Summer in the Alps '24
Discussion
Hi all, I know we've only just had summer 2023 but I'm doing a bit of scouting for next year's holiday. As much as I'd love to return to Clearwater Beach and the US for a third year in a row, might have to give it a miss (although I might go over for a long weekend in Tampa to watch the Bucs play at the beginning of next season). In any case, remembering back to my flight to Venice in May and seeing the mountains and lakes below got me thinking about doing a week or so in the Alps in the summer next year, it's something I've never done and would be a bucket list thing to tick off.
Ideally I'd like to stay by a lake for swimming, if at all possible with areas to hike, explore and just relax in general. Any kinda of village/town not too far from a major airport would be good, not too touristy as well. Don't mind doing day trips into larger cities to explore as well from that location. Apologies if the details are a bit vague at this time. But if anyone has done something like this, then any recommendations would be useful! Country-wise, I'm assuming the Swiss/French/Italian sides might be the best for this? Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.
I don't have a budget yet, so any ideas you throw at me are welcome!
Ideally I'd like to stay by a lake for swimming, if at all possible with areas to hike, explore and just relax in general. Any kinda of village/town not too far from a major airport would be good, not too touristy as well. Don't mind doing day trips into larger cities to explore as well from that location. Apologies if the details are a bit vague at this time. But if anyone has done something like this, then any recommendations would be useful! Country-wise, I'm assuming the Swiss/French/Italian sides might be the best for this? Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.
I don't have a budget yet, so any ideas you throw at me are welcome!
Edited by 75Black on Wednesday 4th October 11:33
Avoiding tourists is tricky!!
There are so many options, but for a first Alp trip you could do a lot worse than somewhere like Interlaken. It's on a lake, public transport is good, near Grindelwald (for the Eiger) and Lauterbrunnen which is an absolutely stunning valley. Only issue is the food isn't as good as France.
There are so many options, but for a first Alp trip you could do a lot worse than somewhere like Interlaken. It's on a lake, public transport is good, near Grindelwald (for the Eiger) and Lauterbrunnen which is an absolutely stunning valley. Only issue is the food isn't as good as France.
Bill said:
Avoiding tourists is tricky!!
There are so many options, but for a first Alp trip you could do a lot worse than somewhere like Interlaken. It's on a lake, public transport is good, near Grindelwald (for the Eiger) and Lauterbrunnen which is an absolutely stunning valley. Only issue is the food isn't as good as France.
It most definitely is, especially the Alps! There are so many options, but for a first Alp trip you could do a lot worse than somewhere like Interlaken. It's on a lake, public transport is good, near Grindelwald (for the Eiger) and Lauterbrunnen which is an absolutely stunning valley. Only issue is the food isn't as good as France.
President Merkin said:
Annecy one to consider. It's very beautiful, on a big lake by an historic old town. Not far from Geneva, Lyon, Turin, Grenoble and a hotspot for hiking, cycling, hang/paragliding & all the usual alpine stuff if that's a thing.
This seems like a good option too, will definitely take both into consideration and look further into them. Interlaken at the moment has an edge, but still plenty of time before summer of '24. I would suggest spending some time looking at the Massif de Chartreuse which sit between Grenoble and Chambrey
https://maps.app.goo.gl/5Qz3h4e6LmRTPh356
We spent a week in Crolles back in August I had a day cycling through part of the Chartreuse, climbing up the Col du Granier from Chapareillan and then worked my way through Saint-Pierre-d'Entremont and Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse, before descending back to Grenoble down the Col de Porte. Absolutely stunning scenery and away from the villages, super quiet. I also had another ride up the Col du Coq and went along the eastern edge through Les Gandains. The funicular from the vallyey should re-open next year (https://www.funiculaire.fr/)
We also walked from Le Sappey-en-Chartreuse which was another pretty village and saw just a handful of other walkers in the 6 miles or so we did.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/fGY113m2PwdiCVAP9
If you do fancy a bit more life, then Grenoble and Annecy are both easy to get to.
Two of us drove down with bikes, the others flew in Geneva.
You could probably also look at the Massif des Bauges as well which go up to Annecy.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/5Qz3h4e6LmRTPh356
We spent a week in Crolles back in August I had a day cycling through part of the Chartreuse, climbing up the Col du Granier from Chapareillan and then worked my way through Saint-Pierre-d'Entremont and Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse, before descending back to Grenoble down the Col de Porte. Absolutely stunning scenery and away from the villages, super quiet. I also had another ride up the Col du Coq and went along the eastern edge through Les Gandains. The funicular from the vallyey should re-open next year (https://www.funiculaire.fr/)
We also walked from Le Sappey-en-Chartreuse which was another pretty village and saw just a handful of other walkers in the 6 miles or so we did.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/fGY113m2PwdiCVAP9
If you do fancy a bit more life, then Grenoble and Annecy are both easy to get to.
Two of us drove down with bikes, the others flew in Geneva.
You could probably also look at the Massif des Bauges as well which go up to Annecy.
We did this two months ago, had an amazing trip.
Flew into Stuttgart and collected a BMW Z4 M40i roadster for 10 days from Sixt at the airport (and visited the Mercedes museum for my 3rd time).
Stayed in Konstanz on Lake Konstanz, then Grindelwald, then Lake Lucerne, then Baden-Baden. Covered lakes, mountains and forests in one trip. Great food and hotels.
Switzerland is very expensive, everything doubles in price from Germany (except beer and petrol).
Mercedes Museum (huge and epic):
Lake Konstanz from the Steigenberger Hotel room.
Mount Eiger from the room balcony at Bergwelt Grindelwald hotel.
Dinner at the same hotel:
Their car park entrance into the mountain.
The rotating restaurant on the Shilthorn (3km up) where they filmed On Her Majesty's Secret Service.
Drinks in Murren, halfway down from Shilthorn.
The car on the SustenPass, which was completely empty of traffic at 9am.
Flew into Stuttgart and collected a BMW Z4 M40i roadster for 10 days from Sixt at the airport (and visited the Mercedes museum for my 3rd time).
Stayed in Konstanz on Lake Konstanz, then Grindelwald, then Lake Lucerne, then Baden-Baden. Covered lakes, mountains and forests in one trip. Great food and hotels.
Switzerland is very expensive, everything doubles in price from Germany (except beer and petrol).
Mercedes Museum (huge and epic):
Lake Konstanz from the Steigenberger Hotel room.
Mount Eiger from the room balcony at Bergwelt Grindelwald hotel.
Dinner at the same hotel:
Their car park entrance into the mountain.
The rotating restaurant on the Shilthorn (3km up) where they filmed On Her Majesty's Secret Service.
Drinks in Murren, halfway down from Shilthorn.
The car on the SustenPass, which was completely empty of traffic at 9am.
You can get anywhere in Switzerland on public transport. Even to the top of the mountain.
Interlaken is 2h10-2h30 on the train from Zurich airport. Similar from Basel.
A few cautionary notes about Interlaken from someone who lives in Switzerland. The lakes are beautiful, but depending on when you come in the summer and how the weather has been since the winter, they may be a bit on the chilly side. It is going to be busy with tourists for sure and a lot of the Chinese ones in particular are not culturally attuned, let‘s say.
More generally, but you may know this if you‘ve visited Basel, Switzerland is f
king expensive. That may or may not be an issue for you. Just as an example going to the top of the Jungfrau for a random date in November is going to set you back £170 for an adult.
Interlaken is 2h10-2h30 on the train from Zurich airport. Similar from Basel.
A few cautionary notes about Interlaken from someone who lives in Switzerland. The lakes are beautiful, but depending on when you come in the summer and how the weather has been since the winter, they may be a bit on the chilly side. It is going to be busy with tourists for sure and a lot of the Chinese ones in particular are not culturally attuned, let‘s say.
More generally, but you may know this if you‘ve visited Basel, Switzerland is f
king expensive. That may or may not be an issue for you. Just as an example going to the top of the Jungfrau for a random date in November is going to set you back £170 for an adult.eyebeebe said:
You can get anywhere in Switzerland on public transport. Even to the top of the mountain.
Interlaken is 2h10-2h30 on the train from Zurich airport. Similar from Basel.
A few cautionary notes about Interlaken from someone who lives in Switzerland. The lakes are beautiful, but depending on when you come in the summer and how the weather has been since the winter, they may be a bit on the chilly side. It is going to be busy with tourists for sure and a lot of the Chinese ones in particular are not culturally attuned, let‘s say.
More generally, but you may know this if you‘ve visited Basel, Switzerland is fking expensive. That may or may not be an issue for you. Just as an example going to the top of the Jungfrau for a random date in November is going to set you back £170 for an adult.
I can agree there! My dad and I had dinner at one place that ended up at around 140CHF, crazy.Interlaken is 2h10-2h30 on the train from Zurich airport. Similar from Basel.
A few cautionary notes about Interlaken from someone who lives in Switzerland. The lakes are beautiful, but depending on when you come in the summer and how the weather has been since the winter, they may be a bit on the chilly side. It is going to be busy with tourists for sure and a lot of the Chinese ones in particular are not culturally attuned, let‘s say.
More generally, but you may know this if you‘ve visited Basel, Switzerland is f
king expensive. That may or may not be an issue for you. Just as an example going to the top of the Jungfrau for a random date in November is going to set you back £170 for an adult.The Alps are always going to be rammed full of tourists in summer. You can escape them with a little effort.
I would suggest looking at the Dolomites.
Wherever you go I would highly suggest staying in a mountain hut for at least one night if you can hike and are ok with roughing it a little. It’s a great experience and you can get some spectacular views. Some of these huts can be very easy to get to. In the Dolomites there are some easily accessible ones like Rifugio Lagazuoi and Rifugio Averau, and Averau is a short walk from Rifugio Nuvolau.
I would suggest looking at the Dolomites.
Wherever you go I would highly suggest staying in a mountain hut for at least one night if you can hike and are ok with roughing it a little. It’s a great experience and you can get some spectacular views. Some of these huts can be very easy to get to. In the Dolomites there are some easily accessible ones like Rifugio Lagazuoi and Rifugio Averau, and Averau is a short walk from Rifugio Nuvolau.
75Black said:
I can agree there! My dad and I had dinner at one place that ended up at around 140CHF, crazy.
That’s the going rate for an average 2 course meal with a couple of drinks. I used to joke when I first moved over was that the best thing about living in Zurich was that food and drink got cheaper in a ski resort, so the prices won’t be any higher than what you’ve experienced . Expect to pay around CHF 30 for a pizza and a beer or a set lunch menu and a beer. Cheapest takeaway food is a kebab at around CHF 10. Sandwich from a Coop or bakery a bit less.
Not trying to put you off. It’s just it can ruin the experience if you aren’t prepared.
This is also reachable from Interlaken. I think it’s the world’s only “cabrio” cable car.
It’s at Stanserhorn and could be combined with a day trip to Lucerne.
eyebeebe said:
75Black said:
I can agree there! My dad and I had dinner at one place that ended up at around 140CHF, crazy.
That’s the going rate for an average 2 course meal with a couple of drinks. I used to joke when I first moved over was that the best thing about living in Zurich was that food and drink got cheaper in a ski resort, so the prices won’t be any higher than what you’ve experienced . Expect to pay around CHF 30 for a pizza and a beer or a set lunch menu and a beer. Cheapest takeaway food is a kebab at around CHF 10. Sandwich from a Coop or bakery a bit less.
Not trying to put you off. It’s just it can ruin the experience if you aren’t prepared.
This is also reachable from Interlaken. I think it’s the world’s only “cabrio” cable car.
It’s at Stanserhorn and could be combined with a day trip to Lucerne.
If you want any holiday to seem cheap, start in Zürich and head elsewhere. Where ever you go it’ll be cheaper. (Except possibly Luanda, but I doubt anyone in heading there.)
I wasn’t so impressed with Interlaken - everyone had told me it was beautiful, and the scenery was stunning, I just felt that the numbers of Chinese tourists ruined it a bit. It felt like a tourist trap. There’s even a Hooter’s there.
I’d agree with others, the Italian Alps are just a beautiful.
I’m off to the Austrian Alps next week.
I wasn’t so impressed with Interlaken - everyone had told me it was beautiful, and the scenery was stunning, I just felt that the numbers of Chinese tourists ruined it a bit. It felt like a tourist trap. There’s even a Hooter’s there.
I’d agree with others, the Italian Alps are just a beautiful.
I’m off to the Austrian Alps next week.
I did this during August this year. Something I'd wanted to do for a long time. Took my 14 year old son with me.
Flew to Geneva and picked up a hire car. Drove to Annecy and stayed there for 3 nights. Plenty to do around the lake and in the mountains. It was busy but then it was the middle of August. A bike ride around the lake, stopping off at the various beaches to swim when it was 32 degress was enjoyable.
We then drove to Chamonix via La Clusaz and Megeve. I've skied Megeve, so wanted to visit in the summer as it's a lovely town. It was again, very busy but enjoyable.
We stayed 4 nights in Chamonix and booked a 3 day lift pass and did nearly all the lifts. There is plenty to do, Aiguille du Midi, Mer de Glace, etc.
When I got home I was surprised by the amount of people that told me they've also been to Annecy. But then I live in Cheltenham, which is twinned with Annecy, so quite a few were school exchange trips.
Now my girlfriend wants to go back to Annecy (she also did a school exchange when she was 15). I'd love to go back on a BMW GS bike but don't have my full license yet and only ride a 50cc Vespa around town. Around 95% of the bike we saw were BMW GS's. The roads were amazing - both for views and quality of road surface.
Flew to Geneva and picked up a hire car. Drove to Annecy and stayed there for 3 nights. Plenty to do around the lake and in the mountains. It was busy but then it was the middle of August. A bike ride around the lake, stopping off at the various beaches to swim when it was 32 degress was enjoyable.
We then drove to Chamonix via La Clusaz and Megeve. I've skied Megeve, so wanted to visit in the summer as it's a lovely town. It was again, very busy but enjoyable.
We stayed 4 nights in Chamonix and booked a 3 day lift pass and did nearly all the lifts. There is plenty to do, Aiguille du Midi, Mer de Glace, etc.
When I got home I was surprised by the amount of people that told me they've also been to Annecy. But then I live in Cheltenham, which is twinned with Annecy, so quite a few were school exchange trips.
Now my girlfriend wants to go back to Annecy (she also did a school exchange when she was 15). I'd love to go back on a BMW GS bike but don't have my full license yet and only ride a 50cc Vespa around town. Around 95% of the bike we saw were BMW GS's. The roads were amazing - both for views and quality of road surface.
Suspicious_user said:
If you want any holiday to seem cheap, start in Zürich and head elsewhere. Where ever you go it’ll be cheaper. (Except possibly Luanda, but I doubt anyone in heading there.)
I wasn’t so impressed with Interlaken - everyone had told me it was beautiful, and the scenery was stunning, I just felt that the numbers of Chinese tourists ruined it a bit. It felt like a tourist trap. There’s even a Hooter’s there.
I’d agree with others, the Italian Alps are just a beautiful.
I’m off to the Austrian Alps next week.
I'm keeping my options open at the moment, don't want to get excited about planning a trip to the Swiss Alps and then realise I need to pay £2k for 7 days in a hotel. I was looking at the Austrian Alps too but not sure where to begin looking there. I wasn’t so impressed with Interlaken - everyone had told me it was beautiful, and the scenery was stunning, I just felt that the numbers of Chinese tourists ruined it a bit. It felt like a tourist trap. There’s even a Hooter’s there.
I’d agree with others, the Italian Alps are just a beautiful.
I’m off to the Austrian Alps next week.
75Black said:
I'm keeping my options open at the moment, don't want to get excited about planning a trip to the Swiss Alps and then realise I need to pay £2k for 7 days in a hotel. I was looking at the Austrian Alps too but not sure where to begin looking there.
Take a look on booking.com. I looked up a Saturday to Saturday in early July and that's the ball park figure for a 4*. 3* more like £1,500.eyebeebe said:
75Black said:
I'm keeping my options open at the moment, don't want to get excited about planning a trip to the Swiss Alps and then realise I need to pay £2k for 7 days in a hotel. I was looking at the Austrian Alps too but not sure where to begin looking there.
Take a look on booking.com. I looked up a Saturday to Saturday in early July and that's the ball park figure for a 4*. 3* more like £1,500.Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff