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Aug/September Switzerland 6 week trip, family of 7

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We have been planning a Switzerland/Austria/France/Germany trip for 4 plus years now. We will be taking our children 2-13.
We plan to take things slow, hence why we are going for so long. We can get better deals on airbnbs if we do them for longer and we won't have to rush through things.

So far I know:
We will visit friends in Micheldorf, Austria.
Meet my husbands uncle in Bavaria.
See and experience rural farm life in Switzerland.
We do plant to rent a car, but I'm sure will also take trains and likely get the half fare and family card.

We hope to:
Visit Unterweid, Germany(where my husbands grandmother was born).
Work on alpine farms (will be checking WWOOF)
Hike in the mountains
Get rural airbnbs.

My husband plays accordion and has a spepcial admiration for Swiss accordion music. If anyone knows where we can meet and maybe play music with locals that would be amazing.

Does anyone have any specific places they stayed that they recommend? Specific airbnbs or hotels? We would probably only do hotels for very short stays as our family will be more comfortable with more room.

We don't need to be in Lauterbrunnen/Interlaken long, maybe day trips a few times. I think we'd be happier finding less crowded places and it sure looks like there won't be lack of options.

If the swiss frank goes down again this winter should we get some cash ahead of time?
Any other tips.

Posted by
1128 posts

It sounds like you might want to avoid the Lauterbrunnen area altogether, based on your desires. It's suffering from massive overtourism at the moment.

Family friendly farm stays abound in Austria - they are literally everywhere and so well done. Check out https://www.farmholidays.com/en

There are also amazing ones in the Julian Alps of Slovenia and the people there are incredibly warm and inviting, along with the scenery being incredible. While I obviously love Switzerland (we have a second home in the mountains there), the family friendly farm stay and rural village life is better for tourists in Austria & Slovenia, where the people are warmer and more inviting of bringing you into their daily life. The Swiss are lovely people, but they separate themselves more from tourists and I think from what you're describing, you'd have unforgettable experiences in Austria & Slovenia.

Perhaps you could start in Germany, make your way through Austria and Slovenia and then if you really want to see Switzerland you could end there.

In Slovenia, check out Lenar Tourist Farm in the Logar Valley. It's run by such a lovely family and the views and peaceful surroundings are incredible. You can drive around to dozens of organic tourist farms where they will feed you right out of their kitchens.

In Switzerland, for places a bit more off the beaten path, but still the car free village experience - look into Saas Fee & Bettmeralp. You won't have a farm stay experience there, but amazing hiking and if you stay in Saas Fee all the cable cars are free with their visitor card.

In Austria, look at tourist farms around Bad Gastein, Dachstein, outside of Innsbruck, Weisensee (if the kids love to swim, it's an incredible high alpine lake you can stay at), etc.

Posted by
29667 posts

Check the legality of WOOFing without a work visa. I know absolutely zero about that topic, but concerns have been expressed on this forum in the past.

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