Switzerland Holiday Ideas

[Meecrowavay]

We're thinking of a Swiss holiday next summer. Family of 5. We would likely drive from UK (with a couple of stopovers we already have a rough plan for) but wonder where we should be based in Switzerland itself. We'd be there for 2 weeks so open to splitting between two locations.

We've never been before so looking for somewhere where we'll get to enjoy quintessential Switzerland - alpine scenery, lakes, cowbells, pretty villages etc. as well as a good range of things to do for DC (age 4-9). A resort with pool would go some way to help there I think.

We've done SC in Europe already this summer so not against doing that again but I like the idea of a hotel/resort which provides breakfast.

Any suggestions welcomed!

How deep are your pockets? What do you mean by resort?

Look at ski resorts, a lot will close facilities in the summer but a few keep it mostly open.
Switzerland isn't a tourist country really, if you want that your best bet is geneva and the italian border, luzern/ascona (I can't spell) has some nice resorts around and they're used to Swiss holiday makers.

It is very expensive! But so many nice places! Grindelwald, Thun, Wengen, Interlaken. Have a look at Inghams website for ideas.

I'd consider Austria before Switzerland. It still has all the stunning scenery, chocolate box houses etc but is way cheaper.

Arosa is lovely but I wouldn't drive up if anyone gets travel sick and not sure there is a public pool but there is a lake(with boats to hire). Wengen/Muerren/Grindelwald all have pools and access to easy walking and mountain trains.

Just back from a 3-night stopover in Switzerland (near Luzern). Hotel wasn't extortionate, but OMG, the price of everything else was eye-watering.
Cheapest item on the menu was usually about £18-20. I'm talking vegetarian Margherita pizza, or a red/green Thai curry in a quiet, out-of-the-way place, that only took cash. Coffee or beer is about £5-7 each. Two of us having just a (cheap) main and a beer was over £50. (60CHF). With 5 of you, better start saving now.
Return trip for 2 on a lake steamer, to a random town about 1 hour away, was about £85. There are some very good deals on 2 or 3-day travel passes (names vary, depending on which part of Switzerland you are in,) which we should have bought in advance - next time!
Beautiful country, lovely people, public transport runs like, er, clockwork. Would love to go back.

As an alternative, how about the north side of the Bodensee? It's Germany, therefore much cheaper (another of our stopovers), and just as beautiful.

Or Como, not far into Italy.

Grindelwald is utterly beautiful. We went from there to Zermat which was spectacular but I think I left a part of my heart in Grindelwald. Can't wait to back to retrieve it!

I don't know if it's realistic yet (and if it's not we'd perhaps be looking at other countries/options) but no more than £5k.
By resort I guess I just mean accommodation with a bit more going on. Larger hotels with restaurant/pool/play area through to center parcs style "villages". Not really bothered about on-site entertainment or anything like that though.

Thanks, that's a good point. Will have a look.

Have a look at the blog Swiss family fun it’s a lot of hiking but also some holiday ideas. I think she used to offer a holiday planning service Grindelwald is lovely. But so is Appenzell and also the Martigny/Nendaz area. Most villages have a swimming pool - even if it’s small. Even Lauterbrunnen has one.
look at Reka Ferien Dorfs - more likely to have a pool.

I would second the recommendation for Austria, and not just because of the price. Most of the ski resorts have a summer programme with lots going on - lakes or open air pools, often with slides and inflatables in every valley, cable-cars running, themed kids’ activities etc.

DH has been keen on Germany in the past. I've never really been hugely drawn to it as a holiday destination (have visited Berlin and I wasn't overawed although I did find the people friendly) but will check this out too.

We knew Switzerland was expensive but that is sounding more than we imagined. Perhaps somewhere to save for when the kids are grown up and paying for their own holidays.

Had a great time in Morzine, just over the border in France. Beautiful alpine scenery, cable cars all working. Hikes, lakes and waterfalls everywhere. Cows all wear bells too.. and check out the goat village!

Have a look at kidshotels.ch and Sunstar hotels. They may do offers and have facilities for children, including family rooms. Resorts often include a visitor card with free entry to public facilities like sports centres, sometimes free mountain lifts or a discount on activities. Swiss schools reopen mid August so it may be less busy (and cheaper) after that. Swiss National day is August 1st and they tend to holiday around then .

Although some things are ridiculously expensive other things are surprisingly cheap as you're a family. We've swam in an outdoor complex near Geneva with 3 pools and a lake side beach for about a pound each as we had our daughter! Totally depends what you're into doing, but as we're happy with a free lake swim and the cheap pools plus walking and visiting the mountains it makes a great holiday.

Look at Kinderhotels. We stayed in one in Austria near the Slovenian border when DD was a baby and it was lovely - pools, a lake, kids' club etc.

Our expat friends who live in Switzerland holiday a lot in Ticino, which has all the cowbells etc you could possibly require!

I live in Switzerland and we holiday here most of the time. I’d disagree that it’s not a tourist place - it’s not like the Med - but there is a strong tourism industry, and most of the ski resorts make big efforts in summer (and consequently there’s a lot of cycling and hiking). Maybe take a look at the reka website - they have the kind of accommodation that you are looking for (the one in morsasch is their flagship and right in the heart of Switzerland, avoid lenk which is in a wonderful location but needs a full refurb). Also Swiss peaks resorts are nice although self catering (and the one in zinal is a bitch to drive to, so avoid if you are not comfortable on mountain roads).

we’ve had good holidays (with kids about your age) in graubunden (flims and laax - look at rocks resort and peaks place), vaudoise alps (villars) and valaisan alps (saas fee and leukerbad). I agree with kandersteg-wengen-grindelwald as well - probably more the scenery you are looking for than the places above.

the cities get hot in the summer, but Geneva Zurich and Lausanne really benefit from the lakes and make a good base for outings.

I would maybe look at the Switzerland grand tour website - it highlights all the touristy places and less well known ones too.

it is expensive - no denying - but having looked at self catering places in the uk this year, I don’t think the differential is actually enormous. There are definitely deals to be had on transportation and most resorts will - in the summer - give you guest cards that let you use cable cars for free and give you reductions on attractions.

Hello, looking at Austria as a front runner now! Which are the best resorts? Been looking at Tyrol but such a vast area.

Thanks to all for your help. Much appreciated.

OP, if you want to consider Germany, look at the Parkhotel St. Leonhard, Uberlingen. It has a pool and a spa, and a terrace with a view to die for, over the Bodensee. Breakfast was awesome. They gave us free travel passes for the buses and trains all along the lake too - a real bonus.

Following with interest for yips on Austria too!

If your children are under 6 transport is free. 6-16 there is a card called Junior Travel card. If the child travels with this parents it’s 30chf for the whole year.
there are also lots of different choices for travel tickets like the Swiss pass. Or region specific travel passes that often include mountains. Makes it more value for money.
eating out is expensive. But there are other things which are not - swimming, hiking etc

I'd recommend Berner Oberland - Kandersteg, Thun, Oeschinensee, Gasterntal. Absolutely stunning

So many to choose from! Mayrhofen area/the Zillertal is great. Around Kaprun/Zell am See is another option, in Tirol the Wildschönau valley is quieter but still plenty to do. Or the Schladming area, or the Salzkammergut (the Salzburg lakes region) are all lovely. Those are all in Tirol or Salzburg provinces, but there are also great resorts in Kärnten (Carinthia) province - for example around the Wörthersee, which are v close to Slovenia so you can easily pop over the border.

Take a look at the Portes du Soleil Multipass where you can do lots of activities for quite a reasonable price.