When we tell people that we have been to Switzerland they frequently remark that it is a very expensive place to visit. Well, maybe so to stay in an upscale hotel in Zurich. However, aside from getting there, we vacation in Switzerland for about the same as it costs for us to vacation in the US. We do that by traveling by train, going to places like Mürren, and staying at places like Chalet Böbs.
The Lauterbrunnen Valley side of the Jungfrau region is the most beautiful place on the planet. Mürren Switzerland is a little village perched on a cliff that overlooks the valley on one side and the mountains on the other, and is accessible only by train or cable car. It is somewhat of a tourist destination, but nothing like the busyness of Zermatt or Grindelwald. This year was our second stay at Chalet Böbs, and now to stay anywhere else in Jungfrau region would be like going to our hometown and not staying at our house. It is a Swiss chalet in which the exceptionally gracious owners, Herr Albert and Frau Kitty, live on one side and rent the 3 floors of the other side. Each apartment includes a kitchen, bath, sitting area, one or two bedrooms, and a view that I cannot describe in words. The waterfall down the hill sings you to sleep at night and the cows walking up the road wake you up in the morning. There is a well-stocked grocery store just up the hill and local farms that sell their own cheese, bread and dried meats, so having access to a kitchen will save you a lot of money compared with eating every meal in restaurants. However, do not miss the local rosti potatoes and the schnitzel down the hill in Gimmelwald.