 Poster: A snowHead
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I've had lots of info recently on Wengen etc and I think I've now persuaded hubby to take a short trip over Easter as its a bit earlier this year. I have found some reasonable flights to Zurich but wanted to know the quickest and cheapest way of getting to the resorts in the Jungfrau. We have to fit this in over the Easter break as we have very little holiday left.
I would also appreciate some accommodation recommendations. We don't mind which resort (most accessible would be good) and if the standard is fairly basic then that's fine. Thanks.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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hayley t, the easiest way is via the swiss rail network and takes about 4 hours. There is a train station in Zurich airport and direct trains run to Interlaken (some you change at Bern). From there, you take the local train to Grindelwald or Lauterbrunnen (depending on where you chooose to stay). From Lauterbrunnen you can then get the funicular to Murren or the train to Wengen.
Driving is an option and is usually quicker than the train - but bear in mind that Murren and Wengen have no road access, so you end up on the train anyway!
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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In terms of accomodation, DG Orf will have some recommendations for Wengen, and Chris Brookes for Murren. If you have time to read the epic "jungfrau ski region" thread then you might pick up on our different preferences!!
I stayed at the Hirshen (Wengen) in June and was very impressed with it - reasonable price and good food.
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Thanks Elizabeth. I was hoping it would be a bit quicker than that so may go for the car option and Grindelwald.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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hayley t, get the train from Zurich to Interlaken Ost, Swiss timetable From there the train goes (usually from platform 2) to Grindelwald or Lauterbrunnen, there is a regular hourly service from the airport however every some hours it is a direct service with no changes from the airport to Interlaken Ost, the others will mean a change in Bern or Zurich central, Its cheaper to get a Swiss Transfer Ticket from the Swiss Travel System £53 for second class adult return.
The most Accessible resorts are Lauterbrunnen (also the cheapest) and Grindelwald, though if travelling by train rather than car it makes no real difference as any train from Interlaken Ost will get you to Wengen or Murren as well, Wengen is more centrally placed and can usually be skied to resort even at Easter, Grindelwald often looses snow at the bottom of its runs that late in the season, Lauterbrunnen is very unlikely to have any snow let alone skiable snow at easter, the most snow sure is Murren because it's another 1000 ft higher than Wengen
Scenery wise it would be Wengen, Murren, Grindelwald and finally Lauterbrunnen (because it's at the bottom of a huge valley and gets very little sun in the winter)
Wengen and Murren are both virtually car free Murren even more so than Wengen (because it's smaller)
In Wengen the Bernerhof (in the high street) is quite cheap and apparently fairly basic, plus some tour ops seem to offer good value deals here later in the season, if booking privately you might try the Hirschen who it's been reported also have some cheap rooms and do good food, or my favorite, the Alpenrose, Easter will be towards the end of the season so they may be able to do you a good deal, say that David Orf reccomended them and do they have any rooms in the Chalet rather than the main hotel (it's only 50ft from the chalet door to the hotel door) from memory I think 508 (second floor south facing double/twin with en suite and balcony) would be very nice but possibly a little expensive, however the food here is superb
I'll leave it to others to reccomend accomodation in the other resorts
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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If time is more important than cost, then Jungfrau Taxis will meet you off the plane and get you to the area in 1.5 hours - 2.5 hours depending on traffic. No delay picking up hire cars etc.
However, this is not a cheap option - for two people it woud be CHF400 each way.
Their e mail address is jungfrautaxi@wengen.com.
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Allowing for a small delay (at 30CHf per hour due to delayed flight 60CHf for other reasons that could get very expensive) A hire car would work out to the same sort of price for a week but the train only takes about an hour longer and is cheaper and a lot less stressful, the station is underneath the airport, if hiring a car choose Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald and make sure you get accomodation with a parking place because otherwise you could be paying quite a bit for parking, plus make sure you have chains with the car, though it's unlikely you will need them you must have them.
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Cheers everyone. I think we'll end up on the train and I'll look into earlier flights to maximise ski time as we will only be there for a few days.
Will check out the accommodation thanks D G.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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hayley t, if you're looking at budget flights, easyJet fly to Basel which is less travelling time and a more spectacular journey (if you go via Lucerne).
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hayley t, Everyone has covered most of the points so i will just add my pennies worth.
Easiest option to the Jungfrau Region as stated by Elizabeth and David is the train. Try and get the first flight out (BA Gatwick 8am or others)and then catch the train(mostly double deckers now) from Zurich and arrive in Murren/ or Wengen just after Lunch.
Resort wise, i would suggest Murren as David said its 1000ft higher and that time of the season can make all the difference.
Any questions on Murren ....just post here or in the Jungfrau thread.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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To be fair in recent years Wengen has kept the runs to the resort open for almost the whole season but Murren is a little more snow certain, Grindelwald always seems to suffer with its resort runs, the last couple of years they've had more snow at resort level but it just seems to go more rapidly, I've no idea why as the Wengen resort runs get more sun.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Stay in Lauterbrunnen and get the best of both worlds 
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You know it makes sense.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Poster: A snowHead
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Chris Brookes, they can look up
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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All jokes aside,Lauterbrunnen is a lovely place. This summer we walked from Stechelberg to Lauterbrunnen via Trummelbach Falls and didn't appreciate how beautiful the valley was.In the winter we normally park the cars and head straight up to Murren so it was nice to see Lauterbrunnen that time of year..
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Chris Brookes, in the Summer it's very plesant, with the sun higher in the sky it gets a lot more direct sunlight during the day, however in the winter it always seems a bit .... shady ? not the right word, it's still a nice enough place but given a choice between Grindelwald, Wengen, Lauterbrunnen, or Murren as a place to stay for Winter sports I'd suggest Murren or Wengen over the other two, especially for just a few days, better to spend a few pounds more and put up with an extra journey up the mountain to get those great views plus the tranquility that either resort gives. 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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I agree.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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D G Orf, I've never known Lauterbrunnen to be shady.....I only ever see it in the dark. People go to ski....therefore will be up the mountain during the day. What it does offer is easy access to both Wengen and Murren. If you stay in one, getting to the other takes up half your day
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Elizabeth B, slight exageration there, on Average it takes about an hour or just under to go from Wengen to Murren by train same sort of time going the other way, of course if there's enough snow it may be possible to ski all the way down to Lauterbrunnen from Murren but it's unusual to have so much snow at easter, of course the trick with going from one to the other is to take trains that do not connect with the Interlaken Ost train, if you do that you can often go straight from one train to the other with no waiting
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D G Orf, you're right, of course....but you can't ski in Wengen....or Murren come to think of it 
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Can't ski in Wengen ? what's this then not a nursery slope ? the beginners slope is right in the centre of the village adjacent to the ice rink
It's possible to ski back to the door (if there's enough snow) or near as makes no difference to the following Wengen Hotels
Eiger
Sunstar
Bernerhof
Schonegg
Berghaus
Park
Falken
Regina
Silberhorn
(What used to be the Victoria Lauberhorn but can't remember its new name)
Caprice
Hirschen
Brunner
and lastly via a short off piste section the Alpenrose
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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I don't recall hayley asking about a nursery slope?? And to ski back to hotels at Easter, you need to start further up the hill 
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Elizabeth B, As I said it depends on the snowcover, I've been there at Easter before and had more than enough snow to ski back to the village centre, however it does tend to get slushy in the late afternoon.
Anyway you said "but you can't ski in Wengen", not can't ski red/black runs in the village center, not that there can be many places where you can, most villages tend to be on flat areas of land (it being much harder to build on cliff sides) so runs would tend towards easy anyway, though back in the days when the Brunner slope had a drag lift on I seem to recall it being rated as a Red, but it's right at the edge of the village
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I give up.....none of this is remotely like an answer to hayley's question 
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Not at all.....I just can't be bothered typing loads.....one day our trips will coincide and we can argue it out over a drink 
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You know it makes sense.
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Ah now that I could agree to do.......... but which bar would it be !
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Poster: A snowHead
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Hayley T, I've stayed in Wengen at both the Regina and the Sunstar. I much preferred the Regina and would stay there again. Both food and rooms were first rate. Regina rooms were smallish, but the excellent food more than made up for it. Well worth considering.
We had dinner one night at the Schoenegg and were very impressed. We haven't stayed there, but liked the establishment, met the owner, and thought it was definitely worth a try. Very centrally located.
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