick of Swiss dinner food. We found the best chinese food either of us has ever had hidden in Tham Snacks and Drinks, near Hotel Alpina. telephone: 033-8560110, joynah@yahoo.com - reservations not necessary and ambience is close to zero, but food is amazing! And Tham and his lovely wife are very sweet people.

Sara in Philadelphia, PA USA 08/07/2006

Switzerland is REALLY expensive for Americans. My wife and I lost weight on the Swiss diet - eat as much Fruhstuck as you possibly can and then survive on COOP picnics (packaged salad and tuna fish) for the rest of the day. I recommend never drinking anything in a Swiss restaurant - water is about $3 a glass and beer is about $5 and forget about wine. Just stock up at the local Coop - you can, after all, drink a beer in public in Europe. What's a beer drinker to do when the Coop doesn't stock cold beer and most hotel rooms don't have a fridge? Drop by the COOP first thing in the morning and stick your beer at the back of the soft drink fridge, then retrieve later in the day ready for consumption!

I would recommend buying a Swiss Pass rather than a half card - otherwise you'll restrict yourself from boat rides and the lifts. Also allows one to stay a little further away from the main attractions - hotels in Spiez, for example, are much cheaper than in Interlaken.

With Swiss Pass the boats on Murten's lake and on lake Geneva are free, but you have to pay 6 Fr to take on a bike.

Zermatt has hundreds of places to stay and they are building more every minute. There is a free board and telephone service at the train station. We stayed at the Romantica - v. nice family - who let us off the reservation hook when we missed the last train to Zermatt (which is at 2030 hours, by the way). Note: while the two log cabins at the Romatica are cute, they have no view - a higher level room in the hotel would be a better pick.

One can easily take the train to Tirano without a reservation and then take a VERY cheap Italian train (like 3 Euros) to either Varenna (for Bellagio) or all the way to Milano. We did not make it to Lugano, but I don't know why anyone would want to STAY in Lugano, rather than stay in much cheaper Italy and day trip (v. easy from either Como or Menaggio) if you have to get Ticino under your belt.

Roger Satterthwaite in Pasadena, CA USA 07/30/2006

Here's a "backdoor" for you to check out on your next trip to Switzerland. It's two caves, Höllgrotten Baar, and we paid 6 CF or 6 Euros to go through. Not many people there, but definitely worth it we thought.

My neice and I, from Florida, are just finishing three weeks in Europe. We've been to Florence, Venice, Paris (on our own) and now various places in Switzerland (with a friend who lives in Stans). We have used your guide books (Italy, Paris, Switzerland; French, German, Italian), which were very helpful, especially the one for museums. We even assisted others in appreciating some of the art through what you had written. We were able to visit 12 museums. Thanks so much for all the tidbits.

Kathy Chaddock in Tamarac, Fl USA 07/28/2006

It was really difficult to figure out how to use the trains - especially booking the Golden Pass - reservations does not equal tickets! I called ahead to book, was put on hold for at least 20 minutes, and then told that there were no more tickets left for panoramic seats and not for VIP either. I then booked other seats, arrived at the train station in Lucerne and they then changed my booking to VIP seats.. for 4 people. How could so many suddenly become available? I think the system is confusing and more needs to be written on it. Zurich - How do you use the trams there ? Needs some explanation

Lucerne - Restaurant Schiff - has no pizza! Lucerne - Hug Cafe - no sandwiches - only 2 different kinds and not so good - and they charge 1.50SF for tap water.

shagun in flint, mi USA 07/23/2006

If you're at the Jungfraujoch, consider a hike to the Monchsjochhutte. While the walk is gradually uphill in the snow, it's not too demanding. You get to see what a mountaineer's hut is like. There are interesting views, and the restaurant has a fun atmosphere.

If you're staying near Interlaken visiting Chillon Castle is a reasonable and very worthwhile day trip.

LesLein in Alexandria, VA USA 07/15/2006

Every restaurant even close to a hotel was expensive. Like 25SF for a plate of plain spagetti noodles expensive. The first time you blow $75 for a meal you might rethink these options. We hit the COOPs and picnicked our way across Switzerland.

We had the Swiss Pass. Show it every place you are going that charges admission. We got in places and on boats for free that I didn't think were even covered. The worst they can do is say no. I would never go to Switzerland without this pass or a regional one.

Christopher Reich in Billings, MT USA 07/15/2006

Hotel Wengenerhof, Wengen. Our fifth return this year to this superbly located 4 star hotel at 3 star prices with a spectacular view of the Lauterbrunnen Valley and the Jungfrau. Well managed by Giovanni Caltobiano, the staff is friendly, attentive, and the setting is perfect. It's the type of place both Rick Steves and the Editor of the Washington Post would find to be perfect. It's Gimmewald with more comfort and a bit more development, but still a quiet, car free, mountainside location.

Hotel Wengener Hof CH-3823 Wengen Tel: +41 (0)33 856 6969 Fax: +41 (0)33 856 6970 www.wengenerhof.ch

ken rubin in washington, dc USA 07/07/2006

Hotel Bergsonne in Rigi-Kaltbad. This is very special. In a car fee hamlet, reached by either cable car from Weggis, or cog railway from Vitznau, with a spectacular view over the Vierwaldstattersee ( Lake of Lucerne) it is quiet, with absolutely superb cuisine, presented in comfortable surroundings by a friendly, attentive staff for quite reasonable prices. Convenient to many walking trails with sensational views of the alps, accompanied by many cows, goats but almost no Americans ( that could change if your books mention them). contact for them is: Dorly und Willy Camps-Stalder Hotel Bergsonne CH 6356 Rigi Kaltbad T 0041 (0)41 399 80 10 F 0041 (0)41 399 80 20 www.bergsonne.ch

ken rubin in washington, dc USA 07/07/2006

For you adrenaline junkies out there, go on a guided trip through Canyon Schliere with Alpinraft Adventures out of Interlaken. You truly discover one of Switzerland's "hidden" wonders during this full-day trip. Be forewarned, however - this is not for the faint of heart. The trip is rigorous and very physically demanding - requiring high jumps from waterfalls, and long slides into cold pools. Alpinraft is definitely qualified, though, and we felt safe in the hands of their guides. There are also alternative trips, such as milder canyons, rafting, and bungie jumping.

Scott Farish in Leesburg, VA USA 07/02/2006

First, Casa Rustica next to Hotel Bahnhof was one of our favorite restaurants in all of Zermatt. Their herb fondue was the best we had tasted during our entire stay in Switzerland. The outside patio was excellent for having a bottle of wine and people-watching after a long day of hiking.

Second, Zermatt has not been given enough credit in your book. Yes, this is a very touristy town, but not any worse than other parts of the country. Because the town is so small, and the streets are so narrow, it only gives the appearance of being more touristy than other Swiss towns. The fact is, Zermatt is a fabulous town with superb hiking and friendly people. It deserves much more credit than what was given in the book.

Scott Farish in Leesburg, VA USA 07/02/2006

Hotel de Hospice at the top of St. Bernard Pass. Very reasonable (2 nights 2 people, beautiful view, breakfast came to USD 155.08. Chantal Carrupt Rossier speaks English and is helpful. You can walk to Italy for something to eat if you want. You need to check this hotel out (summers only) Contact: Chantal Carrupt Rossier, tel 0041 27 787 11 53. 1926 Gd St Bernard. Their museum and seeing the St. Bernard dogs is wonderful. Across the street is the monastery with a chapel and all sorts of history. You can day hike, mountain bike and mountain walk here. Please check it out.

Darlene French in San Antonio, TX USA 06/24/2006

Chalet Bobs was an excellent place to stay in Murren, Switzerland for a base camp in the Berner Oberland Region. Absolutely fantastic view right out your window. Kitty and Albert were wonderful landlords, so friendly and helpful. Not for you if you mind walking up to town, as it is the last house on the road to Gimmewald. Remember that the grocery store is closed at 4:00 on Saturday and closed on Sunday. Bring soap and shampoo. Did I mention the view!?

Cindy in Portland, OR USA 06/24/2006

Basel is missing from the book. As the town with the most museums, a lively cultural life and a host of other benefits to see, I wished I had seen suggestions to go there vs. Zurich. Hands down Basel is alive and worth the review for your readers.

Second, Lucarno is a much nicer town than Lugano- even though they are different lakes, it is less of a tourist trap. I loved the church on the hill with the back left corner filled with terrible event painings with the mother mary looking over (children falling out of windows, cars falling off cliffs, et). That was the first time I had seen such an exhibit!!! The church was beautiful too and the ride/view from the incline was wonderful. Need to add this and Bellindona to the guide for the italian section.

Third, Lausanne was a bit of a let down. The food was awful, people not as nice as other regions, and even the city wasn't as nice as Bern, Basel, Lucern, Interlaken, Lacarno. I would recommend staying in a smaller town along the lake vs. Lausanne.

a. brewer in wilmington, nc USA 06/18/2006

Hotel Alpin Sherpa in Meirengen- Bahnhofstrasse 3 - CH-3860 Meiringen - Swiss Alps - 033 972 52 52. A wonderful hotel central to many of the most desired Swiss Alps destinations. It is 1 block from the train with a beautiful view from the rooms. The staff is superb, endlessly helpful, and very eager to make your stay a memorable life experience.

Ed Walsh in Houston, TX USA 06/15/2006

Enjoyed the Bernina Express train ride and staying at the Soldanella hotel in St. Moritz along the way. The hotel was somewhat of a splurge, but the views of the lake and mountains and the comfort of the rooms were worth it.

Jim Perschbacher in Mableton, GA USA 06/11/2006

Swiss hotels- beware. they will charge your credit card for a reservation equal to the price of the room. Then at check out they will charge you again and hold the original deposit money against your card for over 1 week.

alison erwaz brewer in wilmington, nc USA 05/30/2006

luzern- resturant at the hotel ribsock is outstanding

a brewer in wilmington, nc USA 05/29/2006

This actually is a suggestion to the people writing to this site - please mention the town where the particular hotel is that you are writing about. thanks JJ Smiths Falls, Ont

janet james in smiths falls, on canada 05/26/2006

In Zurich, in the old town on Neiderdorfer strasse across from the Calypso club, is a place called Nosch that makes a killer falafel "doner" wrap. Absolutely delicious and only 8.50 CHF.

Richard in Cupertino, CA USA 05/24/2006

Maps are free at the Zurich HB TI although the info window where tickets are bought will sell you the same map for 3 CHF.

Buy a phone card larger than 5 Euro. Calls are expensive and your money runs out very fast.

Richard in Cupertino, CA USA 05/24/2006

Money changing tip: as you come out of Zurich HB train station, walk a few minutes towards the old town. A few shops down from Dolmetsh (the Swiss Army store), you'll find a real bank on Limmat Quai (Swiss Bank ZKB). They charge 5 CHF to exchange Euros/USD but the exchange rate is much better than the train station.

Richard in Cupertino, CA USA 05/24/2006

The Ballenberg outdoor folk museum. I wish we had allowed more time for this. It was beautiful, and really interesting. Also, it had by far the best gift shop I saw in Switzerland... much higher quality, some handmade stuff. Also, there is a nice food shop in one of the old buildings. We bought great snacks, (dried apples were phenomenal!) and they also sold meats and cheeses. Well worth a half a day.

Brenda Sheridan in Yorktown Heights, NY USA 05/15/2006

I know you could not include every city in Switzerland in your book, but it is incomprehensible that Basel was omitted. Basel is the cultural heart of the country and has one of the best preserved and most beautiful "Old Towns" in Europe. It has a wide variety of fine museums (about 40), botanical gardens, a world-class zoo, great restaurants and the world's oldest public art collection. It is also a gateway to France and Germany. Omitting Basel from Switzerland is almost like omitting New York in a book on the U.S. CONTACT: Basel Tourism 41(0)61 268 68 68 or info@baseltourismus.ch For the record, I am an American citizen who loves Switzerland, not a PR man for Basel.

Anthony Panzarella in Malverne, NY USA 05/13/2006

If you're interested in private guides, www.asgt.ch is a great resource. It lists (has English option) all the registered guides in this group, where they are based, languages they speak and contact info.

Joshua Blacker in Venice, CA USA 04/13/2006

Our friend drove us to Schaffhausen, and we visited the wonderful old town there. The area had great architecture--including protruding windows--and the shops were neat to see. We visited a old tower overlooking the city and it was truly mesmerizing. We went through these spiral hallways, and reached the top. There, we viewed the city and all of the old style rooftops and chimneys below. We walked down a number of steps through a vineyard area and took some cool pictures. The tower also had a long tunnel which led up to it--unfortunately the tunnel was closed that particular day. The Rhine river is nearby as well, which was neat to walk alongside. We also visited the Rhinefalls, since it was nearby. Please note it was quite touristy; nevertheless, I enjoyed the experience. I would definitely recommend visiting this wonderful city.

Heng Tran in Wichita, KS USA 04/08/2006

I like to stay in Bern and take daytrips from there. The Oberland is within easy reach, and if it is rainy (it usually is on my trips), I can go somewhere else.

Steven Schumacher in Katy, TX USA 04/04/2006

My husband and I used your guidebooks to Europe three years ago and we had the most wonderful trip of our lives. We used the Eurail pass, which not only afforded us first class rail transportation but also free boat transportation on the lakes and discounts to various museums. The hotels you recommended were wonderful and the staff at these hotels were so accomodating. We watch your show on PBS all the time. I Tivo every show. I have also watched Rudy Maxa's Savvy Traveler and Passport to Europe with Samantha Brown and their guidance does not come close to what my husband and I look for in a European vacation. Samantha is way too high-end spending for us and Rudy is also into spending way too much money for what you get. Europe is so clean and all the rooms are comfortable. There is no need to spend "big bucks" for accommodations and your guide books give the traveler all options. Thank you - we will continue to purchase your books and watch your shows.

Diane Rowe in Dover, NH USA 03/01/2006

Looking for a quiet, reasonably-priced place for an informal retreat for a group of 7 in early December, I was referred to Chalet Hotel Hornberg in Saanenmöser (www.hotel-hornberg.ch). Saanenmöser is a very small village in the Berner Oberland, 2 train stops east of Gstaad. It is easily accessible by train from Geneva. The ride from Montreux on the Golden Pass train is spectacular!

The Chalet Hotel Hornberg made for the perfect escape from the city. The rooms were spacious, warm, and quiet (and of course spotless, as all of Switzerland seems to be). The food was excellent; ask about arranging for cheese fondue in the hut behind the hotel. Best of all was the warm hospitality of the owners, Brigitte & Christian Hoefliger-von Siebenthal.

You don’t need a car to reach or enjoy Saanenmöser and the Chalet Hotel Hornberg. The hotel is a 2 minute walk from the train station. Don’t expect shopping or other such distractions in Saanenmöser, just gorgeous scenery and plenty of walking paths to help you enjoy it. The ski lift is just behind the hotel, and there is mountain biking in the summer. For those with big budgets or a yen for window shopping, Gstaad is just 15 scenic minutes away by train.

Trish in Germantown, MD USA 01/06/2006