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#1
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Switzerland
Hello all -
I'm planning on taking my family of 4 (2 teenagers 14 and 15) to Europe next June. Here's the itinerary so far: (2 weeks total time) Paris Switzerland Munich Romantische Strasse Brussels So the questions: 1) Where in Switzerland? We want a hiking the Alps experience. 2) Where to end the Romantische Strasse experience - we'll rent a car in Munich and want to drop it somewhere (Kolenz, Bonn, Frankfurt ???) before taking a train to Brussels. Also if you're still with me... :-) : 1) Do I need a hotel reservation end of June in Paris, Munich, Brussels etc. or can I "wing it" ??? ??? Thanks SO MUCH for any help!!! Rob |
#2
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Switzerland
"Rob" a écrit dans le message de news: ... Hello all - I'm planning on taking my family of 4 (2 teenagers 14 and 15) to Europe next June. Here's the itinerary so far: (2 weeks total time) Paris Switzerland Munich Romantische Strasse Brussels So the questions: 1) Where in Switzerland? We want a hiking the Alps experience. Although it is not in Switzerland (it's only 10 km from the border if you go through the mountains...) I can recommend for a great hiking experience (900km of marked trails from the village) the historical village of Samoëns. Pictures of hikes on my site: www.samoens.int.ms Enjoy ! Dominique -- * /^\ Dominique Foucart * /\ / \ * Photos et randos en Haute-Savoie | V /\ \ Pictures and trails in Haute-Savoie / / \ V°o www.samoens.int.ms |
#3
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Switzerland
Foucart-Dever wrote:
1) Where in Switzerland? We want a hiking the Alps experience. I'd recommend the Bernese Oberland. Stop--but don't stay--in Interlaken, then head up into the mountains. (Plenty of rentals and hotels in the towns up there.) There are trails at all levels, plus trains, lifts, and funiculars galore. Berne makes an interesting stop for a few hours, too. For added adventure, consider taking a night train to Interlaken from Paris. Your whole itinerary works well with rail, but even if you'd like the freedom a car can provide I think one would just be a hassle for the first part of your trip, at least through Munich. Have a great trip! |
#4
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Switzerland
I replied via mail, but I'll second this recommendation. In addition, in Adelboden sits Our Chalet, the Girl Scout's world center, and thus a lot of youth-friendly business. I am not sure if they will provide any resources to folks who are non-associated with the girl scouts, thought. Julie OughtFour wrote: Foucart-Dever wrote: 1) Where in Switzerland? We want a hiking the Alps experience. I'd recommend the Bernese Oberland. Stop--but don't stay--in Interlaken, then head up into the mountains. (Plenty of rentals and hotels in the towns up there.) There are trails at all levels, plus trains, lifts, and funiculars galore. Berne makes an interesting stop for a few hours, too. For added adventure, consider taking a night train to Interlaken from Paris. Your whole itinerary works well with rail, but even if you'd like the freedom a car can provide I think one would just be a hassle for the first part of your trip, at least through Munich. Have a great trip! -- Julie ********** Check out my Travel Pages (non-commercial) at http://www.dragonsholm.org/travel.htm |
#5
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Switzerland
OughtFour wrote:
For added adventure, consider taking a night train to Interlaken from Paris. There's no night train to interlaken from Paris. Paris Interlaken takes about 6 1/2 hour by train. The best option is to take the Paris - Berne TGV and take a train to interlaken there. You could even spent a few hours in Bern... Krist |
#7
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Switzerland
"Rob" schrieb im Newsbeitrag om... Hello all - I'm planning on taking my family of 4 (2 teenagers 14 and 15) to Europe next June. Here's the itinerary so far: (2 weeks total time) Paris Switzerland Munich Romantische Strasse Brussels So the questions: 1) Where in Switzerland? We want a hiking the Alps experience. Hiking trails are all over. It only depends how challenging you want it. Here a classical and rather easy mountain tour (with great views to Jungfrau/Eiger/Mönch mountains): First 2200m via Bachsee 2265m via Faulhorn 2681m (Restaurant) to Schynige Platte 2067m Duration: 5,5 hours BOB-Bahn from Wilderswil to Grindelwald, from Grindelwald with the Firstbahn to the station First Back to Wilderswil with the Schynige Platte-Bahn 2) Where to end the Romantische Strasse experience - we'll rent a car in Munich and want to drop it somewhere (Kolenz, Bonn, Frankfurt ???) before taking a train to Brussels. Rather a question where to start. From Munich you will have to drive backwards direction Switzerland to reach the southern end of the Romantic Road at Füssen. A better idea would be to rent a car in Lindau, follow the German Alpine Road via Füssen (Neuschwanstein Castle), Wieskirche, Linderhof Castle to Garmisch-Partenkirchen and turn than North to Munich. http://www.germany-tourism.de/e/12571.html From Munich you can join the Romantic Road again (Füssen - Wieskirche was already a part of it) and via Nördlingen (in the middle of a giant meteorit crater), Dinkelsbühl to Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Here you could turn West following the Castle Road via Schwäbisch Hall (nice and far less touristy than Rothenburg) and the Neckar valley (with lot's of castles e.g. 4 in Neckarsteinach or the famous Heidelberg Castle). Than to Mainz and along the Rhine valley and the Moselle valley (http://www.burg-eltz.de) to Trier. From there by train via Luxembourg to Brussels. But you would have to stay at minimum: somewhere in the Bavarian Alps, e.g. Füssen 2 nights in Munich *) somewhere between Rothenburg and Schwäbisch Hall somewhere at the Rhine or Moselle *) A rental car is not really useful there. To travel by public transport is cheaper (a day ticket for public transport for your family is EUR 8,-). Also if you're still with me... :-) : 1) Do I need a hotel reservation end of June in Paris, Munich, Brussels etc. or can I "wing it" ??? You can use http://www.hrs.com to find and book for Munich. No risk at all if you can turn up before 6pm. ??? Thanks SO MUCH for any help!!! Rob |
#8
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Switzerland
Hi Rob,
1) Where in Switzerland? We want a hiking the Alps experience. I'm sure most people will tell you about the Berner Oberland, places like Gimmelwald and Mürren. It seems to be well known among this group's readers. My favourite region is the french-speaking Valais. It has the highest mountains, some unspoilt and authentic valleys - I'm not thinking of Zermatt or Verbier here - and a dry, sunny climate. During the past 5 years, I took my American girlfriend all around Valais and Berner Oberland, and I think her favourite place is the Val d'Anniviers. It seems to be the favourite place of Kev Reynolds ("Walking in the Valais") as well. Look for the villages of Saint-Luc, Zinal or Grimentz. In Saint-Luc, the Hotel Bella Tola has a lot of charm (http://www.bellatola.ch) and the choice of hikes is unlimited. We hiked a moutain called Le Touno last August, 3017 meters (9900 ft) with amazing views. Zinal is further up the valley, surrounded by several 4000s. Here you are closer to the icy peaks, see http://www.noth.ch/h0106_e.html. I've never stayed in Grimentz. That village is often said to be one of the nicest Alpine hamlets. From Paris, you would need to take the train to Sion (with the French fast train TGV to Geneva or Lausanne) and then a postal bus to climb the hairpin curves of Val d'Anniviers. If your time is limited, the Berner Oberland is a good option since it is closer to your next destination Munich. Martin suggested a beautiful hike, albeit very crowded (with Japanese). A wilder, tougher alternative is the loop Grindelwald - First - Bachsee - Wart - Grosse Scheidegg - Grindelwald. Duration: 6 hours roundtrip. Mail me for more details. The lake Oeschinensee near Kandersteg is another touristy place with dramatic scenery and good hiking opportunities. -- Philippe Noth, Clarens/Montreux, Switzerland http://www.noth.ch/ |
#9
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Switzerland
"Philippe Noth" wrote in message ... Hi Rob, 1) Where in Switzerland? We want a hiking the Alps experience. I'm sure most people will tell you about the Berner Oberland, places like Gimmelwald and Mürren. It seems to be well known among this group's readers. My favourite region is the french-speaking Valais. It has the highest mountains, some unspoilt and authentic valleys - I'm not thinking of Zermatt or Verbier here - and a dry, sunny climate. During the past 5 years, I took my American girlfriend all around Valais and Berner Oberland, and I think her favourite place is the Val d'Anniviers. It seems to be the favourite place of Kev Reynolds ("Walking in the Valais") as well. Look for the villages of Saint-Luc, Zinal or Grimentz. In Saint-Luc, the Hotel Bella Tola has a lot of charm (http://www.bellatola.ch) and the choice of hikes is unlimited. We hiked a moutain called Le Touno last August, 3017 meters (9900 ft) with amazing views. Zinal is further up the valley, surrounded by several 4000s. Here you are closer to the icy peaks, see http://www.noth.ch/h0106_e.html. I've never stayed in Grimentz. That village is often said to be one of the nicest Alpine hamlets. From Paris, you would need to take the train to Sion (with the French fast train TGV to Geneva or Lausanne) and then a postal bus to climb the hairpin curves of Val d'Anniviers. If your time is limited, the Berner Oberland is a good option since it is closer to your next destination Munich. Martin suggested a beautiful hike, albeit very crowded (with Japanese). A wilder, tougher alternative is the loop Grindelwald - First - Bachsee - Wart - Grosse Scheidegg - Grindelwald. Duration: 6 hours roundtrip. Mail me for more details. The lake Oeschinensee near Kandersteg is another touristy place with dramatic scenery and good hiking opportunities. -- Philippe Noth, Clarens/Montreux, Switzerland http://www.noth.ch/ I'll heartily endorse Philippe's suggestion on Valais. I would suggest ordering the pamphlet "Sentiers Valaisans" from the Valais Tourist Office, rue pre-Fleuri 6, CH-1951 Sion, Switzerland. www.valaistourism.ch, www.matterhornstate.com, . The booklet gives an oversight to 22 hiking tours, some taking several days. The Tour du Val d'Anniviers is one of them. I've done them all at various times, my favorite being Chamonix-Zermatt (this was when I was running the youth hostel in Champex). Accomodation is often at SAC mountain huts where you'll rub shoulders with the natives. regards, Steve sblume at yahoo dot com |
#10
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Switzerland
In Switzerland I'd highly recommend the Jungfraujoch region. Grindelwald is a
popular destination, though I prefer the other side of the mountain, in the area closer to Murren. But no matter where you stay in that region you'll find plenty of beautiful scenery and enchanting places to visit. |
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