We are taking the Bernina Express in August en route to Zurich and our flight home. The BE would arrive in Chur at 6:27 p.m. on Sunday and we would hop a local into Zurich, arriving around 8:00 p.m. that night. We would fly home Tuesday - meaning two nights in Zur. However, after hotel checking prices in Zurich (YIKES!) for our family of five, I am rethinking Zurich. Since the BE stops in Chur around dinner, maybe it would be best to hop off, eat and stay cheaply rather than push into Zurich. We can go early the next morning. Any hotel picks in Chur? OR perhaps another stop on the local line between Chur and Zurich? Thanks!
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32212 posts
Marie, I just replied to your PM. I suspect that ANY Hotel in Switzerland is going to be on the "pricey" side for a family of five. Good luck!
Posted by
Mission Viejo, Calif., USA
1010 posts
We took the Bernina Express out of Lugano, Switzerland three years ago. It was absolutely lovely. First we were on a bus, then on the train. We totally enjoyed the bus around Lake Maggiore. We had to change trains, before arriving in Zurich in the evening. ALL decent HOTELS in Switzerland are expensive. Traveling with five is expensive to begin with.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
32813 posts
I'm sorry, but on this topic I disagree that ALL hotels in Switzerland are expensive. You need to look around, carefully, but it just ain't so. I speak from personal experience. My goal in most places is to spend less than €100 per night for the two of us, under €100 (equivelent in CHF) in Interlaken (B&B), Muerren (B&B and small hotel), Winterthur (Ibis) and Basel (Ibis). You need to be in the right place at the right time but it really can be done. I don't have my records with me but I think we paid quite reasonably at the Ibis in Chur, as well. It is in a pyramid, believe it or not.
Posted by
OP
Northbrook, Illinois, USA
299 posts
Thank you for your helpful reply! Yes, we know it's expensive - the whole point of my post was to see if we could find something a little less so in Chur as opposed to Zurich. Again, thanks for the post.
Posted by
Texas
518 posts
We stayed in Chur after the Bernina Express. There is a nice pedestrian only area close to the train station. We stayed the night at the Comfort Hotel Post, which was about a 10 minute walk from the station. I looked back, and it was 225 Swiss francs for a room for 3 in 2009, so it was pricey. It was nice though and there were a lot of restaurants close by. I can't remember why I chose that hotel.
Posted by
Palm Harbor, FL, USA
2 posts
My wife and I will be in Zurich in September. Someone recommended the website air.bnb to us. It features people renting out either space in their apartment or their whole apartment. Previous guests review their experiences as well. Some would handle 5 people and be much cheaper than a hotel. I've now booked places in Rome, Milan and Zurich through them. Good luck!