Hello, my friends and I plan to visit Murren this month. We looked at various hotels and private rooms; Chalet Fontana is all booked up. One of the place we are considering is Chalet Helvetia, but we found very little information / review about this one online, except in Rick's book. Does any one know anything about this place?
Thanks for all your advice.
Lauren
If no one posts, check tripadvisor.com and see if its listed there.
Lauren, if it's in Rick's book, it's most likely a safe and clean lodging. Given the fact that you'll be there "this month", it might be a good idea to get a booking somewhere fairly quickly! Chalet Helvetia is listed as a "Zimmer, located two blocks below cable car station on the path to Gimmelwald", so it appears that it's somewhat on the "outskirts" of Murren.
You could also consider Esther's Guesthouse in Gimmelwald, if nothing else is available.
Happy travels!
2 blocks below the cable station would NOT be in Muerren. That would be an odd location to stay simply because the path from Muerren down to Gimmelwald (the location of Chalet Helvetia) is rather steep for carrying/dragging luggage. I assume you would carry your luggage up to Muerren on the Gondola and then drag it down the path to the chalet. When you depart on the final day you would probably just want to drag your luggage on down to the gondola station in Gimmelwald rather than dragging it back up to Muerren.
I've been to Muerren several times, and I don't know anything about this particular chalet, but it sounds like an odd location that may be rather inconvenient.
I know that Denise from the Chalet Fontana has told me in the past that one of her neighbors rents out rooms in her house. That would probably be a much better location than somewhere down the hill between Muerren and Gimmelwald. I would want to be located in either Gimmelwald or Muerren but not somewhere in between.
Have you looked at http://www.muerren.ch/start-e.htm to see the accomodations in Muerren?
Hi Michelle, Ken and Tim -- Thanks so much for your advice. Guess we'll be the first one to try this place, and I'll let you know if it is good. Pity it is kind far from the rest of the village. Guess I'll look through this site to get pack-light tips :-) Thanks again, everyone!
Lauren, if you look in Graffiti Wall, Switzerland, best and worst accommodations, someone has posted Chalet Helvetia under BEST and gave the reasons. Take a look.
Sue: Can you please paste the url for that here? I've looked and looked and just can't find the article to which you are referring. Thanks.
Here you go!
http://www.ricksteves.com/books/feedback/answers.cfm/rurl/topicid/2/pid/270/
It's about half way down...
Best: Chalet Helvetia, Muerren
Why: Clean small 2 BR chalet with kitchen, bath - everything needed was supplied. Views from balcony of Jungfrau indescribable - sunsets too. Very friendly owners, made our stay so enjoyable.
Worst: Elizabeth Clement Arnold House, Avenches
Why: We were taken to the third floor, out on a deck, and asked to climb thru the bedroom window to get in. Finally offered to take us down and around to an outside door. Room old, outdated, and not ready for us (7PM.)Bath on a lower floor, dark, also not ready. Room was 40 Euros, but 10 euros extra for the duvets! No breakfast - bakery across street, though.Spend more money and stay in nearby town of Murten - beautiful!
Bob and Janet James in Smiths Falls, On Canada 10/11/2006
Although not relevant for your stay in july, perhaps of general interest:
Chalet Helvetia is indeed situated on the road to Gimmelwald, but still quite close to e.g. the gondola station and the grocery store , both within 400 meters. I stayed there for a week in 2007 and can only recommend it. The apartment consists of bedrom w. double bed, living room with 1-2 beds, kitchen, bathroom and a good south-east facing balcony, i.e. morning sun and a 180 degree mountain view.
For transporting larger amounts of luggage, a trolley can be borrowed at both the gondola and the train station against a deposit of 20CHF.
Hope you has a good stay im Mürren anyway!
We were in Lauterbrunnen which is a little lower than Murren. We liked it much better although we love Murren. We stayed at the Hotel Staubach. It was great. We loved the breakfast room that overlooked the waterfall. Watched the parasail's every morning. Rick recommends it.
