Bern - the jewel in our Swiss Holiday

Advantages: lovely historic city
Disadvantages: may be limiting if you want a big city scene

...Earlier this year, we were searching for somewhere new to go for our annual 2 week holiday. In previous years we have mostly stayed in Dorset (UK) and France, and I have travelled a lot elsewhere in Europe. My son goes to football practice every Saturday and one of the other Dads suggested Switzerland. Immediately I could think of many reasons not to go there - its too upmarket, too expensive and surely its not going to be as hot as say the Mediterranean or the Costas? However I got a guide book and it seemed Switzerland had got a lot to offer - the Alps obviously, cycling and walking countryside, loads of Lakes (where the weather looked promising), culture, shops, historic cities and loads of scenic railway routes which would appeal to my son. We booked a self-catering chalet about 10 miles from Bern, and decided to take the car...

mark-southside 04.08.2006 · Read review
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Review of Bern (Switzerland)

Summer Break In Bern

Advantages: Good value, compact,safe and lots of places of interest
Disadvantages: Might not suit someone wanting exciting night-life

...Bern must be one of the best kept secrets in Europe when it comes to selecting a destination for a city break. Transferring from Zurich Airport was simplicity itself, as the airport station has a direct,express service to Bern which takes about 75 mins.Even with an 8 month old baby and buggy, the journey was stress-free, as our luggage was delivered directly to our hotel from the airport and vice-versa on the return journey. Our package on a 6 night stay with Kuoni was tremendous value, considering we were staying in one of the city's 5 Star Hotels, The Schweizerhoff, which is within easy walking distance of Bern's subterranean railway station. Bern is clean, safe and easy to get around. If you buy a travel pass, this covers transport on bus, tram , train and even steamer, if you wish to travel further afield. Contrary to...

sonnyrock 12.07.2000 · Read review
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Review of Bern (Switzerland)

Summer Break In Bern

Advantages: Good value, compact,safe and lots of places of interest
Disadvantages: Might not suit someone wanting exciting night-life

...Bern must be one of the best kept secrets in Europe when it comes to selecting a destination for a city break. Transferring from Zurich Airport was simplicity itself, as the airport station has a direct,express service to Bern which takes about 75 mins.Even with an 8 month old baby and buggy, the journey was stress-free, as our luggage was delivered directly to our hotel from the airport and vice-versa on the return journey. Our package on a 6 night stay with Kuoni was tremendous value, considering we were staying in one of the city's 5 Star Hotels, The Schweizerhoff, which is within easy walking distance of Bern's subterranean railway station. Bern is clean, safe and easy to get around. If you buy a travel pass, this covers transport on bus, tram , train and even steamer, if you wish to travel further afield. Contrary to...

sonnyrock 12.07.2000 · Read review
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Review of Bern (Switzerland)

The City of Bären.

Advantages: Beautiful Historical City with all facilities and amenities
Disadvantages: The PRICES in the shops. Autobahn access can resemble "death race 2000".

...Bern is the capital of Switzerland, surprisingly few people know that. It is also a stunningly beautiful, and relatively quiet, city. The centre of Bern is in a small valley, the old city is built on an even smaller hill, the result is that the sprawling suburbs might as well not exist. The style of the city is Italianate, tall houses of golden sandstone built in high terraces. Most of the shops are tiny and set back behind the vaulted arcades at ground level. Bern is the perfect city to explore on a rainy day. There is much to explore. The earliest parts of the present city date back to the 17th century, but the cellars are much older still. Bern was built on an earlier city. Some of the excavations are preserved in the modern Banhof. My impressions of Bern are heavily laced with the scent of geraniums, which are...

mechanima 03.07.2000 · Read review
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Review of Bern (Switzerland)

The Crown Of Switzerland

Advantages: Londoners perspective: beautiful, clean, orderly and different
Disadvantages: Londoners perspective: Expensive (yes even for me!)and a little small and quiet

...I have been to Geneva three times now because I have a friend who lives there. Otherwise I?m not sure it would have crossed my mind to visit. It?s certainly not one of those places on everyone?s must see list. Geneva is in Switzerland but is actually surrounded by France. It is a very unique city - a mix of European and British / American influences with people of all different nationalities settled there. And although the primary language is French most speak at least Basic English. Transport Getting to Geneva could not be simpler. Most budget airlines fly there, for example Easyjet have around three flights a day from London Gatwick. The flight only takes an hour and a half and as long as you don?t travel during the peak skiing season prices are really cheap (for example £10!). The airport is not far from the city centre...

Tricia24 11.11.2003 · Read review
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Review of Geneva (Switzerland)

Take a step off the tourist trail in Switzerland

Advantages: Beautiful medieval city, relatively cheap, lots to do, excellent transport links
Disadvantages: none

...If you were asked to name some Swiss cities which ones would spring to mind? Bern? Geneva? Zurich?Lausanne? Chances are that you won't mention Fribourg and possibly have never heard of it, which was certainly the case for me before I moved here last year. A recent visitor described it as a 'hidden gem' and 'where the Swiss go on holiday' and that is very true, you find very few foreign visitors and lots of Swiss nationals visiting Fribourg. So why is this and what does Fribourg have to offer? ****Location and getting there***** The city of Fribourg (pronounced free-bour) / Freiberg (pronounced fry-berg) is in Western Switzerland and is situated in the canton of the same name. It is about 35km southwest of Bern and is located on the main train line between Geneva and Zurich. You can fly into Bern (40 minutes by train), Geneva (90...

historywitch 25.09.2007 · Read review
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Review of Fribourg, Switzerland

Enchanting Switzerland

Advantages: A haven of scenic beauty
Disadvantages: nothing worth mentioning though language can be problem for english speaking tourists.

...Switzerland with all its scenic beauty,cow bells and marvelous and ever-ready to help people,is a tourists' papdise.One of my husbands friend had already been to Switzerland and he provided us with a tour plan for four days.We had four days and there was so much to do and see. We tried to squeeze in everything that we could. Instead of staying at a hotel in inerlaken( it was suggested by our friend. And all the Indian crowd invariably land there). Interlaken is in the center of Switzerland, so it can be made base for the tour, but my husband had already talked to his friend in Lausanne and we stayed there for our trip.Lausanne is the Olympic Capital" since 1994.It is home to the Olympic Museum, the most visited site in Switzerland.Bjart Ballet of Lausanne is world-famous. From what I have seen of Switzerland, I can say that every inch...

ananya123 20.08.2007 (17.09.2007) · Read review
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Review of General: Switzerland

Supreme Switzerland!

Advantages: stunning
Disadvantages: pricey

...Switzerland is the ultimate holiday destination in Europe for those who want to see stunning scenery, wildlife and experience a unique culture. Switzerland is a great place for visitors for many reasons. For me, the ultra-efficient transport system allows accessibility to anywhere in the country. Transfers to resort are by train rather than coach as the system is so reliable and efficient. Zurich and Geneva both have train stations in there airports and English speaking assistance is always available. I've visited Switzerland on three separate occassions - Lake Maggiore/Zermatt, Interlaken and Saas Fee. I've also visited a number of places in each region, made accessible by the trains. I'll try and give some tips about each area and the best places to go... MAGGIORE On this holiday, we were staying in Italy but went into...

tallyrand8 29.03.2007 · Read review
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Review of General: Switzerland

Switzerland - my former home

Advantages: Beautiful country
Disadvantages: Quite expensive and very cold in winter

...The last eighteen years Switzerland was my home, so I should be an expert on this theme. Let?s see what I can tell you about this beautiful country. Weather: Spring/Summer: Switzerland is a few degrees Centigrade cooler than England, except the region next to Italy ? Tessin. In all other counties it is between 12 and 24 degrees during this seasons, in Tessin it is between 14 and 28 degrees. Autumn/Winter: This seasons are quite cool, especially in the skiing-regions (Davos, Arosa, Verbier, Nendaz are some of the biggest ? and dearest). Temperatures vary from minus 10 up to 10 degrees Centigrade. Languages: Switzerland may be very small, but it has four (!) official languages. So it should be no problem to speak English to everyone, as well as German and French. The fourth language is dying, so you want really find people...

Shanon 02.04.2005 · Read review
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Review of General: Switzerland

Switzerland at its best - the Berner Oberland

Advantages: the best scenery in the world
Disadvantages: among the most expensive viewpoints in the world, if not physically fit for prolonged hikes

...Definitely the best stop on my recently completed European tour, the Berner Oberland region can probably be labeled among the best that Switzerland has to offer. Having lived in the country for some nine years, I reserve the right to fully justify this (seemingly rash) elevation of the region to among Switzerland’s finest holiday destinations. We had originally planned to visit Interlaken, 1.5 hours from Bern by train. However, Interlaken is famous for its adventure activities, and was thus packed with tourists on the day we arrived there, July 12, 2001. Our desire for a more isolated destination, after having toured principal cities in France, Spain, and Italy, brought us instead to Lauterbrunnen, smaller and quieter than Interlaken, and only 20 minutes away by train. Another factor in Lauterbrunnen’s favor was its...

Marechal_Grouchy 21.08.2001 · Read review
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Review of General: Switzerland