London-Switzerland-Munich

Fly to Zurinch or Geneva, which ever is cheapest, then rail to Gimmelwald, the rail to Bavaria and Munich.

leslie,

have you checked that there will be a place to stay in Gimmelwald in April, and that the transportation you will want to use is running? April is a difficult time in the mountains because it is normally after the ski season but before the summer tourist season.

Every year's weather is different - some earlier, some later - but after the thaw comes the mud, and after the mud comes preparing the fields and meadows for grazing and growing, which involves spraying a slurry of what the cows have produced all winter (I don't mean milk) over the land. It can be a bit whiffy and not nice to walk in.

This isn't to dissuade you from visiting the Alps, just be sure that you have all your ducks in a row.

Read carefully what Nigel wrote about the Berner Oberland in April. This is the absolute worst time of the year to visit one of the most expensive corners of Europe. I would suggest substituting it with the Bavarian Alps. Not an ideal time to visit there either, but the hospitality industries don't go into as deep a hibernation as they do in Switzerland. And, it would simplify your logistics significantly. BTW.... some of us are a little puzzled why Mr. Steves devotes an entire chapter of his book to Gimmelwald, rather than the two or three paragraphs it should merit.

" Any tips on the best/cheapest/time efficient combination of travel is appreciated." Yes. Help us narrow down your priorities. "Best" and "most time efficient" can often be the same method, but they are almost never the cheapest.