My 24-year-old daughter and I are planning a 9- or 10-day trip to Europe starting May 20, 2008. We have found flights to Zurich much cheaper than to points in Germany or Austria. We would like to go to Lauterbrunnen in Switzerland, Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany, and Salzburg, Salzkammergut, and Innsbruck in Austria. It seems that driving will be cheaper, but does anyone have advice for us? Also, if we drive but want to go to Hallstatt, where could we leave our rental car?
Posted by
Pearland, TX, USA
852 posts
Joy,
Assuming you have already decided upon lodging in Hallstatt, [Gasthaus Zauner, for example] I suggest you send an email and ask about their auto parking facilities. You could see a Zauner room photo, etc. at this link:
... http://www.paigee.com/Hallstatt.html
Gute Reise ! ... p.
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
You'll find the scenery around Innsbruck gorgeous, but the city itself is surprisingly industrial. There are much better places to stay within an hour's drive. If you want to visit Neuschwanstein, and you have a rental car, consider staying in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Mittenwald, or any of the other gorgeous Alpine towns in the area. Many people will recommend Fussen, but in my opinion, if you have a rental car, there are much better places to stay.
Posted by
Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
You can easily get to Lauterbrunnen by car but that's about it. All of the alpine villages high above Lauterbrunnen do not permit tourist cars. This includes Gimmelwald, Muerren and Wengen.
If you are looking for a place to stay in Lauterbrunnen, I recommend the Hotel Silberhorn (www.silberhorn.com). They have a nice parking lot and they are about 500 feet from the train station (up a slight hill). RS likes the Hotel Staubbach but we like the Hotel Silberhorn better, especially their newer annex.
Note that there isn't much to do in Lauterbrunnen except look at the beautiful alps but it is a great train hub to all of the alpine villages and the mountain tops of the Jungfrau and Shilthorn.
Also, late May is a great time of year. The farmers are walking their cows with their fabulous Swiss bells through the town and up to higer pasture for the summer. They go right in front of the Hotel Siblerhorn. Also, the wildflowers are in bloom in the alps.
Posted by
Pearland, TX, USA
852 posts
Joy, my wife and I have enjoyed visiting Innsbruck many times. In the past, we've enjoyed rooms at Hotel Schwarzer Adler, but should we travel again to Innsbruck, we want to book a room at Zur Linde Hotel. It's in a higher altitude area of Innsbruck called Hungerburg. We have only visited Zur Linde Hotel for the garden café, but discussions with their guests and enjoying the ambiance made us want to return as hotel guests. You can learn more at this link, if interested ...
..http://www.karenbrown.com/Accommodations/Austria/Tirol/Hotel_Pension_Zur_Linde/00001866.php
... Have a wonderful trip !... p
Posted by
Florida, USA
12172 posts
I'm not sure driving is cheaper than train for only two people. Leasing was considerably cheaper for our family, but that is a minimum of 17 days. The roads are good and well marked, so it shouldn't be much more difficult than vacation driving in the US.
Hall in Tirol, just up the road from Innsbruck is nice. We enjoyed the salt mine tour in Berchtesgaden. You can do the same tour in Hallstadt.
Salzburg is great but be sure to visit Munich as well.
The weather should be great that time of year.
Posted by
OP
Opelika, Alabama, USA
11 posts
Thank you, everyone, for your help! One thing I forgot to mention in the first post is that we are more interested in viewing the beautiful scenery than in visiting museums. That is one of the reasons we are considering driving instead of the using the trains.
Posted by
NYC area
2931 posts
Hi Joy,
I Just want to add to Brad's post... we love Hall in Tirol and have stayed there on 3 seperate trips, each time at the Gasthof Badl (Rick Steves recommendation)
As for renting a car to see beautiful scenery, no need for one during your Switzerland leg. The trains are great, plenty of scenery and as mentioned before, Lauterbrunnen is where you'd park your car to to get a train to visit the villages of Murren, Gimmelwald and Wengen (our favorite) as they are "car free".
Just my opinion... stay in Wengen! The views are outstanding!
Paul
Posted by
Germany
8 posts
You will need a toll pass to drive in Switzerland. Be sure to add that in to the cost of your trip.
Posted by
San Clemente, Ca.
408 posts
Driving in those countries is easy. I would stay in Ruette for one night.(Rick's rec hotel in his guide book) It is a very nice hotel with breakfast included at a good price. You can hike to the castle. We loved it on the Rick Steve's tour. Bavaria is so beautiful and there is alot to see. I would also stay in Rothenberg for one night and do the night watchman tour. Dachau is on the way back to Munich and is worth a visit. Salzburg is a close drive from Munich and is worth two to three days visit. Switzerland is my favorite and the berner oberland area is breathtaking. Stay in Lauterbrunnen and take the dtrain up to the high mountain lifts for day hikes. We did the Shilthorn, jungfrau both and loved them. We spent one week in Grindelwald and we could of stayed longer. Hallstat is a nice little town. The saltmine tour is fun. Berchesgarden is interesting if you like WW11 history. Nice saltmine and the eagles nest tour are well worth the visit. Have a wonderful trip!