We plan to visit Bern Switzerland in July 2011. Do we need to make hotel reservations in advance? Some of the sites say that economy hotels are all ready full is that accurate?
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32325 posts
Eric, I suppose it's possible, but I would seriously doubt that all "economy hotels" in Bern are already fully booked for July 2011. Which websites are you using to find these Hotels? For travel in July, I would strongly recommend pre-booking but I'd probably do that early in the new year (provided you have a somewhat definite idea of your travel dates). Good luck with your planning!
Posted by
OP
Findlay, Ohio, USA
3 posts
The internet sites we checked for booking were bookings.com AAA and velocity.com do you have other sites to recommend?
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33513 posts
I'm really surprised that you haven't found anything yet. I just threw accorhotels up for random dates in July and found all three levels available at below normal prices: in order of improvement the Etap, the Ibis, and the Novotel. I haven't done the Bern Etap, although they are completely cookie cutter and one is identical to the other, but I have both of the others over the years. Great (although not in the old city) at the end of a tram (streetcar) line and convenient for the motorway too. All 3 are in different columns of the same building, just like in Calais and other places. Last time we were there the Swiss were revolting. Really, they had the roads blocked and bridges blocked, and all the trams stopped. It was actually good fun, and we walked from the centre to the hotel. The strikers were playing music and setting off small bombs, more for noise and flash I think. We never felt threatened, and enjoyed watching over 100 police vehicles in a convoy all parked on the tram lines and the police forming a phalanx then letting down the shields and chatting with the demonstrators. Next day, you would never have known it was there. Gotta give it to the Swiss - they know how to demonstrate and handle demonstrations. That's doing it by the book on both sides.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32325 posts
Eric, I just re-read your Post and it clarifies the matter somewhat. "The internet sites we checked for booking were bookings.com AAA and velocity.com do you have other sites to recommend?" I normally use the internet address provided in the Guidebooks, and contact the Hotels directly rather than going through a "booking site". That tends to "eliminate the middleman" and it's more efficient to deal directly with the Hotel. The RS Guidebook lists websites and/or phone numbers for several Hotels in Bern (not all have English-language pages though). Cheers!