Switzerland Guidebook
Favorite discoveries or tips:
A very easy walk from Wengen to Mary's Cafe with lots of views across the Lauterbrunnen Valley. Recommended by Angie @ Staubach Hotel
Tim & Lori Prosser in Atlanta, GA USA 04/29/2013
the rail systems in switzerland.i booked the golden pass trip from zurich to montreux via olten bern interlaken ost spiez zweisimmen and montreaux for CHF 184.00 plus 24.00 resvns fee on the way to montreux once we boarded the golden pass train my daughter dropped her tkt at the station the guy in the train said we have two options pay another CHF 94.00 in Montraux to return home or get off at Gstaad and one of the guys who has the tkt will give it back to us we wait for 1 hr and reboard again 253 2 hrs later for the same train i decided because i was distressed to board the same train the guy came in which was diff train co thus losing my train and boarding a different track.no one explained it to me if i had known that then I would have gladly paid the additional CHF 94.00 they did not give us a break and did not accept the receipt as proof of purchase.so once u lose ur tkt,you have to get a new one.we were three the trip cost a little more than 6 hundred dollars.i wish they were more helpful.I was so frustrated and disappointed with that company. I thanked them for helping us find our tkt but we lost our panoramic train.
fleur san pedro USA 04/06/2013
Once a month in Murren in the winter, there's a dinner you can RSVP for that's at the top of the funicular. For something like 20-30 euro/person, you get unlimited fondue dinner (that was phenomenally delicious), the funicular ride up there, and live folk music for the evening. We were the only non-locals that went, and it was a local that even told me about it. Then, after dinner, if you have a head lamp and bravery, you can sled or ski back down the hill! It was one of our favorite experiences in Murren/Switzerland and so glad I made friends with a local who shared the secret!
Caitlin Arnold in Mountain View, Ca USA 03/08/2013
Your book is excellent and pretty much up to date considering the time difference between editing and printing/distribution.
Joe Boslet in Harrisburg, PA USA 03/07/2013
Yes
Nels Magelssen in Seattle, WA USA 10/06/2012
Really enjoyed the Mount Pilatus trip and Lucern. When traveling with lots of luggage, sit near a bicycle car on the train wo you have room for your luggage.
Phillip Newsom in Granbury, TX USA 09/29/2012
Dear Rick, We used your Switzerland and Amsterdam books for recent travel and wanted to offer you some feedback: Hotel Alexander, Niederdorfstrasse 40, Zurich, Switzerland. We stayed there and they did honor the 10% discount with your book. However, you might want to think about whether to include them in the future. Our room was tiny, tiny. It faced into an inner courtyard, which helped hold the noise down, but I bet given its location the Alexander would be pretty noisy at night during the high season. PONTRESINA— We never would have thought to stay there without your recommendation, and it paid off big. Much more convenient, beautiful and user-friendly than St. Moritz. Hotel Garni Chesa Mulin • Via da Mulin 15 • Pontresina. Great place to stay. Staff was tremendously useful in pointing us toward hikes and lifts that were convenient and breathtaking. Lovely breakfast. Their offer of free use of all the mountain railways and public transport (train and bus). in the upper Engadin valley was a real money saver. You should emphasize that feature of any hotels in Pontresina that offer it. Ponteresina restaurant. Consider adding the Hotel Engadinerhof’s restaurant (pasta, pizza) to your list. Good service, reasonable pricing, great food. Bernina Express train over Bernina Pass. Quite spectacular, but on balance we thought the Glacier Express (which we took some years back) was more lovely and, by far, more scenic. Lucerne – Delete the Hotel Schiff restaurant from your listing. Nice riverside location, but slow service and below average food. Lauterbrunnen – as with Pontresina, we never would have known to stay there and were very glad we did so. Terrific suggestion. Away from touristy Interlaken and much more convenient for getting to both the Jungfrau and Schilthorn. If you’re there for one of their free Friday folk music concerts in the campground, go and enjoy some alpenhorn and yodeling. Order up some sausage and beer and enjoy a lovely evening. On the flip side, you might want to advise people to avoid the area on the September weekend when they run the Junfrau Marathon – trains up en route to Jungfraujoch are packed. Hotel Staubbach, Lauterbrunnen. Terrific place to stay. Friendly and accommodating staff (especially manager Angie) was very helpful about train and lift information. Spend a few extra bucks and get a balcony room facing up the valley and wake up in the morning to the view of a lifetime. Bruges –As you say, well worth the side trip. The town itself is worth a lot of walking around. However, we were not impressed with the Groeninger Museum and even less so with the Grussehus. By the way, the latter has not yet closed for renovations and will not be until mid-2013. We had thought it would be a look at how the upper-class lived in he 15th century, but very little furniture and the art was not impressive. Patritius Hotel (Brugge), Riddersstraat 11 - 8000 Brugge – Great hotel, great location. great management. Had an early start our last day, and management packed us a huge breakfast to take along. Get a discount card from management that gives you even more of a break on the town’s Museum Card, but it’s only useful if you go to several sites. Lambic – Belgian drink, sort of between beer and wine. Sometimes flavored with fruits. Try it.
Gerry Keir in Honolulu, HI USA 09/26/2012
Walking poles - everyone swiss uses them, and they are so helpful on mountain hikes.
Julie in Philadelphia, PA USA 09/25/2012
In Zurich, we enjoyed eating at Kantorei Restaurant and Wirtschaft Neumarkt.
Linda Price in Fort Worth, TX USA 09/21/2012
Just got back from Switzerland after using your book, and one discovery that as part of the chocolate train, you stop by Cailler for a tour and can buy chocolate there. After you leave the factory, and walk to the train station (100 m away), there is an outlet store! what is there is hit or miss, but can be cheaper than the store.
Theresa in Redondo Beach, CA USA 07/15/2012
Yes - Chalet Bobs in Murren
Evelyn Zeller in Bellevue, WA USA 07/15/2012
Basel is a real jewel of a city. It lies on both the north and south banks of the Rhein and has many fountains with potable water- great for a water stop for runners.
Alan Meyert in Bradenton, FL USA 06/07/2012
Madrid Restaurant in Zurich. My husband and I ate at a table outside the restaurant. Lovely night. Food was delicious, well prepared and served. Please consider listing it for your next edition.
K. Botkin in Centennial, CO USA 05/24/2012
Manor department store, Manora cafeteria in Luzern, Switzerland. Rick recommended it, and it was the place. I had fall off the bone,Osso Bucco, for 10 Euro's. Our total bill was 36 Euro's including a split of wine. In Suisse, that's a real bargain. The fourth floor was getting ready for Fasnacht. Some great costumes and inexpensive confetti. Clean restrooms. Just returned on Saturday 28 January 2012.
Terry Granade in San Antonio, Tx USA 01/30/2012
Use the train systems. Food and lodging in Switz is super expensive now. Southern Ger. not bad.
Jeff Hirzel in Guthrie, OK USA 09/11/2011
Definately stop at the TI in Zermatt. We found Linda to be very helpful and pleasant.
Jim in Scottsdale, AZ USA 07/18/2011
I enjoyed hang gliding tandem in Interlaken and recommend Hang-Gliding Interlaken. Bernie and Ed did a nice job and it was a super experience at a reasonable cost. They are a small outfit operating out of a local hang gliding club and very personable. I enjoyed it immensely and would (and hope to) do it again. Visit www.hangglidinginterlaken.com.
Kevin Vick in St. Louis, MO USA 07/17/2011
A helpful line regarding Chateau Chillon might be "there are no baggage check facilities at the castle or the small train stop at the castle, locker your bags in Montreaux if traveling with them". We had to go back to Montreaux to locker our baggage, not a big deal as our time wasn't tight that day. Preston Bennett, PresBennettMD@aol.com
Preston Bennett in Arlington, VA USA 06/08/2011