Travel Answers

I am organizing a railathon round Europe, 23 capitals in 16 days by train, and some other stuff. Unfortunately, despite 18 months preparation, it's just become 17 days. The Elipsos sleepers, out of Zurich and Milan, to Barcelona have been cancelled. So I need to find beds for 13 of us for a night in western Swiss. I've tried the City Hostel in Geneva and Glocke in Bern, and both told me they cant take me. Hostels dont like large bookings for 1 night in summer. We will be in Zurich for 18:15. Zurich is a bit too east for us. The following day I want to go via Lyon, for the finest train picnic of the entire route, and onto Limoges to get the only remaining sleeper into Spain. There are two reasons I want hostels, Firstly it's cheaper of course, but also, if we are all in double rooms I would have to go round waking everyone up. There's another more drastic option. At the start of the day we will wake up in Milan on a sleeper from Rome. I dearly want to take everyone over the Bernina, in open top carriages, which I consider the best railway ride there is, anywhere. But we could just get the Simplon and be in France in no time, but then we loose almost all of Switzerland, which is a bit dumb if we are doing the ultimate European railway trip. I guess we are all going to have to join the YHA (though if we do, for the extra we could just as easily get rooms in a cheap hotel). This is a vague and difficult question to answer, but any input most welcome. The Great Circular European Railway Challenge http://gcerc.wordpress.com

Hello! I am down to my 6 days before getting to Bern and we are still going back and forth between hotels! Can someone please provide recommendations for this hotel: hoteltell-tonino.com/4481.ht... ? I don't see any reviews in the forums - your feedback is greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Hi, everyone! I'm from Rio de Janeiro and will be visiting Bern this March. I was wondering if anyone could help me getting around in the city. I'll be arriving at the Belp airport at night and my hotel is on Weihergasse. If I take the bus from the airport, where should I get off and what means of transportation should I then take to get to Weihergasse? Another question. I'll leave for Lyon from Bern and have checked fares with Rail Europe. However, I found out the site charges 40% the price of shares for my reservation. Is that practice and it gets this expensive anyway if I decide to buy the tickets once in Bern or they are charging it because I'm in Brazil and buying it online from here? I just don't want to be a sucker and waste money I would gladly spend shopping in the city. Thank you guys!

Hi there: Two questions: - Which one would you choose? - I've read some tips, but, could you suggest a good restaurant (I prefer not too expensive) Thanks!

We are interested in staying in central Bern over the New Years. 3 stars or higher and within walking distance to trains. We have scanned many of the hotels in the area, and are just looking for any recommendations or experiences you may have. We would like to stay at 200 USD or less nightly. Regards!

Hi, Can anyone suggest a safe and good B&B accomodation at Bern, apart from bernbackpackers.com? Thanks Jayanthi

What is the operation time for local transport? I would reach Bern railway at 23:30 on a Sunday and would like to take tram 9. Will it be running at 23:30? I googled but didn't find the answer.

Hi Everyone, We are an Australian couple planning to spend a week in Bern in July. Does anyone know of any self catering accom? We have just spent 2 full days online & so far have only come up with one appartment. We are coming to Bern to meet our new Ganddaughter who was born early Jan & dont really fancy spending the whole week in a hotel. Thanks for your input. Regards, Pam & Fred

Hi there! I'm from Fortaleza, Brazil, and I'm planning a trip to Europe in March, and I should arrive in Bern from Frankfurt little before midnight on the 6th and will stay there only one day. I have a few questions on the city, and I hope they aren't too much: - First of all, how will weather be by that time of the year? Is the city really worth visiting in that weather? What should I wear? - what's the cheapest way of getting from the main train station to a central area in the city? - I would need a cheap place to stay... what would you recommend? Good location and bed & breakfest, please. =) - Is it possible to see the best of the city in one day? What is worth seeing and how can I move around in the city? Are there guided city tours or something like that? Are they expensive? - Cheap places to eat decent food? - Can anyone give me prices in general, like how much a person would spend in a day there, in a cheap travel. I really don't know what to expect. - Further tips and recommendations would be greatly appreciated! Thanks a lot in advance! =) Best greetings!

Hi Everyone, We have a few days in Bern are eager to experience a big Market Saturday. Does anyone know if it will be changed or canceled because apparently it's a holiday weekend? Thank you! -Rachel

Hello, guys. One full day I was browsing the Internet searching for an apartment in Bern for 2 weeks - our first trip to Switzerland. The total number of suggested apartments was about 5-6. Almost all were studio. During last 15 years we travel and stay in apartments all over Europe without any problem. Each big city (not to mention capitals) suggests hundreds of apartments of all kinds. Now, from the situation in Bern I conclude one of the following: 1. I do not know how to search in Bern (most probable). 2. Bern is not enough interesting city to stay in it for more then a day or two. 3. Swiss national habits are very different. I shall be thankful to Berners for any comment/explanation/hint. Best Regards

Hi I travel to Bern quite a lot and am tiring of staying in hotels. Anyone know of serviced apartments or holiday flats in or around the City (I thought there may be some in the Muri area, but can't find any info) Many thanks!

hi guys! are there any mosques in Bern? and if there are any, does anybody know visiting possibilities? BEst wished aus Litauen, Dei.

Will be travelling to Bern at the end of June on business. As I won't have much of free time would like to visit places that really worth visiting in Bern. Could anyone local recommend me something?

Can anyone recommend a place to sleep near the Bern rail station, even if at a radius of 20-25 minutes walking. Ensuite bath not necessary. Around CHF70. Thanks.

Hello everyone, I will be flying in to Geneva airport at the end of May for and cannot decide on whether to base myself in Lausanne or Bern for a four night break. Any suggestions? Thanks.

Hi hi, I’m a student planning to visit Bern university for exchange next year (Spring) I saw that you have rooms for rent but I can’t read German. So, may I know if there is inexpensive place to stay in berne. Any website in English that have info of the rent price, number of rooms and how far is it from the school and super market? Thank you so much for your help.

My wife and I will be stopping here on our way from Paris to Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland. Since we will get here around 12:30 in the afternoon I thought it would be a good time to spend 3 to 4 hours having lunch and walking the city. My questions are regarding our luggage. We will want to leave one large and two smaller airplane carry on's at the station. Is this type of service available in Bern? How large (dimensions) are the largest lockers or can we leave at the station and not in a locker? Costs?

Hello, My sister-in-law and brother-in-law have moved to Bern, Switzerland for 2 years just this week. I would like to organise to send them a grocery hamper of various items that they may need and I would like to know if a local supermarket or department store would do this. Alternatively maybe a local company who provides such a service of gift hampers etc. Any feedback or comments are welcome and appreciated. Raffaella

Hello I hope some Swiss people or other people with an good idea can help me. Me and 4 friends (5 people) good educated and for sure no hooligens :) got tickets for the EK match between the Netherlands and Italy... Bern is a small city and most of the hotels are already fully booked. ANd we dont want a camping or very expensive hotel. Can anyone help me... do you know someone who has an small hotel thats not so known by the internet. Maybe a cottage or just any idea were 5 people can sleep for a long weekend... Your help would be great :) greets Ron The weekend is from 7 till 10 June ( match on 9th of June) (3 nights)

Can anyone tell or help me about renting an apartment in Bern for the month of June. Thanks in advance Nick

Hi friends, My fiance would be coming to Bern in December 2007 on B permit, for his one year project assignment. I am a software professional working in India, we are getting married in febraury 2008. I have couple of questions 1) is 84.000 franc per year(before any deductions/tax), a decent salary for 2 ppl to live in Bern 2) What are the chances of me getting a job there, without knowing the local language? When am I eligible to apply for a job? (I would be coming in a tourist visa, and then apply for residence permit) Also any general tips for 1st time visitors to Bern would be highly appreciated! Thanks in advance! :-)

Dear friends, I will be visiting Bern in September for a meeting in allegro grand casino. Can someone advice me a good B&B near that meeting center. Also what is the best way to get to Bern from Zurich? Thank you...

I'm planning a trip to Switzerland and Bern will be one of my destinations. Wich is the best neighborhood in the town to stay? Does Bern have subway? Regards!

Hello everybody, I will be in Switzerland for the last two weeks of August. I would like to stay in a hotel in Bern for the entire trip so I don't have to worry about lugging my suitcases around. At the same time, I would like to be able to travel around and visit other places, but at this point don't know when, where and what exactly. I would like to have enough freedom and not commit to hotel reservations way in advance. My question is - is it possible to go from Bern by train or bus to other cities/towns (Gerzensee, Genf, Lucern, Interlaken and others) early in the morning, see the place, and then come back to my hotel in Bern for the night? Or are some places too far from Bern for that? And while we are at it, what is a decent quality hotel in Bern that's not too expensive? I would like a place that is really Bearnese in style and feel, but wonder if that could be lacking in modern facilities ( I really need my bathroom to be tip-top and also a decent matress for a good night's sleep). I looked up info here on hotels in Bern, but there are few comments, and I can't make up my mind. This and any other tips on travelling in Switzerland would be greatly appreciated.

I read with interest all the posts regarding money issues in Italy and rest of Europe. My question is about Switzerland. Would the same good advice hold true there, what with the Swiss Franks? Is it still a good idea to get cash from ATMs using my debit card tied to my checking account in US?

We need affordable lodging in Bern, preferably near the Paul Klee museum. We would be staying only one or two nights. We will be there in early October 2007. Any suggestions? Thanks!

We need affordable lodging in Bern, preferably near the Paul Klee museum. We would be staying only one or two nights. We will be there in early October 2007. Any suggestions? Thanks!

We need affordable lodging in Bern, preferably near the Paul Klee museum. We would be staying only one or two nights. We will be there in early October 2007. Any suggestions? Thanks!

This may be a question(or questions) that is impossible to answer, but... With the Euro2008 football championship scheduled for 2008 in Switzerland and Austria, what is your opinion regarding how crowded the Berner Oberland will be? Bear with me, I am an American with limited soccer(football) knowledge. We vacationed in the Oberland in April 2004, June 2006, and plan on a return in June 2008. We stay around Interlaken. Will it be too crowded with football fans, and have limited accomodations, for it to be enjoyable during June 2008? I realize Bern is the closest venue to where we stay, and the actual games are spread out over a period of time, but should one expect a large influx in the Interlaken area? Do fans come just for the games, then return to their home/country afterwards? Or is Bern far enough away to not have an impact on the Interlaken-Meiringen area? Should we just plan on choosing another time? Thanks for your time.