Of all places to stay in Switzerland, I was determined to stay at the Funny Farm. No, it’s probably not what you are thinking.
The Funny Farm is a hostel located in the Jungfrau region of the Swiss Alps and is fit with classic Swiss architecture.
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During my summer trip to Europe I wanted to stay at Hostel Funny Farm because of its location and the price. Funny Farm only cost 37 USD a night! My travel buddy Hannah had also heard good reviews from a family friend.
When we arrived in Interlaken, Funny Farm did not make a good first impression. The directions from the train station were terrible. They seem simple, but ‘across the street from the big supermarket, the Coop, and on the other side is a Raiffeisen bank and a furniture store. Walk up this street” could mean two different streets. It should say “When you exit the main train station building, take the road to the left”. It’s that easy!
The Funny Farm is only a short walk from the train station, but we took the wrong road and ended up lost in the rain, exhausted and carrying our heavy backpacks for an hour trying to find it. But we finally made it.
When we arrived at Hostel Funny Farm we were told to wait an hour until we could check in, so we went across the street to the closest restaurant which happened to be an Irish pub. After an hour went by we checked into the hostel. The lobby was blasting German Reggae music and a man with dread locks was mopping the floor. This place had a much more relaxed vibe than the previous hostel we stayed in.
Our room had two bunk beds and two regular twin beds in an attached room. All six people shared one bathroom. The beds were old and they were about as supportive as a hammock. The bathroom ceiling was so low that even a shorty like myself had to duck to take a shower. But the smell was the worst part. I had never witnessed so much mildew in my life. This was real hostel livin’!
The hostel only provides Wi-Fi in the lobby, and if you’re lucky you can connect to it. However, they do offer two computers from the Stone Age to use, but good luck getting them to work.
Thankfully my entire opinion of Funny Farm changed after the rain clouds evaporated and the sun came out later that day. I was completely stunned by the breathtaking views of the Alps. Funny Farm is nestled right in the valley of several amazing mountains. The best view of the peaks is from the hostel swimming pool. The sight of the ‘water slide’ is also something you should be sure to check out.
Remember that staying in hostels is about saving money, and laughing at memories of your butt hanging three feet lower than your head while you’re sleeping in a ‘bed’!
Where do you like to stay in Interlaken? Let me know on Twitter @L_Klamm
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