Our favorite destinations in Europe
Of all the ways to find your next vacation spot, nothing beats a personal recommendation from a trusted friend. Sure, you could browse the travel deals and see what’s cheap (”Liverpool for $199!”), consider the place that all the glossy travel magazines are calling “hot” (”Enjoy St. Tropez luxury for as little as $600 per night”), or even plan a trip to that pretty place where your favorite movie was made (”whoops, turns out that scene from Braveheart was actually filmed in Ireland, not Scotland.”) But why bother when you already have the inside scoop from a real traveler who used a real budget? The editors of SmarterTravel.com may not have officially made your acquaintance yet, but we do know a thing or two about travel, especially to Europe. We enjoy going to Europe on our own vacations, and many of us have lived across the pond for a time. One editor was born in Ireland, another met her spouse in Eastern Europe, nearly everyone studied at a European university at one point, and yet another staffer is planning his honeymoon to Greece. Europe is a place we know and love, and we’d each like to share our personal favorite spots with you. From the “City of Light” to tiny towns you may have never heard of, here are 12 destinations as experienced by 12 SmarterTravel.com editors. Mürren and Gimmelwald, Switzerland
By Managing Editor Josh Roberts Close your eyes and picture the quintessential postcard-perfect Swiss village. You see storybook wooden houses scattered amid a rolling meadow of wildflowers. Somewhere in the distance you hear the gentle tingle of cowbells. There’s the slightest hint of fresh bread and chocolate in the air.
Now open your eyes. You’re in Mürren, the heart and soul of Switzerland’s Bernese Oberland. A tiny town with just 350 year-round residents, Mürren teeters precariously on the edge of a 3,000-foot cliff and overlooks the waterfall-rich Lauterbrunnen Valley. I first came to know and love this place on a hiking trip in 2001, and I itch to get back there every time I find myself in the Alps.
Mürren has been described as a hiker’s paradise, and it’s an apt description given that you can literally step out your door and join one of hundreds of hiking trails. Some paths wander high into the hills for revealing views of the distant Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau peaks, while others meander down the valley to the car-free village of Gimmelwald. So, hiker’s paradise? Absolutely. But a friend of mine has an even better description. He calls it “Yosemite with a Swiss Village on top,” and I can’t think of a more perfect image. Getting there: Mürren and Gimmelwald are about four hours by train from both Zurich and Geneva. I found late-spring flights to Geneva from New York for about $330 (not including taxes), and to Zurich starting around $550 (also before taxes). You can catch a cog-rail train to Mürren from the resort town of Interlaken, or ride a gondola from Stechelberg to Gimmelwald. It takes about 30 minutes to walk between Mürren and Gimmelwald. Cars are not permitted.
Where to stay: Gimmelwald’s mountain hostel has perhaps the best views, the best hospitality, and easily the best outdoor hot tub of any hostel I’ve ever visited. It costs 23 Swiss francs (about $19; see XE.com for current exchange rates) to stay, and all ages are welcome. Online resources: The national tourism website for Switzerland is a good place to begin your trip planning if you want to see more of the country. Mürren’s official website includes an interactive map and accommodations guide. The Gimmelwald website offers hiking suggestions and rainy day options. Gimmelwald’s mountain hostel offers useful directions for getting there.
