ESTHER, FRUTIGEN, SWITZERLAND - OBERLAND
The delightful Esther vacation apartment rental offers accommodations for up to four people. This modern, spacious and bright apartment features floor to ceiling windows offering a spectacular view of the mountains and beyond. A sizeable balcony provides beautiful views of the Alps and countryside. The apartment also has a large, comfortable living/dining room that can seat up to six people.
The friendly landlords, Herr and Frau Hauswirth, live downstairs and speak some English; they provide wireless Internet access in the apartment. Perhaps the most impressive feature of the Esther vacation rental is the model train display that Herr Hauswirth maintains in his backyard. This display is a must-see for all train enthusiasts young and old alike.
The Esther vacation rental apartment is a mostly flat five- to ten-minute walk from stores, restaurants, and the Frutigen train station.
This property accepts only two-week bookings.
Occupancy: This property sleeps 1-6 people. | Disclaimer | Print Page
Property Details
SLEEPING2 double bedrooms, each with twin bedsSmall studio across the hall can accommodate 2 more for an additional fee BATHROOMS1 with tub/shower combinationKITCHENFull kitchen with microwaveLAUNDRYHost does laundry for fee |
LEVELSecond floorACCESSIBILITY1 flight of stairs inside buildingTRANSPORTATION10-minute walk (mostly flat) to train station, 2-blocks to bus stop |
MINUSESNone that we can think of!PLUSESBalcony with spectacular view, great host family; kids save big (please call for details), Wi-FiSPECIAL FEATURESCable TV, wireless Internet access, phone, fantastic model train set in backyard |
WEATHER: See weather data for this region throughout the year.
What's included with the Switzerland - Oberland Untour?
- One or two weeks in a private Swiss apartment or chalet, often with spectacular views of the lakes and mountains.
- Suggestions for booking your international flight from the U.S. to Zurich, or we can purchase tickets on your behalf. (Click for more information on Untours' air policies.)
- Transfer assistance for most arrivals at the Zurich airport, with detailed instructions that allow you to reach your village with ease.
- An 8 or 15-day Swiss Rail Pass valid on trains, buses, lake ships; free entry to over 400 museums in Switzerland.
- An orientation session given by our very experienced local staff covering rail and sightseeing.
- Local information and our Swiss Oberland Dream Book and Swiss Hiking Guide, both researched and written by Untours staff, chock-full of suggestions for scenic hiking trails and day trips.
- Depending on the length of your stay, a group activity such as a local excursion or a lunch.
- A stash of groceries upon your arrival, so you don’t need to shop right away.
- Pre-trip planning advice from our staff, available by phone or email right up until you leave.
- Ongoing support with our local representative. Help available when you need it.
- Special savings for kids 15 and under on this Untour in qualifying apartments. Call for details.
Landlord or Host for Esther, Frutigen, Switzerland - Oberland
Friendly, helpful, English-speaking owners live downstairs.
Frutigen, Switzerland - Oberland, Home of Esther
Frutigen, situated halfway between Lake Thun and Kandersteg, contrasts wonderfully with the lakeside towns of the Bernese Oberland. It is a rustic mountain village of large, old wooden chalets with considerable charm among the most unspoiled, authentically Swiss parts of the Oberland Untour area. A town of about 3,500, Frutigen offers reasonable prices, high-quality shopping, restaurants and a very helpful tourist office. The old-time wooden box (Spanschachtel) museum in nearby Wengi typifies the region’s interest in wooden handcrafts. As gateway to the famous high Adelboden valley with excellent hiking, Frutigen station is an important transportation center.
Frutigen offers 2 large supermarkets, banks and ATMs. It has maintained its small-town Swiss character and yet is a wonderful base for day trips through Switzerland. Outstanding mainline express train service takes you in less than an hour to the capital city of Bern, beautiful Lake Thun, the famed resort region surrounding Interlaken, the high valley towns of Adelboden and Kandersteg and to Brig, gateway to
the famed resorts of Zermatt and Saas Fee on the south side of the Swiss Alps.
Customer comments about Esther, Frutigen, Switzerland - Oberland
"This was the perfect place for us. It was close to the station, beautiful and Esther and Peter were wonderful! I hope to come back next year and stay here again!! In addition to the wonderful accommodation, the other staff were fantastic!" Barbara Kitchen
"Our apartment was spacious and sunny. We had views of the mountains from every window. And we had a wrap around balcony also. Our hosts were friendly and helpful. They even brought us some freshly picked cherries." Eugene Allison
"Peter and Esther are kind and generous hosts. Their apartment plus studio apartment suited our family perfectly." Lloyd Eugene Shaw
"Has television, telephone, radio, microwave oven, and wireless internet access. Neat and elaborate garden railroad beside the house." Keith Howell
"The apartment is spacious, everything works." Edward L Dreyer
"We join our predecessors in giving this apartment the highest ratings. It's perfect. We had a great time in 2006 in Meiringen; this vacation was even better." Richard Ashford
"This is our 3rd Swiss Untour and the Esther was, by far, the best apartment we've stayed in. We lacked nothing. The apartment was really superb! Frutigen really appealed to us as we felt as if we really were a part of this small town." Don & Vicky Goodin
"Every expectation was met. We felt so welcomed and so at home that the only disappointment was saying good-bye to a place we learned to love. There was a quiet serenity and rhythm of life in the village of Frutigen that we have recommended to our friends and family." Barbara Pardo
" We have liked other apartments so much that we hesitate to rate Esther as best of all, but it certainly is as good as any we have seen. It gets top ratings for every category. Especially notable were the view, sunlight and the sound of a rushing stream of snow melt all night long... We 'd like to have them (Peter & Esther) for neighbors." Ed and Helen Lowrey
"Esther was by far the best of my three Untours. The extras provided by hosts made it so much easier... Actually I think we became friends!" Joan Szczepanski
"This large apartment plus the studio apartment, both with bathrooms, were convenient accommodations for our group of six. We can recommend them." Lloyd Shaw, 2010
Ratings for Esther, Frutigen, Switzerland - Oberland
| CREATURE COMFORT FEATURE | POSSIBLE POINTS | SCORE |
| Modern Kitchen (oven, microwave, dishwasher, stovetop, modern ambience) | 5 | 5 |
| Phone (yes, limited, no) | 2 | 2 |
| Television (none, TV w/o cable, TV w/cable) | 2 | 2 |
| Sunlight | 3 | 3 |
| Size | 3 | 3 |
| View | 7 | 7 |
| Attractiveness (décor, charm, windowboxes, antiques) | 4 | 4 |
| Bathroom (attractive, functional) | 3 | 3 |
| Furniture Comfort (comfortable chairs, etc.) | 5 | 5 |
| Outdoor amenties: Patio, Balcony, Swimming pool | 5 | 5 |
| Laundry facilities: (yes, limited, no) | 2 | 2 |
| Sleeping facilities comfort | 5 | 5 |
| Quiet | 4 | 4 |
| TOTAL | 50 | 50 |
| LIVING LIKE A LOCAL FEATURE | POSSIBLE POINTS | SCORE |
| Apartment Host Experience (positive experience) | 12 | 12 |
| Charm, Flavor, Sense of Place: the apartment and immediate surroundings | 8 | 8 |
| Charm, Flavor, Sense of Place: the neighborhood (if it is in a city or larger town) or the village (if it is in a country/rural Untour) | 8 | 8 |
| Distance to Transportation/Major Roads | 9 | 8 |
| Shopping (access to everyday supplies) | 5 | 4 |
| Well-Situated To See The Region or City | 8 | 8 |
| TOTAL | 50 | 48 |
An Explanation of the Ratings:
These ratings come from a combination of customer reviews and the reports of Untours staff who have seen the apartments and/or followed reports from customers over the years.
These ratings give a sense of how most people feel, but your tastes and requirements may vary. If you have any questions about this apartment, please call us at 1-888-868-6871. You can talk to someone who has seen the accommodation.
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Cathrin BaumbachProgram Director
Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Ireland, Scotland, Greece, E. Europe
I greatly enjoy the diversity of my responsibilities at Untours, the company's values, and the opportunity to connect with people from other cultures.
