travel to interlaken

       I've always had a soft spot in my heart for Interlaken, and not just because i travelled there . Rather, it's because this overgrown village has been the tourist hub of the Bernese Oberland for nearly 170 years without tavelling into a Las Vegas, Blackpool, or Torremolinos. You'll still find cows and sheep on the outskirts, and there are few high-rises, motels, and fast-food joints to spoil the landscape.

Snobs might claim that Interlaken is a tourist town, but so what? Tourism has long played an important role in Swiss history, and the visitor who contemplates the Jungfrau Massif from the Matten (the meadow in front of the town) is sharing in a tradition that dates back to the early 19th Century.

You won't need to stay in Interlaken to enjoy its convenience as a tourist center. Just as all roads once led to Rome, most rail lines in this part of Switzerland lead to Interlaken. This makes it easy to take day trips from just about any resort in the area, especially if you have a Swiss Pass or Berner Oberland Pass that allows free or reduced-price travel by train, bus, boat, funicular, cable car, or chair lift, etc.. .

Here are just a few of the things you'll find to do in or near Interlaken:

Lake steamer cruises. Take a boat to Brienz, a picturesque woodcarvers' town at the far end of the wild and scenic Brienzersee. Allow time for a morning or afternoon at the Swiss Open-Air Museum at Ballenberg, near Brienz. Or catch a steamer to Thun, where Lake Thun feeds into the River Aare, and enjoy the views from the towers of its medieval castle.

Mountain excursions. The Jungfraujoch Railway is Europe's highest. It takes you through Alpine meadows, then plunges into a stone tunnel on its ascent to permanent snowfields and spectacular views. Other (and less expensive) excursions include the Schilthorn aerial cable car, the Schynigge Platte cogwheel railway, the Brienz-Rothorn-Bahn with its antique steam-driven locomotives, and funiculars such as Harderbahn, which carries tourists up Interlaken's "Hausberg."

Hikes. Whether you're an experienced trekker or a casual walker, you'll find a plethora of well-marked trails in Interlaken and nearby resorts. (Note: Paved footpaths along Lake Thun and Lake Brienz are suitable for wheelchairs, strollers, and baby carriages.) Switzerland for Visitors has a hiking article worth reading.

City, town, and village sightseeing. When the weather turns dreary, head for Bern (the Swiss capital), where you can shop in arcaded passages, visit museums, and enjoy other activities that don't require an umbrella and galoshes. Even when it's sunny, you should allow time to visit Thun, Brienz, and some of the mountain resorts and villages in the area. All are easy to reach by train, bus, and/or boat.

travel booking

Hotels, like any added commodity, are accountable to the rules of accumulation and demand. The added adjustable you are about area to break (and if to stay), the added money you can apprehend to save.

For everyman rates, use a consolidator.

Hotel managers apperceive they'll hardly ample all their apartment at the appear "rack rates," so they generally accommodate abatement ante with consolidators like our commercial partner, Venere, which action aggressive ante in all auberge categories.

You ability be able to bout consolidators' ante by assuming up at the endure minute and negotiating your own amount for a abandoned room, but you can't calculation on accomplishing so--and you ability not acquisition a allowance at all.

Tips:

Be patient. Computerized bookings aren't consistently in "real time," and it may yield up to 48 hours (sometimes longer) for the booking account to get a acceptance from the hotel.

Let the booking account action an addition if your first-choice auberge is full. This will save time, and it may save money during periods of top demand.

Don't be afraid if you don't get your aboriginal choice, abnormally if you're booking far in beforehand or during active periods. (Hotels may abatement abatement bookings if they anticipate they can ample their apartment at accepted rates. To put it addition way, discounted allowance ante are like arrangement air fares: They can be harder to get during periods of top demand.)

Remember that apartment will be cheaper during low season, whether you book through a account or on your own.

car rental abroad

   Need wheels for your next trip abroad? There's more to consider than driving on the "other" side of the road. From international driving permits to liability insurance, renting a car in a foreign country can be a bit more complicated than renting one stateside. Here are some tips for getting a great deal, making sure you have the right documentation and driving safely while abroad.

Booking Your Car
Book in advance. Rental rates are almost always higher at the counter than they will be over the phone, even just 24 hours before pickup. If you have time, comparison shop. Visit the Web sites of several rental agencies and search for identical cars on your travel dates.

Whenever possible, make all car rental arrangements, from booking to payment, before you leave the United States. Doing it this way generally makes the process cheaper, easier, safer and less likely to include hidden clauses. Once you are overseas, shifting exchange rates, unfamiliar rental specs, language barriers and other cultural differences can cause unexpected problems.

Ask about weekend specials, late penalties and gas charges. Many hidden discounts or car rental hidden costs will not be explained at the time of rental, and it may be too late once you find out.

Ask what time a car is expected for drop-off. Many rental agencies begin charging for each 24-hour-period from the time of rental, and will bill a full day for cars returned after another 24-hour period begins.

Be aware that many countries have a minimum and maximum age for renters. Drivers under the age of 25 or over the age of 70 may face surcharges or not be permitted to rent at all.

Whenever possible, if you see an ad for a rental car special rate, clip the ad or write down the promotional code. Many of the best rates do not show up on agents' computer screens without a little prompting.

Always ask about senior citizen, AAA, credit card and frequent flier program discounts or add-on offers.

When making reservations for car rental pickups at an airport, choose a smaller car than you would typically desire. Airport fleets are often stocked with larger cars, as they are primarily used by business travelers, and you will often receive a free upgrade from a subcompact booking. Be aware, however, that European cars tend to be smaller than their American counterparts; while this might be useful if you're planning on driving on narrow country roads, it's not so great for those who are extra-tall, carrying a lot of luggage, or traveling with a family or large group. In these cases, don't take a risk -- be sure to order the size you need just in case you don't get an upgrade.

Most European cars have manual transmissions, although automatic cars can be found, often at a price. If you can drive a stick shift, it could save you money and hassles. Driving in Europe is often more strenuous than driving in the United States, as back roads and even some highways tend to be hilly, winding and often precariously placed on a mountainside or ocean cliff. But don't expect one person to do all the driving. So if not everyone can drive a manual transmission, consider looking for an automatic. Also, if you're going to a country like England or Ireland, be sure everyone's comfortable with driving on the left side of the road -- it can be challenging!