Europe Travel Part III

 In this final episode we start in the Swiss Alps, take a high-speed train to Paris and finish in London. When touring Europe, many travelers only visit famous and  ell-promoted hot spots, like Grindelwald, here in Switzerland. It's "the" famous Alpine resort in the shadow of the Jungfrau.

Europe Travel Part III

Europe energetically markets its top tourist attractions. Alpine resorts like this are geared to large-scale tourism-helping the masses have fun...spending their money. But, just one valley over, you can have an entirely different experience. Riding this
gondola, you soar, landing in the sleepy, un-promoted village of Gimmelwald. In 30 years  of researching guidebooks, I've found hidden gems like this in every country.

Gimmelwald would have been developed to the hilt like neighboring towns but the village had its real estate declared an "avalanche zone" so no one could get new building permits. The result: a real mountain community-families, farms, and traditional ways. Choosing places like Gimmelwald and then meeting the people, you become part of the party rather than just part of the economy. This is a realistic goal for any good traveler.

Take a moment to appreciate the alpine cheese. Once you're off the tourist track, make a point to connect with the living culture-pitch in... even if that means getting dirty. Here, Farmer Peter's making hay while the sun shines.

Whether in a big city or a small village, your major expense each day is renting a bed. You have lots of options. We'll review them from cheapest to most expensive. In rural settings-like here in Gimmelwald-I like simple, less expensive accommodations. Gimmelwald has a pension, a bed and breakfast, and a hostel.


Europe has thousands of hostels-like Gimmelwald's Mountain Hostel-offering cheap dorm beds. While not for everybody, the price is certainly right. Rather than privacy and your own bathroom, you'll enjoy a convivial camaraderie: a helpful reception desk; a welcoming common room with lots of information and hiking partners; and the kitchen where hostellers cook for the price of groceries. It's dinnertime. And after a sunny day of hiking, travelers are sharing stories.

Today, European hostels come in all shapes and sizes. Modern ones are often big and institutional. They come with inviting lobbies and modern facilities. Rather than the traditional large dorms, more and more hostels are offering smaller rooms-family rooms and even doubles for couples. In cities or villages, the young at heart-of any age-are entirely welcome. A great thing about hostelling-especially if you're going solo-is gaining an instant circle of friends. For me, B&Bs offer an ideal combination of comfort and economy, privacy and cultural experience.

Every country has private rooms for rent. You've just got to know the local word...Husroom is Norwegian for Chambre d'Hote which is French for Zimmer which is what they say here in Switzerland for Bed and Breakfast. B&Bs give you more than just a good night's sleep. Imagine, enjoying a renovated attic with a view of this small town Czech castle, being a guest in a home rebuilt after a civil war in Dubrovnik, savoring the salty ambiance in the captain's house on a Danish Isle, or being a noble for a night with Giorgio in the heart of Tuscany. Tonight, we're sleeping in the home of Ollie and his wife Maria.

 In this final episode we start in the Swiss Alps, take a high-speed train to Paris and finish in London. When touring Europe, many travelers only visit famous and  ell-promoted hot spots, like Grindelwald, here in Switzerland. It's "the" famous Alpine resort in the shadow of the Jungfrau.

Europe energetically markets its top tourist attractions. Alpine resorts like this are geared to large-scale tourism-helping the masses have fun...spending their money. But, just one valley over, you can have an entirely different experience. Riding this
gondola, you soar, landing in the sleepy, un-promoted village of Gimmelwald. In 30 years  of researching guidebooks, I've found hidden gems like this in every country.

Gimmelwald would have been developed to the hilt like neighboring towns but the village had its real estate declared an "avalanche zone" so no one could get new building permits. The result: a real mountain community-families, farms, and traditional ways. Choosing places like Gimmelwald and then meeting the people, you become part of the party rather than just part of the economy. This is a realistic goal for any good traveler.

Take a moment to appreciate the alpine cheese. Once you're off the tourist track, make a point to connect with the living culture-pitch in... even if that means getting dirty. Here, Farmer Peter's making hay while the sun shines.

Whether in a big city or a small village, your major expense each day is renting a bed. You have lots of options. We'll review them from cheapest to most expensive. In rural settings-like here in Gimmelwald-I like simple, less expensive accommodations. Gimmelwald has a pension, a bed and breakfast, and a hostel.


Europe has thousands of hostels-like Gimmelwald's Mountain Hostel-offering cheap dorm beds. While not for everybody, the price is certainly right. Rather than privacy and your own bathroom, you'll enjoy a convivial camaraderie: a helpful reception desk; a welcoming common room with lots of information and hiking partners; and the kitchen where hostellers cook for the price of groceries. It's dinnertime. And after a sunny day of hiking, travelers are sharing stories.

Today, European hostels come in all shapes and sizes. Modern ones are often big and institutional. They come with inviting lobbies and modern facilities. Rather than the traditional large dorms, more and more hostels are offering smaller rooms-family rooms and even doubles for couples. In cities or villages, the young at heart-of any age-are entirely welcome. A great thing about hostelling-especially if you're going solo-is gaining an instant circle of friends. For me, B&Bs offer an ideal combination of comfort and economy, privacy and cultural experience.

Every country has private rooms for rent. You've just got to know the local word...Husroom is Norwegian for Chambre d'Hote which is French for Zimmer which is what they say here in Switzerland for Bed and Breakfast. B&Bs give you more than just a good night's sleep. Imagine, enjoying a renovated attic with a view of this small town Czech castle, being a guest in a home rebuilt after a civil war in Dubrovnik, savoring the salty ambiance in the captain's house on a Danish Isle, or being a noble for a night with Giorgio in the heart of Tuscany. Tonight, we're sleeping in the home of Ollie and his wife Maria.