Family Trip to Scotland or Switzerland Next Summer

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Switzerland if you have not been yet. Nothing beats the alps.

+1 Switzerland 100%

[Anonymous]

I have been both to Switzerland in the summer and to Scotland, albeit in spring. Both are lovely. If cost is a concern, check pricing as I would expect Switzerland to be more $$$.

Above posters are correct the trains are fabulous; they will announce a train running 2 minutes late that is how well they run. I found the Alps beautiful in summer but my elderly travel companion (my mother) wanted it to look snowy (even though she didn’t want to be there in winter - go figure).

Since most PPs focused on Switzerland, I will say Scotland was amazingly beautiful but we did not use trains and instead had a rental car. I think you could use trains to get around some but it doesn’t sound like you want to move around. I wouldn’t go to Scotland if you can’t include Skye in your itinerary though as that to me was some of the more beautiful part. You could always hire a driver for a day maybe? Loch Linnhe might be an option for home base? We were only a party of 4 so not sure what you will find for larger parties.

[Anonymous]

My rec: Leave the grandparents at home

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know how Switzerland compares to Denmark in terms of cost? I'd always heard Denmark was pricey, especially food, but we found it comparable to DC prices. Just curious about Switzerland as we're also planning a possible trip this coming July.

Generally, the cities of Switzerland cost more than Copenhagen, DC, more like NYC. https://www.schiffsovereign.com/cost-of-living-index/cities/.

But stay in a smaller (more quintessentially Swiss) town, book a rental well ahead, and you can do it more cheaply. In general, you can find that unicorn place if you are willing to plan ahead and do your research. If you wait until a few months out, what's left are the most pricey or the least nice of the cheaper rentals. Since you are renting, you'll be able to have some meals in, which will help. Unfortunately, your kids are too old to be free on their parents SwissPass (up to age 16 are).

[Anonymous]

100% Switzerland, specifically in the Alps, not staying in the city. Grindelwald as previously mentioned could be good, or anywhere in the interlaken vicinity.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Switzerland sounds great, but I am now beginning to worry about staying in the Alps. My parents cannot join us for any of the hiking, biking, mountain activities -- so maybe it would be better to stay in a bigger town with other things to do? I expect we would be able to take 1 (maybe 2) day trips to close locations (no more than 2 hours travel time).

Yes, it would be a much more fun adventure to "leave the grandparents at home," but this is their desired trip to spend time with their family. So we have to plan around them!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Switzerland is breathtaking.

Yes, lots of great things about Switzerland. And the flag’s a big plus.

Thanks Dad.

[Anonymous]

These two countries just seem so different than each other - why these two specifically? That may help with which the better fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know how Switzerland compares to Denmark in terms of cost? I'd always heard Denmark was pricey, especially food, but we found it comparable to DC prices. Just curious about Switzerland as we're also planning a possible trip this coming July.

Generally, the cities of Switzerland cost more than Copenhagen, DC, more like NYC. https://www.schiffsovereign.com/cost-of-living-index/cities/.

But stay in a smaller (more quintessentially Swiss) town, book a rental well ahead, and you can do it more cheaply. In general, you can find that unicorn place if you are willing to plan ahead and do your research. If you wait until a few months out, what's left are the most pricey or the least nice of the cheaper rentals. Since you are renting, you'll be able to have some meals in, which will help. Unfortunately, your kids are too old to be free on their parents SwissPass (up to age 16 are).

Thanks. PP here- should've noted I'm not OP and I forgot to say so in my post. I appreciate the info and luckily will have one kid who seems to fit the parents' Swiss Pass age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Switzerland sounds great, but I am now beginning to worry about staying in the Alps. My parents cannot join us for any of the hiking, biking, mountain activities -- so maybe it would be better to stay in a bigger town with other things to do? I expect we would be able to take 1 (maybe 2) day trips to close locations (no more than 2 hours travel time).

Yes, it would be a much more fun adventure to "leave the grandparents at home," but this is their desired trip to spend time with their family. So we have to plan around them!

So, Italian alps in the winter but we've flown nonstop to Geneva a couple years and transport 1 hourish (to Courmayeur) or 3 hoursish (to Cortina) to Italy for skiing. The hotels cater to summer and winter seasons - the pictures of the summer hiking are breathtaking. Both of these have very nice pedestrian villages with plenty of cafes, restaurants and shopping. I don't know the house/condo market - we usually get 2 family rooms with a really nice breakfast included. I don't know the Swiss towns but I'm sure it's very similar. For us, Italian alps are just as convenient from Geneva, it's a little less expensive than Switzerland and we love the food 1000% better.
We've also been to Scotland in the summer several times and it is beautiful but we did a lot of moving around (or a lot of golfing).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Switzerland sounds great, but I am now beginning to worry about staying in the Alps. My parents cannot join us for any of the hiking, biking, mountain activities -- so maybe it would be better to stay in a bigger town with other things to do? I expect we would be able to take 1 (maybe 2) day trips to close locations (no more than 2 hours travel time).

Yes, it would be a much more fun adventure to "leave the grandparents at home," but this is their desired trip to spend time with their family. So we have to plan around them!

.

Do they have any mobility at all? One of the great things about Switzerland (and the Bernese Oberland in particular) is that there are cable cars and trains to many scenic areas (and once there the terrain is often easier).

For example, from Grindelwald you can take a cable car up to First and there are some relatively flat walks there (and some more adventurous ways down for the kids).

You could visit Jungfraujoch by train. Or take a cable car to Schilthorn and back.

There are some gorgeous relatively flat walks easily accessed from Murren or Wengen, or along the Lauterbrunnen Valley.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Switzerland sounds great, but I am now beginning to worry about staying in the Alps. My parents cannot join us for any of the hiking, biking, mountain activities -- so maybe it would be better to stay in a bigger town with other things to do? I expect we would be able to take 1 (maybe 2) day trips to close locations (no more than 2 hours travel time).

Yes, it would be a much more fun adventure to "leave the grandparents at home," but this is their desired trip to spend time with their family. So we have to plan around them!

I still think Switzerland is the answer, but it would help if you have a hefty activity budget. If so, I would plan for one family activity per day, which could be a boat ride on a lake, or a cable car up a mountain to a view, a train ride or similar. Maybe the most active people hike up rather than take a cable car. Or go biking afterwards. Or the family activity is going out for dinner, and the active people go on a full day hike first.

[Anonymous]

You should take a look at the Tauck Bridges tours and Disney Adventures tours for the places you're considering. They've planned for people with less mobility so you can use that to see what options look like.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Switzerland is breathtaking.

Yes, lots of great things about Switzerland. And the flag’s a big plus.

I see what you did there!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have a house in Switzerland. But I will not share any advice with you.

Does being an a-hole just come naturally to you, or do you have to work at it?

Oh I think that PP has been working at it for a very long time.