Hotels in Bern, Switzerland?

also looking at Thun- anyone been there?

I just stayed this summer at the Goldener Schuessel - a few doors in off a central main plaza - near the clock tower and the "korn haus" hall. It was very nice and affordable, and great location to the stuff i wanted to be near. Its smack in the middle of old town. Compared to some of the bigger hotels there, its a bit of a walk from the train station but packing light is fine. But then in old town - you will want to walk up and down every little street to get the experience! Since there are lots of little shops and cafe and bars - it can get a bit noisy at night on the street side (but its a great view of the city life) - so you may want a back alley or roof facing room!

thanks- that sounds nice! We should still be "light" since it is only mid-way through our trip and we tend to save all the shopping for the end :)

Ruth, Bern is a most beautiful city. Rick Steves does it unjustice, as he does to all Swiss cities. It is charming and very relaxed, you won't get stressed out there as in some other cities. I've stayed in Goldener Schluessel, too, and it was fine with me, I like to be in the old town. It is very basic, dark, smelly (old cigarette smoke); impeccably clean; very comfortable beds, pillows and comforters (as in all of Switzerland). I like my room to face the street, there is a lot of nightlife going on there, and it is not tourists but locals, and I usually go out at night to gawk. If it is noisy, closing windows will work well, unless it is hot - there is no airconditioning. It is the least expensive of the old town hotels. Another option, even less expensive, is Accor hotel in Guisanplatz, in the area of Bern called Wankdorf. Takes no more than 10-15 minutes by bus to get there from the old town.

Ruth, you won't regret if you go to Thun, so beautiful! And a miriad of small towns/villages all around the Thun Lake to visit. There you will be in the Alps foothills, lots of most breathtaking scenery, lots of walking trails, boating on the lake, swimming in the summer. I like to stay in Hilterfingen and rent an apartment. Go to www.thunersee.ch, this site has an English version, you can easily find a place to stay. You can also call their tourist office, they all speak excellent English. I am sure you'll have a wonderful time. Actually, unlike with some other countries, you can't go wrong with Switzerland, you can close your eyes, poke the finger in the map, and it will be a small piece of paradise anyway. The country is consistently good in every aspect.

Depending on when you are going, the Golden is going to be closed for renovations and reopening in June.

thanks for the all the great replys! We are going tobe there in March- hopefully we will have decent weather.