[Removed user]

3 February 2017 at 18:44:06 #810729

I am planning our trip to Interlaken as our first stop on European trip. We will have a car with us. We are 65 & 62 and traveling with our 2 college age sons. This is our first stop on our European trip. Arriving in the area on May 18 for 3 nts. All I know for sure is they want to take a day trip to the top of the Jungfrau. Originally I thought to stay in Wengen or Murren but decided to stay where we have can have the use of our car. A friend said not to stay in Interlaken too touristy and suggested just outside in Wildersill, which looks like a good possibility. I understand we can drive to Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen and maybe that would be a better choice if the boys and my husband want to walk to Trummelbach Falls one morning. If the hike is not strenuous I could possibly do it but I suffer from Afib and have bad knees. Suggestions and thoughts on towns people have stayed in and why you liked it. Thank you.

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[Slowpoke]

3 February 2017 at 19:37:59 #858682

Hi Sunnybunch –

Welcome to My Swiss Alps.

Your friend is correct about Interlaken, in that it is not a scenic destination, and is fairly commercial. However, it is the best transportation hub if you wish to visit other places – such as Brienz, or Bern, because it is on the main rail line. But, for what you describe near the Jungfrau, I’d avoid having an automobile. And. I’d stay in Wengen or Lauterbrunnen. Wilderswil is less commercial than Interlaken, but the villages further in the valley have a totally different atmosphere, and would improve your overall experience. Each has pluses and minuses –

check this link and the sub-links:

http://www.myswissalps.com/be rneseoberland

especially –

http://www.myswissalps.com/ju ngfrauregion.

And, for a really useful bit of light reading:

http://www.myswissalps.com/fo rum/topic/tips-about-wengen-and-the-jungfrau-region-by-kim

Without knowing all your plans, (such as where you go after Interlaken) I can’t be definite about using a car, but, certainly, around the Jungfrau, it will spend most of the time being parked. And, rail travel in Switzerland is a great tourist event in its own right. So, we tend to recommend rail travel. On the other hand, rail travel for four can be more expensive than car rental, unless you try to drive, park, and stay over in major cities. For example, if you park at the main train station parking lot … a very good location for the center of Luzern…it costs roughly 5o CHF per 24 hours, and hotels near the heart of town, except the super luxury ones along the lake, usually don’t have parking. It i easier to haul luggage with a car. Howeve, a rental car that holds four people and claims room for a bunch of suitcases won’t have a very large trunk. You may find that you need a more expensive rental to handle your whole entourage.

Here is one thing that you may not have considered. Early-mid May is still pretty much the disagreeable end of Winter at the higher altitudes. Lauterbrunnen at about 700 meters is probably pretty well clear snow on the trails, but by the time you get up to 2000 meters, there a lot of late Winter snow residue.

<<“if the boys and my husband want to walk to Trummelbach Falls one morning. “>>

Easy walk

The wonderful trail from Männlichn to Kleine Scheidegg at around 2000 merers won’t open till early to mid-June.

http://www.myswissalps.com/hi king/maennlichen-kleinescheidegg

Cableways and the Shynige Platte line don’t start running until May 25th, as i recall:

http://www.myswissalps.com/ti metable

The cograil to the Jungraujoch runs all year.

Mid -May near the Jungfrau is definitely low season. Many but not all hotels and restaurants in the villages are closed for between seasons break. Bad snow, no skiers, no hikers, no customers.

You can do some of the major things, and two or three days will be a positive experience, but, as you read about attractions, check out whether they will be open when you are there.

http://www.myswissalps.com/tr avel/inswitzerland

Tat will get you started. Let us know your thoughts.

Slowpoke