Want to go and hike in the Swiss Alps (Eiger) outside of Interlocken. Can't figure out the cheapest/most effective way to get there from Brugges (train, bus - anyway) - just got to Europe and do not have any railpasses. Can leave as soon as tomorrow 7 September 2010 or following day. Help! :) P.S. If you know the best town to stay cheap - and hike - it would be helpful as well. Thank you.
Posted by
Auburn, Alabama
1064 posts
The only really cheap way would be to hitchhike. That would kill two birds with one stone, but I don't think that is as acceptable or safe as it once was. You don't say how much you are willing to spend or why you flew into Belgium when your destination is Switzerland. Neither air nor rail will be cheap if you plan to leave in one or two days. If you can substitute Appalachian-style hiking trails for a Rockies-style experience, you will find plenty of hiking opportunities in nearby Luxembourg or Germany's Eiffel. Assuming you plan to return to St. Paul in the near future, make sure you have enough funds to get to the city you will be flying out of for your return trip, or you could miss your flight home.
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
Be prepared for high prices for food and lodging in Switzerland, it's one of the more expensive places in Europe.
Posted by
Tilburg, Netherlands
2829 posts
@Kent: while your assessment is true, the Swiss Franc exchange rate is quite depreciated these days, so Swiss is not THAT more expensive than the rest of Europe as it was until 2006-7.
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
Your cheapest route probably would be to take a train to Brussels, an overnight Eurolines bus from Brussels to Basel, and a train from Basel to Interlaken Ost. The bus doesn't run every day, but traveling overnight would save you the cost of a night in a hotel. See the schedule at www.eurolines.com. You can travel the entire route by train, but if you go via Paris be aware that last-minute fares on Thalys trains between Brussels and Paris are quite expensive. For detailed timetables go to the German Rail site, www.bahn.com/i/view/USA/en/index.shtml. You'll see that you can go Brugge-Bruxelles-Basel-Interlaken, departing at 06:31 and arriving at 16:57.