We are a family of 5 traveling for 2 months in Europe. We will be in Venice for 2 nights in October and will then head to Murren for 3 nights. We were considering breaking up the trip with a night in Milan but it is very pricey. Any suggestions of where else we could stop for night. Our other alternative is a cheap flight from Venice to Basel. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!
Bergamo is a neat town. Also, someplace on Lake Como would be fun. In Switzerland, Bellinzona has fabulous castles.
Last October, we stayed at the Best Western Major in Milan. This hotel was just steps away from the metro stop. It was very modern and had a great buffet breakfast. Check online for their best rates. Best Westerns are very different in Europe than here in the States. Do you know where you are staying in Muerren? We stay at the Hotel Alpina. I just checked to see if they are open in October. They have rooms available only through the 16th. They, like many hotels in the region, are closed until December. This is their shoulder season. Many of the town's people go on a short holiday during this time. Have a great trip!
Carian, If you want to break-up the journey from Venice to the Berner Oberland, you might consider stopping in Stresa for one or two nights. It's a beautiful city, and it's somewhat "on the way" to Switzerland. The trip from Venice to Stresa is ~4H:22M (one change at Milano Centrale), and from Stresa to Interlaken Ost is ~2H:36M (some trains have two changes in Brig and Spiez). From Interlaken Ost it's an easy trip to Mürren. I wouldn't bother with a flight on that route, especially for five people. Seeing the scenery and visiting a few nice towns would be a much better travel experience (IMHO). Are you using the Italy or Switzerland Guidebooks to plan sightseeing in the places you'll be visiting? Happy travels!