Oct visit to Switzerland - 4 days

For what you are after I would suggest Hotel Jungfrau. We had a small balcony where we could sit out and watch the mountains just going into sunset. Good brekkie, great time. Plenty of trails you can walk without hiking....

Thank you. I just went to the website and Hotel Jungfrau seems perfect! Unfortunately, its booked. Im shocked. I emailed them just to make sure. I better get going on my plans so I find what I want!!! Again, thanks a lot for your help.

It would be unusual fo rhotels to be fully booked in October already. That is pretty much low season. I just tried to check and the Hotel Jungfrau website is not working. Booking.co. showed rooms available for 2 nights beginning Oct. 5, but not for the night of Oct. 7. Expedia showed roms available for all 4 nights. Hopefully they will respond to your e-mail and say they have rooms. You could also try Hotel Eiger, and maybe the Alpenruh. In Wengen try Hotel Alpenrose, Schonegg, and Bellevue.

Wow. Thanks so much for all your suggestions. Have been reading about Switzerland since 9 am and it's now 6pm. I am exhausted! Will follow up on hotels tomorrow.

Gail, I hate to add to your confusion, but if you would like a more modestly priced place to stay, consider the Bären in Wengen. This is a more casual place than the other commendations, but the rooms are spacious and have balconies with view. It is more like a restaurant with rooms upstairs, not a full service hotel. The food is excellent ( best breakfasts we have had in Switzerland) and dinner there with the half-board option is one of the best deals I know. We had things like lime-Ginger risotto and wonderful lake fish, all delicious and prepared with local ingredients as much as possible. Wengen is on the opposite side od the valley from Mürren but a similar car free village. It is a bit easier to reach, as the train stops there on the way up the Jungfraujoch. And there is a great walk, not a hike, that you can do on the ridge top that is world class in terms of views, but still an easy walk on a level, easy path. Just ride the cable car upmto Mannlichen and walk the path to Kleine Scheidegg. You can continue upmto Jungfraujoch on the train, or take the train back down to Wengen.

Gail, you could also try the Eiger Guesthouse. Flying into Zurich is a good idea. There are several "easy" hikes in the area as long as there is not much snow. I would suggest going up to the Schilthorn, and on the other side of the valley you could ride up to Manlichen via the cable car from Wengen. If you're up to an easy 1 1/2 hour hike you could hike across to Klein Scheidegg, and then take the train back down to Lauterbrunnen. In the valley you could explore Trummlebach Falls which are quite a site to see. You could spend a day at the Ballenberg Open Air Museum from Murren. There are also a few very easy hikes from Murren - 1/2 hour to 1 hour on paved paths.

Since we're going on 2 wk river cruise after this 4 day stay in BO, I might want to save a little $$ on hotel. Hotel Baeren responded to my email and has availability. Someone said its a nice place. However, if Wengen isnt car free, would Muerren be more "quaint" and adorable? Also, any idea which rail pass we should get? We need to get to area from Zurich airport and then to Basel at end of the 4 days..with day trips to Luzern, etc. during the 4 days. I think either the Half Fare Card or the regional pass would be best because of discounts to Jungfraujoch. Am I right?

Hi Gail-Wengen IS car-free. The village is a bit larger than Mürren but still has a lot of charm, with allnthe Swiss chalet-style buildings. I am the one who suggested the Bären. We like it so much we would go out of our way tom stay there again. The rooms are simple and basic but clean and comfortable. And the balconies are large. I highly recommend yountake the half-board option at least a couple of nights there. Frau Brunner is a gracious and welcoming hostess, and her husband is an excellent chef. The Bären is located down a steep hill from the train station. Some people mind this, but we did not.

I have never posted anything on any website before and I am amazed at how helpful everyone is. This is so cool. Thank you all. Now all I have to do is make a decision as to which side to stay! I cant wait to get over to "the other side of the pond" once again!!!!

Hmmmmm. We saw no cars but a few of those electric things the hotels use to transport guests, but we were there in summer and it was a few years ago. Are there regular cars there now? And of course on encounters small commercial vans and farm vehicles on the roads around Mürren as well.

Its ok Chris. Anything has to be better than Miami..:-) I just really appreciate everyone's help. I may go with the Hotel Baeren as the price is really reasonable and because we need to save some money for the other 2 weeks we're spending in Europe. Walking up/down a steep hill with luggage wont bother us. We've learned to pack light. We had to do the same in Edinbrough. That's one of my favorite photos during that vacation because at that time I just HAD to pack my entire 4 closets full of clothes! :-)

Gail, you couxd also try Chalet Fontana in Mürren. They offer two apartments which have private bathrooms. Price for two people is 115 to 140 CHF. One of them has a 3 night minimum but you meet that.

Lola..Thanks for the info about Chalet Fontana. Do you know of any other moderately priced hotel in Muerren... something like the Hotel Baeren? We like family owned properties where the host and hostesses are friendly and make us feel at home. Id like to offer the other couple we're traveling with at least 2 hotels to pick from.

Hi Gail, we have only stayed at Chalet Fontana in Mürren (several times) so I have no personal recommendations. I know there are several smaller family-run places. Rick recommends the Eiger and the Eiger Guesthouse. Several people here favor the Hotel Jungfrau. If we were staying in a hotel there, I would probably choose Hotel Bellevue, based on our experience dining there, and the great reviews on Tripadvisor. Everyone raves about how friendly they are. I know the views are great as it is at the top of the village. You might check out their website--they have a sort of cow theme going on. Their "availablity" chart shows prices for double rooms in October "starting" at 170 CHF. I don't know how this compares to other places. The good news for you is that October is low season, so everything should be less than in high season.

we stayed at Chalet Fontana and loved it. Very swiss chalet and homey and friendly. Do not delay these places are small and popular and inc brfast. Muerren is the best IMO. Stroll everywhere take the lifts where you wish and the views WOW.. Forget adv half price cards weather is very changeable espec in Oct. you may never reach Jungfrau we did not cuz of weather in July! But it did not matter all the places we saw in 4 days were drop deap beautiful!!!

Passes you are luck going in October. The Swiss Travel Systemmis offer a 2-for-1 deal on 4-day Swiss passes for spring and fall. You get 2 passes for 262 CHF or $254 ( on this website). RS is offering the Spring ones now, and they say they will offer the fall one later. You can read more on MySwissAlps.com or the SBB website. This will fully cover your travel from Zurich to Mürren ( or Wengen), your day trip to Luzern,ma lake boat ride, etc. Not your travel to Basel if that is on Day 5. You could get that covered with a 4-day Flex which has the same special but costs a bit more (262 CHF). To go up the Jungfrau, this will cover 100% of the cost from Mürren down to Lauterbrunnen and up to Wengen. After that it is 25% but I think you'll still be ahead of the HalfFare card which costs 110 CHf and only covers half of all your travel, with no fully covered days. Because of this two for one deal, the Swiss Pass or Flex Pass will be a better option than the regional (Berner Oberland) pass.

Thanks so much for your advice on rail passes. I will compare the 4 day special and add in a one way ticket to Basel vs the flex pass.

Gail, you are a a quick study! Must be because you are from Ohio. My Canton-born husband claims that Ohioans are the best! When we were in Toledo, Spain last May, our orientation landmark was a sign placed high on a wall proclaiming that this was "Toledo, Ohio.". I guess they appreciate that a town in the US was named for their lovely city.