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The current Mrs A would like a walking holiday based in Grindelwald in the late spring/summer - she has a thing for the Eiger. It does look horribly expensive when looking at a hotel half-board for a week. Are their alternative resorts near by which are worth looking at and maybe cheaper? Appreciate Switzerland isn't the cheapest place in the world to visit!
selling the children is about the only way to afford going to switzerland at the mo - sorry
Is camping an option? We stayed at a gorgeous site at the head of the Lauterbrunnen valley.
Andyfla, we have no children, which is why in theory at least, we could go, it's not what I'd call value for money. 6 euros a beer anyone!!
IHN, I don't want to drive this year and camping is over wise too heavy/bulky.
Its an absolutely wonderful place and you'll have a great holiday. My parents have hired apartments over the years to keep the cost down, so you can cook at home. However, that was a few years ago now - exchange rate is just eye watering at the moment! You might get something cheaper(ish) in Interlaken - from where you can get the trains to all the surrounding valleys. Make sure you get [url= http://www.myswitzerland.com/en-gb/transport-travel/tickets.html ]a Swiss travel pass[/url] which makes the transport most cost effective - think you need to buy it outside the country. We'd drive there (cheaper with a family of 4 and my Mum doesnt like flying) and only use the car once, to get some shopping - transport is excellent.
When we were there about six years ago the prices were weird; train ticket up the Jungfrau, mentally expensive. Coffee in café at the very top of the glacier at the very top of the Jungfrau, couple of quid. Bowl of soup in same café, about a fiver. Want a sausage in that bowl of soup? That'll be an extra tenner!
Amazing place though, well, for the two days we had good weather. For the other days when it pi$$ed down, not so much. And that was in July...
Take a bunch of £50s if your staying in grindlewald. Pub evening meal for two can easily breach a ton If you have a couple of courses plus drinks.
£20 for a pizza.
Cheapish bakery or two about also though.
Jungfrau train trip was £120 return for two in 2013.
Make sure you do the [url= http://www.myswissalps.com/hiking/first-schynigeplatte ]First to Schynige Platte walk[/url] - a must do! Can be done in either direction.
If you take the first train of the day, its quite a bit cheaper - don't know if that is still the case.train ticket up the Jungfrau, mentally expensive
Don't worry I'm just jealous, the only way I could afford to go there is bivvying !
Several years ago when walking the Alpine Pass Route, I skipped a section and took the train to Grindelwald. Within five minutes of getting off the train I turned around and got back on it, such was the commercial tourist trap awfulness of the place. If your wife persists in wanting to use it as the base for your holiday, I think you would be able to get a divorce on the grounds of unreasonable behaviour.
I would recommend ahsat's suggestion of staying somewhere like Interlaken and getting a Swiss Travel Pass:
- Better choice of hotels and restaurants, and almost certainly better prices.
- More options, convenience and flexibility for walking. A lot of the nicest walks will entail going over a pass from one valley into the next (the Alpine Pass Route simply strings a lot of these together). If you stay in Grindelwald, you will be limited to circular walks unless you get the train out of the valley. If you stay in somewhere like Interlaken, you can catch the train in the morning up one valley, walk over into the next valley, and get the train back to Interlaken.
So, if you like a little bit of short easy scrambling, you could catch the train one day to Kandersteg, walk up past the Oeschinensee (very pretty), up to the Blumlissalphut, down the other side (10m of scrambling with a chain to hold onto) and in to Griesalp, and thence bus and train back to Interlaken (or do the same walk in reverse). Equally, if you wanted easy days or walks on the flat, it would be easy to pick a different valley and route.
- Wherever you stay, you will probably want a break from walking/the mountains on at least one day. Staying in Interlaken with a travel pass would make it easier to take a day trip to Zurich or another city.
such was the commercial tourist trap awfulness of the place
I'd agree with this to an extent. Lauterbrunnen felt like a normal-ish town. Grindelwald is a (ski) resort.
Stayed at a eurocamp type place walking distance to Interlaken a few years ago. There was tipi glamping too.
Did a day trip to Grindle (slide), great day out but as mentioned not much more than a weekends worth. Interlaken much better for a base.
Euro camp at camping Jungfrau ? I think they do 'huts' as well.
Is camping an option? We stayed at a gorgeous site at the head of the Lauterbrunnen valley
That is what we did.
But appartments cost no more to rent in summer than camping. We camped as it meant we could use cheap mid week flights
Personaly I'd rate as places to say
Lauterbrunen
Grindlewald
Interlarken
Interlarken just felt to far from the action for me. But its all horses for courses. Inall cases I'm assuming you've got a pass for all the trains and cable cars.
But the walking is brilliant if you want family convenience
[url= https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3548/3886671534_c6bc4e2147_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3548/3886671534_c6bc4e2147_z.jp g"/> ?zz=1[/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/6Vsd3b ]Glacier walking[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/john_clinch/ ]John Clinch[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2468/3880683543_ac30ecc29c_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2468/3880683543_ac30ecc29c_z.jp g"/> ?zz=1[/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/6UVw1X ]jungfraujoch[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/john_clinch/ ]John Clinch[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2451/3886942082_4d026b07ab_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2451/3886942082_4d026b07ab_z.jp g"/> ?zz=1[/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/6VtAsN ]Eiger Trail[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/john_clinch/ ]John Clinch[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2577/3886942076_a747f3390a_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2577/3886942076_a747f3390a_z.jp g"/> ?zz=1[/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/6VtAsG ]Under The Rock Wall Eiger Trail[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/john_clinch/ ]John Clinch[/url], on Flickr
OP it's wonderful. Worth doing the research on places to stay etc. As above apartment rental can be good value, we generally self cater if staying a week. We always have a car and getting around that way is easy in the summer almost part of the holiday (note some places are traffic free but that's quite rare). Trains/post busses are excellent too and link into walks well, half price train pass may be worth buying depending on what you want to do. There are offers sometimes combining hotel accommodation with train tickets. If you are seeing the Eiger how about a few days to get over to Zermatt for the Matterhorn too ? Like others above we often take a few days down from the mountains to rest up aching bodies. Days on / around the lakes are great too.
Switzerland is a rich country so more expensive, £ down too so more so in 2017. Worth it IMO.
Switzerland Mobility app (website) has free access maps
SBB app/website for train info
Meiringen or brienz might be a bit cheaper but still with good rail / post bus / ship links. Also just slightly off the main tourist treadmill that just does interlaken / lauterbrunnen / grindelwald.
There is a berneroberland card that covers almost everything apart from final jungfraujoch train leg.
Interlaken would be a good shout if you're not fussed about staying in a resort or mountain town. Parts of it are more of a tourist trap than Grindelwald in my view though, it even has a Hooters bar!
You won't get to see the Eiger from your hotel room either...
If you have a car you could try a hotel in Wilderswil?
If you do make it and are feeling brave you could try the Hardergrat trail. I've never done it but am planning to do part of it this year.
[url= http://www.alpsinsight.com/trip/hardergrat-trail/ ]Hardergrat Trail[/url]
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I've stayed in Grindelwald and Lauterbrunen and it's all very twee. But for an active holiday I much prefer Chamonix. A lively town centre that's paradise for food and gear freaks. Swimming, rafting, MTBing, cable cars up to great walking areas, spectacular views - and all at affordable prices. Check out the price of the Jungfrau railway and compare it with L'Aiguille du Midi.
I did it with flights, hire car and camping at Lauterbrunnen. It's really not that much hassle...airport trolleys till you get the hire car then you're away unless you're one of those campers that needs to bring most of the stuff you're escaping from with you. Popping your head out of the tent to a view of the Eiger is pretty amazing.
Geneva - Chamonix - Lauterbrunnen - Zurich was my itinerary.
I preferred Lauterbrunnen to Grindelwald and it seemed a good idea to be in the bottom of the valley with easy access from there.
If camping really isn't going to work for you then I'd be searching for independent ski apartments which should be only too happy to offer a good deal in May / June.