gimmelwald or grindelwald? schilthorn or jungfrau?

Lesley, As much as I like Gimmelwald, I have to agree with the others in this case. Mürren would probably be more interesting for the teenagers, and will still offer the same options for hiking and similar activities. If you take the Allmend-Hubel Funicular up the hill from Mürren, the hike down is quite pleasant (it's more a walk than a hike). If you want "adventure" activities, you might consider Paragliding from Mürren. Viewing the area from "altitude" provides a somewhat "unique perspective" (reaching the edge of the cliff and suddenly being about 3000 feet above ground is an experience not to be missed)! Your Hotel should have information on Pilots offering tandem flights. Regarding Schilthorn or Jungfrau, both are expensive but the Jungfrau a bit more so. I suppose it will depend on your budget and which one is more appealing to your group? Having a fine hot meal in the revolving restaurant, or a "Martini shaken not stirred" in the James Bond bar is one unique aspect of the Schilthorn. Happy travels!

I am one of the people who thinks that Gimmelwald is vastly overrated. I can't imagine 2 teenagers being satisfied with staying there since there is so little in the way of stores, restaurants, etc. Admittedly, the scenery is beautiful, but I was very underwhelmed when we visited. Murren is very close to Gimmelwald and is lovely. The views of the mountains are wonderful and there is a full range of restaurants, stores and activities. Grindelwald is a lot more like a regular town -with lots of tourist buses, etc. Murren is car free. Other towns in the Berner Oberland area that are great are Wengen and Lauterbrunnen and they can be reached easily from Murren.
You might want to research some of these before deciding on where you want to stay. Schilthorn is easier and quicker to get to - but Jungfrau is amazing and the ride on the train is spectacular. I personally liked Jungfrau better, but some people feel the opposite. There is an enormous amount of information on both on the web to help you decide which is better for you and your family. Either way, your family will enjoy it.

I stayed in Grindelwald because I had a car. I really liked staying in Grindlewald because there are many restaurants to choose from. I bought a four day Swiss pass for a one week stay. They help save a lot of $$ so check them out. I loved the hike down from the Schilthorn. Their is also a hike that you take a gondola up to the first chair in Grindlewald that was nice too. The pass also covers steamers on the lake and the outdoor museum that I think the kids would like too. This area is so beautiful but it is very expensive so really do your research ahead of time.

I just want to thank everyone who took the time to answer me. Your feedback really helped!!

Lesley, I just posted the responce below to someone else here a few days ago re: Schilthorn vs. Jungfrau: ______________________________________________ Both are amazing experiences, and Michael above is spot-on re: the Jungfrau being more of a "glacieral" experience, while Schilthorn is more of a mountain panorama experience. With the Jungfraujoch, 1/2 the fun is the journey there, going through the mountains. But despite the fact that the Jungfrau is significantly higher than Schilthorn (and I LOVED both), to me, personally, Schilthorn just somehow seemed more....thrilling. On a clear day (as was the case when I went), you enjoy head-spinning, 360 degree views of the surrounding alps from up top on the observation deck. It's nothing short of breath-taking, as you gaze upon the snow capped alps that appear endless.
______________________________________________ Re: Grindelwald/Gimmelwald: I've stayed in both; very different. Gorgeous scenery in both, but Gimmelwald def more rustic. It's garnered a loyal following due to Rick's enthusiastic endorsement of it. In Grindelwald, you have very easy access to the First mountain range; gondola leaves from center of town, amazing views on way up and up top, ENDLESS hiking/walking options that take you past fields of wild flowers, cows, goats, lakes, etc.; EXACTLY what you picture in Switzerland. BTW, I see you're from Bet Shemesh; have been to Jerusalem several times. I have family in German Colony and I studied in Israel at Tel Aviv Univ. Jerusalem def 1 of my favorite cities in the world!

Lesley, my family has stayed several times each in Grindelwald, Mürren, and Wengen, and we like them all-there is no "best". What you might do is look at the lodging possibilities for a family of 4 in each place and let that be your guide. I believe I already mentioned the apartment in Chalet Fontana in Mürren as very suitable for a family of four. There are other apartments in Mürren, but most others rent by the week. In Grindelwald, we like the apartment at Hotel Cabana, just on the edge of town with gorgeous views of the North Face of the Eiger. This is very modern and upscale. Hotel Residence also has a nice large 2-bdr. apartment that is more moderate in price; this is near the center. In Wengen, see if the "Kleine Bär" chalet at Hotel Bären is available. The food at this hotel is wonderful. Keep in mind that if you choose either Gimmelwald, Mürren or Wengen, you will have to pay to park your car. In Grindelwald you should get free parking at your hotel. Griindelwald offers adventure sports such as the Rodelbahn at the Pfingstegg lift, and the zipline "First Flieger" at the First lift, as well as Trotti-Bikes which my kids (early 20's by this time) really loved. You can also get up close to the Grindelwald Glacier by hiking to the Blue Ice Grotto, and/pr hike through the gorge carved by the glacier ("Gletscherschluct") on a steel and wood walkway.

Lesley, In April 2009 my wife and I plus son Mitchell (aged 10) and daughter Victoria (12) spent almost a week in Gimmelwald. We used it as a home base and made day trips to various locations in Switzerland and spent a few days hanging around Gimmelwald. We hiked once down to Stechelberg. We also hiked up to Murren for a day. While in Gimmelwald we made our own meals. My kids had a blast. We've been around Europe, North America, and the Philipines. And where do they want to return to? Gimmelwald. And me too. (Want photos? [email protected]). I see what the others have written and whether Gimmelwald will work for you will depend on your girls. If you're a tight family that can kick back and enjoy each other's company, then Gimmelwald is the quiet place for you. The locals are friendly too. In the end, you can't go wrong. They are all splended places that you'll remember forever. Enjoy! Doug

schilthorn is my favourite rent chalet max in gimmelwald it is fun if you hihe down the montian for the view