Gondola to Gimmelwald

There's no problem with taking them onboard, and later with wheeling them up the paved road in Gimmelwald, if you can easily handle them yourself. But if you're making more connections by public transport or checking into more hotels without elevators, then I'd really encourage you to pack lighter starting with smaller bags and filling with no more than 25 pounds each.

Thank you; we are definitely considering packing lighter but will be traveling for 19 days so we'll have to discuss. Fortunately most places we are staying have elevators! Thanks again.

Let me echo what was said about packing lighter. I will be in Europe in a few weeks for 3 weeks. I did a "test packing" the other day and my 21 inch carry on bag weighed 20 pounds. This included 2 sweaters, a rain jacket and umbrella, an extra pair of shoes, plenty of layers (some of which can be washed in the sink), and even my electric toothbrush and base.
You will be so much more comfortable with less "baggage!"

Less is more with luggage.

How will you get to the gondola to Gimmelwald? Postbus. From the train at Lauterbrunnen to the Postbus? Schlepping.

From the train at Interlaken Ost - for which you have a tight connection - to the train to Lauterbrunnen? Schlep down the steep stairs of the train, schlep along the platform to the ramp down (the concrete stairs are quite steep and there is no elevator), then schlep over to the BOB train to Lauterbrunnen. The steps up into the train are steeper than the main line train because it is a narrow gauge train. If you miss it you can just wait for the next one in 30 minutes.

Of course, coming from the airport you'll have a little more tug-of-war with the cases; and when you return you'll have it all to do again in reverse.

Far better is to plan to wash midway, and make outfits work together by mix and matching. BTW- nobody will care if you wear the same things for a few days, and you will be meeting new people every day who won't know what either of you had on yesterday or the day before.

Have you considered the stairs at Esther's Guesthouse. Which one of you will be tacking them with the big suitcases?

I traveled for eight weeks using a 22" roller bag and a Euro tote -- and even that was a pain to schlep on and off trains, buses, gondolas.(Echoing the "next time I will pack less" mantra)
Everybody telling you to pack light and use smaller bags is suggesting it for your travel comfort.
Using a gondola -- the attendant made people with bags spread out across the cabin, since the lift wouldn't work when they all wanted to congregate at the back (view) window.

Agree with all the other comments on luggage. Smaller the better and less is more. But when I first saw the OP's question about whether large suitcases would fit in the gondola, my thoughts went back to what another passenger brought onto that gondola.

It was 1992, and we were on our honeymoon, and it was a rainy October afternoon. We didn't really have a plan, and we we sort of stumbled upon the gondola after taking the bus to the end of the valley. So we decided to go up and check out the village above us. The only people boarding the gondola were my wife and I. But just before the doors closed, a young local boy got in... with a calf! I assume they were heading back up after visiting the vet? Or maybe the calf was destined for another fate. Either way, we simply smiled at each other (at least I think the calf was smiling) and all enjoyed the short ride up, and then went our separate ways.

Just another one of those unforgettable moments in that magical valley...

NO, there is absolutely no issue taking large suitcases on the Schlthornbahn. On one of the trips I took on that, there was a large concrete hopper right in the centre of the gondola, so weight is apparently not a problem. As I recall they also use the gondolas to haul pallets of supplies and water to the Schilthorn during the night.

I can't remember if an elevator is provided at the Schilthornbahn station in Stechelberg, or only stairs. Given how well everything works in Switzerland, I suspect there's an elevator.

I can confirm there is an elevator at the Stechelberg station for the Schilthornbahn. It is slightly hidden but ask the person at the ticket office to direct you. Otherwise it is a flight of stairs up to the loading area.

I will chime in with the others on light packing. Just got back from 6 weeks with Rick's 20" roller. Light packing DOES require a change in your mind-set as well as some practice but it is very doable for a 19 day trip.

I love the calf story! When I was on this route in September we just had workmen with push carts and tools.

Yes, like the others have said the gondola will be fine, it is quite large. The problem is more about dragging it up hill, across cobblestones, on and off trains or buses, etc. Hopefully you are driving a car, then it will be easier to handle.

You mentioned that you will be using elevators so to avoid carrying your luggage up stairs. If you are not aware, many elevators are super small in Europe, so if there are two of you and two large bags you are likely to be going up separately.

We have traveled for 4 weeks and done just fine with one carryon size. If you decide to go carryon you will learn a sense of freedom and likely never take big bags again anywhere! If you take big bags then you will never plan another trip to Europe again without investing in good carryon bags! It might just take the experience to understand why we say this. I've had a lot of good laughs watching people with large bags. You will see. But, I'd take advice from those who know.

Unless you're going to attend a wedding or a fancy evening event, you'll only be wearing one set of clothing a day. You can wash things out yourself, find a laundromat, or use the hotel's laundry service (occasionally a good deal, usually quite expensive as in the US). Mixing and matching is the key. Women who wear scarves at home like to take a scarf or two to change their look.

I get by for 3 months or longer with 3 pairs of slacks and 4 or 5 tops, 4 or 5 changes of underwear, a set of polypropylene long johns (very rarely used, but I'm cold-natured), one lightweight warm layer (fleece) and a lightweight water-resistant jacket. I no longer take an extra pair of shoes; I know many people consider that extreme, but shoes comfortable enough for cobblestones are usually pretty heavy, and my shoes will dry overnight if they get wet.

If you take a lot of clothing, you won't wear it all, and I guarantee you that you will regret those 50-lb. suitcases as soon as you head toward your first hotel. Wheels help, but pulling that much weight uphill or over cobblestones is tiring. Not to mention the steps you will inevitably encounter from time to time.

Toiletries weigh a lot. Decant everything into small bottles holding just enough for the length of your trip. You've got plenty of time before your trip to figure out how much soap, shampoo, etc., you'll use over the course of 19 days. Verify that you can each manage with one travel-size tube of toothpaste. If you stay in hotels, B&Bs and the like, you will always find soap provided, and nearly always shampoo. If you're not picky, you can get by with one 1-oz. bottle of shampoo per person for emergencies. Contact lens cases can be used for small bits of cream/ointment, but put those inside zip-lock bags to forestall leakage.

Hairdryers are virtually always provided. If you'll be traveling with a lot of electronic gear, figure out a way to minimize the number of chargers you need.

Do not take heavy (or valuable) jewelry.

Yes the elevator can be very small, sometimes the size of a small closet. One strategy that I use is that I walk up to the destination floor while my friend loads the luggage into the elevator and sends it up. He loads all the bags even if he can't get in. We've gotten bags for 3 to 4 people up this way. It does require coordination and planning.