Lodging for Six in Bavaria & Switzerland

We would like to keep our budget to about $300 a night, if possible, but we have some wiggle room. We're hoping the more we can save on lodging, the more fun things we can do.

"Nice" - means clean, pleasant surroundings. We love the little inns in these areas (as opposed to big hotels). We'd rather not stay in hostels unless they are family-oriented. We are traveling with my mother and our three children (4, 7 & 12).

We are pretty flexible with our 4 days, but want to make the most of the experience.

Thanks for all help!

These days a tight budget for 6 persons during peak season at a nice place is a very tall order! Look into budget Etap hotels ( a french owned chain)and see if they are along your route. make sure you do have reservations bef you leave for your trip.

I agree with JS. Your "we're on a tight budget, but want to stay nice places"--we'll help you if we can, but I don't think we are helping you if anyone here encourages you to think that you get what you don't pay for--especially for a family of 6 in high season when €100 costs you $160. In Europe, as in life, you almost always don't get what you don't pay for. We can give you better advice if you will give us guidance as to what is the price range you are looking at, in dollars or euros per day.Another thing that will help, is some kind of description of what you consider to be a "nice place."

Okay, now we're getting somewhere! Before making some recommendations, one more question: Are you open to booking 2 rooms or does it have to be one big room that will accommodate all 6 of you (will be much harder to find one of those)?

Mary,
Try the family apartment at the Chalet Fontana in Murren, Switzerland (www.chaletfontana.ch). I believe it sleeps 6, although you don't mention the size of your children - my 16yr old son is 6'3"!!! It is quite reasonable and well-rated. Email right away, though, because I believe it fills up quickly!
Good Luck!
Lisa

Yes, the Chalet Fontana Apartment is your answer to clean, cheap, beautiful location. www.chaletfontana.ch

A good place to find accommodations in German speaking areas is on the town's website, e.g., for Rothenburg. These websites are often only in German, but there will be a link to "Gastgeber" (hosts), "Unterkünfte" (accommodations), or "Übernachten" (overnight). And some of the places will have websites in English. Look for "Ferienwohnungen (vacation apartments). These will often sleep up to six in two bedrooms and a studio living room and cost far less than a couple of hotel rooms. Unfortunately they often rent by the week, but if you can find one for just one or two nights, it would be exactly what you need. They often have a small kitchen nook where you can fix breakfast.

We would stay in 2 rooms if the combined price works out okay. My mom and one of the children could share a double bed too.

Do you have any other suggestions?

Mary: You said you want "little inns" but then listed Innsbruck and Interlaken. You're more likely to find what you're looking for in smaller towns/villages such as Fuessen, Reutte, or Schwangau instead of Innsbruck; and in one of the Alpine villages above Lauterbrunnen instead of Interlaken.

In Rothenburg: check out:www.gasthof-greifen.rothenburg.dewww.gerberhaus.rothenburg.deand esp. the family rooms available at www.klosterstueble.de

Am I reading this correctly? Do you have a total of 4 days and plan on staying at 3 different locations? If so, with all those youngsters, consider the Lauterbrunnen valley for 3 nights and save Bavaria for the next trip.

I'm checking on Rothenburg reservations now...all those sound great.

Any suggestions for inns in Berner Oberland area that we can get to by car?

Yes, we are trying to see a lot in our short 4 days, but we don't think we'll have an opportunity to return anytime in the near future. Everyone loves the idea of visiting Rothenburg but seeing the Alps is also high on the list (especially for mom and dad). We are debating train tickets vs. rent a car. With six, we think the car will be more affordable, so getting from place to place can also be easy. It's just deciding on the places that is tough.

If we do one day in Rothenburg and then head to the Alps, where should we stay or stop along the way? 3 days in the Berner Oberland area seems long for us with little kids - I don't know what we'll do. We're not huge into hiking...they would much rather take the cable car ride, any boat trips, train rides, castles, shopping.

Any lodging or itinerary activity suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

The Berner Oberland has plenty of attractions for your group. One of the highlights is the Open Air Museum at Ballenberg - a Swiss version of a living museum worth visiting for most of a day (with time out for lunch there). Plan for a couple of low-elevation hikes and maybe a bike ride, summer toboggan, or swimming near Interlaken.

A car for six plus luggage will be quite expensive and hard to find. Your children will ride free on Swiss trains (and covered boats and cablecars) if you get the family card, so it may actually be less expensive, and a lot more fun, to just use the train.

The Berner Oberland is quite a bit west from your route (Rotenburg to Innsbruck). You might spend a night near Luzern on the way, and then take the Golden Pass route train to Interlaken and on to a mountain village for the last night. You could even do part of this journey by boat (on the Brienzsee).

These are great suggestions. I like the train idea, but my husband already booked a minivan. He thinks the train is more expensive with Eurorail passes and Swissrail for our whole party. Kids free in Switzerland is good, is that true for Eurorail too? Do you know if a Eurorail pass works in Switzerland?

We also just booked our one night in Rothenburg at Hotel Klosterstueble. Thank goodness. One night down and 3 to go. We're thinking based on your terrific suggestions Innsbruck for the night (spend the day in Berner Oberland area) then on to Lucerne for our final two nights.

Is there a boat ride in Lucerne you recommend?

Also, where should we stay in Insbruck and Lucerne?

Mary,
Try the Lucerne Backpackers. You can get good family deals there and it is clean and friendly. It's a 15 minute walk from town, but located on the lake. The web site is www.backpackerslucerne.ch/. Good luck!
Lisa