Austria Travel Specialists Client

Austria Vacations, Austria Travel, Austria Luxury Resorts, Austria Hotels Austria Luxury Vacations, Austria Cruises, and Austria Hotels Guide Austria Vacation Guide: Romantic Austria Hotels and Honeymoons Austria Vacations and Cruise Consultants Austria Luxury Vacation :Call 800 330 8820 to book your tour or cruise. Other Places in Austria Austria Glacial Skiing Austria Hiking Austria Mountain Biking Austria Skiing Vacations Graz Innsbrock Klagenfurt Linz Salzburg Vienna Other Places in Europe Albania Andorra Austria Belarus Belgium Bosnia-Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Czech Republic Denmark England Estonia Finland France Georgia Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy Vacatioin Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macedonia Monaco Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Russia Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey Ukraine United Kingdom Wales Europe Cruises River Cruises in Europe Mediterranean Guide Austria Vacation, Tours and Travel Guide In this section you will find all great Austria luxury hotels . Romantic Austria Honeymoon Destinations. Austria Yachting Vacations. Austria Hiking and Austria mountain biking ---Plus tons of enjoyable virtual tours and streaming videos---You will find everything here except the sunscreen. Austria luxury travel arrangements. Great Austria Skiing and Austria glacial skiing . romantic Austrian resorts and hotels--- Austria, located in the center of Western Europe, is famous for it fabulous skiing regions, but also for breathtaking scenery, magnificent mountains and wonderful hiking trails. The western Federal Provinces Vorarlberg, Tirol and Salzburg Province are the most popular tourist regions. The hilly terrain lends itself to fabulous hiking , walking and climbing as well as skiing . Alpine huts are available in the summer. Austria Skiing facilities can be found in hundreds winter sport resorts between Brand in the west and Semmering in the east. Skiing enthusiasts have the choice of some of the finest ski-instructors in the world. The capital, Vienna , is situated in the northeast of the country with the Danube running through the northern suburbs of the city. Variety and beauty, both natural and cultural, make Austria a (geographically) small jewel in the heart of Europe. Simply walking along one of the many cobblestone lanes, visiting a small country church, or standing awe-struck before a magnificent country abbey, brings you face to face with history and culture. During the 640-year reign of the Habsburg Empire, a few vivid symbols were brought into being, symbols that have remained alive and continue to define Austria in the minds of visitors today. Among these are the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, the Lipizzan stallions of the Spanish Riding School and the Vienna Boys' Choir. Of course, there's music: In Austria, it seems that music mirrors the almost melodious beauty of the land. For centuries, music has been both an integral part of everyday life and the crowning glory of special occasions. There is no other country that has made such enormous musical contributions to the world or had such an enduring influence on the international musical scene as has Austria over the course of its long and distinctive history. Austria offers the riches of Europe in the proverbial nutshell: spectacular vistas, Alpine splendor, pulsating nightlife, sophisticated shopping, classical culture and culinary adventure. And don't forget: Austria is the cradle of Alpine skiing--and skiing is a way of life in the country of any skier's dreams. Austria has been a favored travel destination for more than a thousand years. We would like to introduce you to Austria, its Imperial cities and Alpine splendor, and possibly whet your appetite to get to know more about it all. The Austrian capital is an important area for East, West trade and a frequent host to major congresses either in the Vienna International Center or at the >Austria Center Vienna. Vienna is situated in the northeast of the country with the Danube running through the northern suburbs of the city. The Ringstrasse forms the boundary of the Inner City or Innenstadt, with its fine architecture, shops and hotels. An atmosphere of elegance and bygone style prevails in this area, which should be experienced on foot. Art Nouveau buildings, such as the Majolikahaus, line the streets of some suburbs, as Vienna was the birthplace of this then controversial style. The Austrian National Library at the Josefsplatz is regarded as an outstanding example of Baroque architecture. Vienna was the center of the cultural Renaissance during the 18th and 19th centuries, and home not only to Mozart and to Strauss but also to Haydn, Beethoven, Schubert, Bruckner, Brahms and Mahler. Vienna is ideal for art and music enthusiasts. The Viennese Boys' Choir and the Viennese Philharmonic are internationally renowned. Tirol is situated in the heart of the Alpine region, it is the most mountainous region of all, with forests, hamlets and alpine pastures, beautiful valleys and mountain lakes. In summer it is a popular destination for hikes; in winter, skiing and other winter sports are available. Traditional Tirolean architecture is reflected in the villages, churches and castles. Innsbruck, the Tirolean capital was twice the home of the Winter Olympics. It is the center of another internationally renowned ski complex comprising six major resorts. An 800-year-old university town, it has numerous fine buildings dating from Austria's cultural Renaissance in the 16th-18th centuries, and a 12th-century castle. For spectacular views over the town and southern Alps, take the funicular to Hungerburg and then the cable car to Hafelekar. The Lech area is most beautiful skiing and hiking area in Austria and Europe. Lech has the longest skiing tradition and because of the romantic location, its natural beauty and the huge number of skiing lifts it developed to the top skiing area and also to the most expensive skiing village in Austria visited by the noble and famous people. During summer Lech is famous for beautiful trekking in the Alps. 85 lifts, 260 km prepared skiing slopes, snowboard funparks, 3 skiing schools, private skiing teachers, paragliding school, ballooning and hiking. Saalbach/Hinterglemm area has 2 villages and is one of the main skiing paradises in Austria which is famous because of several skiing world championships. Because of its wonderful mountains which are up to 2000 m and its natural beauty Saalbach/Hinterglemm became to a huge winter and summer resort. You will love this nice area with over 200 km slopes and over 60lifts and all the possibilities. Last not least you will enjoy the Apres Ski and the evening nightlife in Saalbach and Hinterglemm. If you have ever heard of the classic grand tour of the Alps, if you are enchanted by romantic names like Klippitzt? Turracher H? Grossglockner, and Silvretta, and if you love to drive with the air blowing through your hair, then you have come to the right web site. The thirty-four scenic routes through Austria's provinces and Italian South Tyrol presented here are in fact thirty-four very different travel experiences. Another advantage is that each itinerary interlocks with the next. So open-air fans can put together a complete tour of Austria, or just a small part according to their individual tastes and interests. Some of these scenic routes are challenging and require a degree of driving skill, but they lead through the most stunning scenery Austria and South Tyrol have to offer, so take plenty of time to look at what there is to see along the way: car and motorcycle museums, castles and palaces, not to mention nature preserves and trails. "Challenging? also does not mean that these routes are for rally drivers. They have been planned as interesting and enjoyable drives. So that they may continue to be so for others in the future, and in the interest of those who live along them, please drive carefully and with a minimum of noise. Of course, the itineraries described here by no means exhaust the variety of touring possibilities and sites to see in Austria. They should be taken merely as an introduction, and an invitation to explore other fascinating highways and byways on your own individual tour through Austria. Inclusive, custom designed Austrian honeymoons at excellent values. Select exactly the components you want in your vacation. You choose your hotel, room category -from sea views to suites-, rental car, private transfers and customized sightseeing tours. We do it all! Our Virtuoso Travel and Cruise Consultants will create the Austrian vacation you have always dreamed of. Book Your Austria Vacation Submit a vacation planner to our Austria Travel Specialists Client Testimonials about our services Search Your Vacation, Tour or Cruise Austria Overview Austria History Austria Culture Austria Geography Austria After Arriving Austria Practical Info Austria Luxury Accommodations Austria Virtuoso Hotels Austria Luxury Hotels Europe Luxury Hotels European Hotels & Villas Europe Luxury Tours Central Eastern & Western England & Ireland Tours Scandinavia & Russia Tour Portugal & Spain Tours Escape to Europe Cruises France Luxury Tours Italy Luxury Tours Europe Train Vacations Europe River Cruises Eastern Europe Packages Europe Bike Vacations Europe Active Vacations Moderatly Priced Europe Tours England & Ireland Tours France Vacations Italy Tours Central & Eastern Europe Tours European River Cruises Europe Luxury Cruises Western Europe Cruises European River Cruises Luxury Cruises World Luxury Cruises Helpful Travel Links Other Helpful Travel Links Instant Passports in 24 hours Travelex Luxury Travel Insurance CSA Luxury Travel Insurance Travel Guard Insurance Travel Safety Expert Current Travel Warnings Travel Agent Career Opportunities Bookmark this page Full Service Luxury Europe Vacation Planner Click here to save money, time and stress planning, making reservations, or booking your luxury vacation with our full service Virtuoso Travel Consultants. We are recommended, authorized Virtuoso Vacation Specialists, and can arrange every little detail to make sure you have a wonderful, carefree cruise experience at no extra charge! You may call our Virtuoso Vacation Specialists, but first, we'd really appreciate it if you complete our "Luxury Vacation Planner" so we have all your requirements beforehand and are prepared to present you with all your options and up-to-the-minute specials. Thank you very much! Call 1- 800 -330 -8820 to book your Europe vacation . Full Service, Worldwide Luxury Europe Tour Vacation Planner Click here to save money, time and stress planning, making reservations, or booking your luxury tour vacation with our full service Virtuoso Luxury Tour Consultants. We can arrange every little detail of your tour vacation, including air, and pre-tour and post-tour arrangements to make sure you have a wonderful, carefree vacation experience at no extra charge! When you complete our "Luxury Tour Vacation Planner" our Europe Specialists will promptly call you, provide you with their direct toll free telephone number, all your options, and up-to-the-minute specials . Call 1- 800 -330 -8820 to book your Europe tour vacation . Full Service, Luxury Europe Cruise Vacation Planner Click here to save money, time and stress planning, making reservations, or booking your luxury cruise vacation with our full service Virtuoso Luxury Cruise Consultants. We can arrange every little detail of your cruise vacation, including air, excursions, and pre-cruise and post-cruise arrangements, to make sure you have a wonderful, carefree vacation experience at no extra charge! When you complete our " Luxury Cruise Vacation Planner" our Virtuoso--Specialists will promptly call you, provide you with their direct toll free telephone number, all your options, and up-to-the-minute specials . Call 1- 800 -330 -8820 to book your Europe luxury cruise . 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Golf Vacation | Golf

Golf Schools: Golf School Vacations America's Favorite Golf Schools 2, 3 and 5 day Golf School Vacations Home | Brochure Request | Reservations | What's Included in our Golf Schools | Testimonials | Contact Us Questions?? Call us toll-free at 1-800-365-6640 Live and Stay with a Master Golf Teaching Professional GOLF SCHOOL LOCATIONS Arizona Arkansas California Connecticut Florida Georgia Hawaii Illinois Kansas Louisiana Maryland Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Nevada New Mexico New York North Carolina Ohio Pennsylvania South Carolina Tennessee Texas Vermont Virginia Wisconsin New! Seniors & All Military Personnel Receive 10% Discount off Schools! "The Game has Never Been Easier to Learn!" GOLF SCHOOL VACATIONS MAKE GREAT GIFTS! BUY A GIFT CERTIFICATE CLICK HERE Welcome to America's Favorite Golf Schools, the #1 Choice in Golf School Vacations offering two, three and five day packages at over 50 locations across the United States. With thousands of graduates over 20 years, students return season after season to refine their playing skills, relax and enjoy the amenities our many locations have to offer. You can request a free hard copy version of this website (brochure), or quickly and easily make your reservations online to one of our golf schools, or call us toll free at 1-800-365-6640 . And now for a limited time, receive a free complimentary golf gift when you register for any class . Please request complementary gift when registering. Aside from being the most popular organization of golf school getaways, our continued success hinges on the fact that our teaching staff sincerely cares that you improve. Our relaxed teaching structure lets you work and have FUN at your own pace, whatever your age or level of ability! Beginners and intermediates are just as welcome as low handicappers. Subscribe to our Mailing List For those interested in learning more about upcoming golf school specials and tips for improving your game, please enter your e-mail address and press subscribe. You will be added to our mailing list and receive periodic updates from America's Favorite Golf Schools. FT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA GOLF SCHOOL GET OUT OF THE COLD AND ENJOY A WARM GOLF SCHOOL VACATION IN BEAUTIFUL FT. LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA. ONLY 15 MINUTES FROM THE BEACH, BONAVENTURE COUNTRY CLUB IS ONE OF OUR MORE POPULAR GOLF GETAWAY DESTINATION LOCATIONS. THEIR NATIONALLY FAMOUS #3 WATERFALL HOLE WAS RECENTLY VOTED ONE OF THE TOP EIGHTEEN HOLES IN SOUTH FLORIDA. AMERISUITES WESTON ACTS AS THE HOST HOTEL AND IS ONLY MINUTES FROM THE COURSE TRULY A GREAT PLACE TO WORK ON YOUR GAME! Learn More PHOENIX, ARIZONA GOLF SCHOOL THE SUN SHINES 350 DAYS A YEAR IN PHOENIX, AND YOU WILL CERTAINLY ENJOY A GREAT GOLF SCHOOL EXPERIENCE RIGHT HERE AT AHWATUKEE COUNTRY CLUB. OUR GOLF SCHOOL DIRECTOR & GOLF MAGAZINE TEACHER OF THE YEAR NOMINEE DAVE SHAVER WILL IMPROVE ALL AREAS OF YOUR GAME USING THE EXCITING MODEL GOLF TEACHING SYSTEM. THE BEAUTIFUL WEATHER, HOSPITALITY AND UNMATCHED INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAM ENSURE YOU A FANTASTIC GOLFING VACATION. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION. Learn More America's Favorite Golf Schools 1295 SE Port St. Lucie Blvd. Port Saint Lucie, FL 34952 800-365-6640 772-335-3815 Fax 772-335-3822 info@afgs.com More About Our Golf Schools Buy a Gift Certificate View Our Video Request a Brochure What's Included in our Golf Schools Make Reservations View Current Specials Private Lessons Mini Golf Schools Golf Schools for Beginners Golf Schools for Women Golf Schools for Juniors Guidelines for Golf School Teaching Professionals Golf Schools as Family Vacations Other Golf Resources Contact Us View Our FREE Golf School Video Home | Brochure Request | Make Reservations | About Our Golf Schools | Testimonials | Contact Us | Link To Us | Site Map Golf Lesson | Golf Vacation | Golf Instruction | Golf School Information and Policies 2004 America's Favorite Golf Schools®

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Orlando Vacation Packages and

The Orlando Vacation Store - Discounted Disney, Universal & Sea World Vacation Packages Bookmark this site! Call Toll Free: 1-866-882-4720 Home | Faq | Contact Us | About Us | Testimonials | My Reservation | Espaol We are the #1 Seller of Orlando Vacation Packages and everyday we provide our guests with the Best Orlando Hotels & Park Tickets Deal Discounted Disney, Universal Studios & Sea World Vacation Packages Search for great deals now: Check In: Select Dec 2005 Jan 2006 Feb 2006 Mar 2006 Apr 2006 May 2006 Jun 2006 Jul 2006 Aug 2006 Sep 2006 Oct 2006 Nov 2006 Dec 2006 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Check Out: Select Dec 2005 Jan 2006 Feb 2006 Mar 2006 Apr 2006 May 2006 Jun 2006 Jul 2006 Aug 2006 Sep 2006 Oct 2006 Nov 2006 Dec 2006 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Members of your party: Adults Juniors Children Infants 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 (21 & Over) (10 to 20) (3 to 9) (Under 3) Rooms: 1 2 3 4 5 6 Shop With Confidence: Best Package Price Guarantee 24 Hours no Cancellation Fee Sign-up to receive our free Orlando Insider email newsletter with news, tips and special offers Sign me up To Unsubscribe Click Here Privacy Statement: Your email address will not be sold or shared with another party General info about Orlando theme parks, Disney, Universal & Sea World park hours, etc. Theme Park Info Park Hours Our Hotels Area Map Go General Information and tips to better plan your Orlando Vacation Resort Preview Offers Save an additional 50% to 70% over our already discounted prices. Just give the resort 90 minutes of your time and save on your Orlando Vacation. You can even stay at a 5 Star Resort for the price of a regular hotel room! We are a Local Travel Company At The Orlando Vacation Store , we hand pick the best Orlando hotels according to quality, location and features, and negotiate the best possible wholesaler rate. The result is a comprehensive list of hotels in the Disney, Universal and Sea World area at great prices. Then We combine our Orlando Hotels wholesaler rates with volume theme park tickets discounts, to offer packages at better prices than anyone else. Thats why we offer a Best Package Price Guarantee and 24 hours no cancellation fee policy, all with a superb local customer service. Additionally, many of our hotels offer free breakfast and / or transportation to the Disney, Universal and Sea World theme parks, for even greater savings and convenience. Also, your Disney, Universal or Sea World theme park tickets will be waiting at the hotels front desk before your arrival, so no long lines at the parks to purchase tickets, more time to enjoy the attractions. Another reason to choose The Orlando Vacation Store Why Us? - 24 Hours no cancellation fee policy. Learn More - Best Package Price Guarantee. Learn More - 128-bit secure transaction Server by GeoTrust Florida Seller of Travel Lic. No ST-35794 Home | Faq | Contact Us | About Us | Testimonials | Theme Parks - Dinner shows info & park hours | Area map | Our Orlando hotels | View Reservation | Espaol Additional information about Orlando Vacation Packages: Orlando Vacation | Florida Vacations | Orlando Theme Park Vacations | Disney World Vacation Packages The Orlando Vacation Store 2003-2006. Specializing in Disney World, Universal Studios and Sea World Vacation Packages. All brands are Registered by their respective owners. Not affiliated with the Disney World, Universal Escape or Anheiser-Busch Companies. Revised:22 December, 2005

Switzerland Travel

Switzerland.....the land of aching muscles Switzerland......the land ofaching muscles! Join the Budget Travel Mailing List Disclaimer : This travelogue is based on my travel experience in 1995. Things have changed since I've been there. I write this only to let you know of MY experiences. We are all different, so what I observe and experience may be different for you. Please do not take everything I say too seriously or take offence at my opinions or observations. I do not pretend to be a professional travel writer or to know this destination extremely well. Getting Around / Geneva / Interlaken / Grindelwald / Costs ($) / Hiking Tips Getting Around Without a doubt the best way toget around Switzerland is by train - it is fast, convenient and every place isaccessible. If you plan on doing a moderate amount of train travel, I wouldrecommend that prior to arriving in Switzerland, you purchase the Swiss Card. Withthis card, you will receive 1 free transfer from any Swiss airport or border town to anycity or town in Switzerland + 1 free transfer from any Swiss city or town to any Swissairport or border town + 50% off all other rail, steamboat, bus and mountain excursions. Thesavings really add up. Depending on how you use your free transfers, the card may payfor itself right there. In Canada the pass costs approx. CA$ 160. In the US, it costsapprox. US$ 116. Links: Rail Europe or Swiss Bahn sites formore details. Getting Around / Geneva / Interlaken / Grindelwald / Costs ($) / Hiking Tips Geneva What to see and do: Geneva is a charming world class city withlots to offer travellers looking for history, architecture, shopping, and a lot more.Located on Lake Geneva, the city has been said to be the most peaceful in the world. It isno wonder when institutions like the Red Cross and League of Nations were born in Geneva.The city is home to the United Nations. Sights you may want to take in include: the St.Pierre Cathedral, the UN building, the Jet d'eau on Lake Geneva, and the Jardin Anglaiswhich has a huge clock made out of flowers and a fountain which is popular with the kidson a hot day. If you are there during the summer and don't feel like frolicking with thekids in the fountain there is a beach which, I gather from the lack of visible swimwear,is a nude beach. Walking around the old part of the city is interesting and veryenjoyable. Where to stay: Although there are quite a few youth hostels and budgetaccommodations (budget in Swiss terms), sometimes cheap people like me just stay at theairport. Links: The Budget Traveller's Guide to Sleeping inAirports Getting Around / Geneva / Interlaken / Grindelwald / Costs ($) / Hiking Tips Interlaken What to see and do: I could write a bookabout things to see and do in and around Interlaken. The options are really just too much.I spent a week in Interlaken and I still did not see or do everything. Things to see intown include the Casino (have to be 21 years of age - if you still look 16 like me,you will be carded) There are also bars and restaurants. Apparently there is a bowlingalley somewhere in town for you wild and crazy party-animals. The Berner Oberland (Switzerland actually) is a hikers dream. There are many signedpaths to follow. No matter where you are in the mountains, you can easily find your wayback. Here are just a few of the activities that I suggest: Since Interlaken is located in the middle of two lakes, Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, cruises are available. The Lake Brienz, the cleanest lake in Europe, is much more scenic than Thun, which has high cliffs and a few waterfalls. A round trip ticket in the Lake Thun costs SFR 22 (14 with Swiss Card). You can off as many times as you want. Hike from Lauterbrunnen up to Kleine Schedeige. I did it the other way around and it was really just too steep for anybody to go down. HIKING UP IS ALWAYS EASIER THAN COMING DOWN! The Trummelbach Falls in Lauterbrunnen is a waste of money. I think I paid SFR 10 to see the inside of the falls. There is no tour, all you are paying for is the privilege of seeing this. On the Lake Thun, the Beatushlen prehistoric caves has stalactites, waterfalls and an ancient cell of the St. Beatus monk. This is a good trip for a rainy day. From here you can hike along a path to the next village or town that proves to be interesting. Oberhofen has a huge castle-like place. I am not sure if there are tours or if people just like to take pictures of it. Take the steam boat from Interlaken to Iselwelt (SRF 5.20 or 2.60 with Swiss Card). Get off at Iselwelt and walk to Geissbach Falls. This is not a challenging walk, but is more leisurely. When you arrive at the foot of the falls, you will have the option of taking a cable car higher up or hiking up. Hike up!! The cable car is for lazy people. When you arrive at the hotel you will see that you have not made it to the top of the falls yet. Keep going. There are paths that meander through the falls. The Geissbach Falls are impressive! Where to stay: Although Balmer's Herberge is said to be one of the best hostels in Europe, that is really a personal choice. If you do not mind sharing two bathrooms with 50 other people, sharing your room with 50 other people and climbing three beds up to get to your bed on the top bunk, then Balmer's will make you very happy. If you are a light sleeper, there is no way you will be able to sleep with the constant chatter of drunk young backpackers wandering in at all hours of the night. In short, Balmer's is a PARTY hostel. Depending on when you go, the average guest age could very well be 18. Even if you stay somewhere else, you will probably return to Balmers several times during your stay. There is a store that sells everything you may need (not including groceries), a mini bar/restaurant for alcoholics, currency exchange and many day tours can be arranged. There are double rooms, but you have to be there early in the morning to grab those ones. After one sleepless night at Balmers, I stayed at the Hotel Beyeler/Heidi's Hostel. Don't ask me why it has two names. The owner told me that many Balmers refugees come to this place. It is not fancy, but it is an affordable roof over your head. The cheap travellers room is on the third floor and has three beds. If you get the single bed near the window, you better have extra blankets, because the window sometimes blows open and the cold mountain air may kill you. The room has a sink and there is a shared washroom in the hall. Oh, one more tip about this place. Bring your own WD-40. The door to this room is very loud!!! If you are travelling solo don't want to stay couped up in your room alone, let the owner know that you are willing to share if any other people are looking for a roommate. If anyone comes along, she will accommodate everybody. I don't think you will save any money, but it is good company. My roomies were one of the highlights of my trip. Contact: Heidi's Garni/Hotel Beyeler - 37 Bernastr (tel. 229 030) or if you are desparate, Balmer's Herberge 23-25 Hauptstr (tel 221 961). Getting Around / Geneva / Interlaken / Grindelwald / Costs ($) / Hiking Tips Grindelwald What to see and do: Grindelwald is smaller than Interlaken and not so infested with tourists. There is a lot to keep you busy for a few days at least. From town you can hike to the Upper Glacier or the Glacier Gorge. The hike to up to the top of the Upper Glacier is very challenging. No matter how fit you claim to be, you will be huffing and puffing a few times at least. And if you have big feet, it will probably take you twice as long to get to the top. The stairs are painfully narrow and small. I did the hike up First Mountain twice (once from Bort and the second from Grindelwald). The part from Grindelwald is very steep and tiring, so bring lots of water with you. To avoid the steep part, take the chair lift (the longest in Europe) to Bort, get off and hike up the rest of the way. The fresh air is revitalizing!!! Depending on the time of year you go, there might be snow at the top and lots of it. Here is the recipe to make your own slushie: take some hard fruit-flavoured candy with you, grab some snow (that is not yellow) and place both in your mouth. Yummy!!! When you get to the top, you will have a magnificent view of Eiger, Jungfrau and Mnch. Take one of those disposable panoramic cameras and snap away. If you think you are hearing a thunder storm approaching, it is just an avalanche. If the sound is more distant, you can probably turn around and see the avalanche on the other side of the valley. If it sounds really close, then I am afraid that you will be a fair bit of trouble!!! Where to stay: Lehmann's Herberge is a real Swiss chalet-like lodge. Rooms are wooden with red curtains, have nice, warm comforters, and a shared washroom for every two units. The washrooms are modern and have hot water. Many rooms overlook a valley, while a few others overlook a road. Lehmann's is VERY COMFORTABLE right off one of the main roads in town. 25-35 SFR per night - breakfast is included. There are some other youth hostels, but for comfort Lehmann's is the place to go! Contact: Lehmann's Herberge (tel. 531 141). The woman that runs the hostel does speak English. Getting Around / Geneva / Interlaken / Grindelwald / Costs ($) / Hiking Tips Costs You probably know that Switzerland is a very expensive place to visit. Here are a few extra tips when planning your Swiss vacation: When looking for accommodations it will cost you an extra bundle for a private washroom. Unless you are staying at a really nice hotel, most lower end hotels have a couple of shared washrooms per floor. Showers usually cost extra. Food is very expensive. I am from Canada and the cost of a loaf of bread was a shocking SFR 3.10. Four bananas cost SFR 2.05 and 6 pack of pop cost SFR 5.10. Luckily, I brought my own peanut butter and ate A LOT of peanut butter sandwiches!!! Transportation is reasonably priced if you have a Swiss Card, Pass or Eurail Card. And things like postcards aren't too bad in price! Clothing is expensive. A movie costs SFR 13. Getting Around / Geneva / Interlaken / Grindelwald / Costs ($) / Hiking Tips Hiking Unless you hike often and are use to the strain of hiking up/down steep mountains, start off easy. I ruined the whole trip for myself by starting big. The result was that I could barely walk for a few days and I had to put plastic Pepsi bottles full of HOT water on my legs at night. Although I was able to do some great hiking, I could have done more if I didn't start of thinking I was superwoman. This is not to say that I do not exercise at all, because I do everyday. I just don't hike up and down mountains everyday. Please sign my guest book! [ HOME ] This travelogue is based on the travel experiences of Donna McSherry