We skipped Switzerland's tourist hubs for a quieter town. It made our family's dream trip even better.

The author (far right) and her family waited years to take a dream trip to Switzerland. Instead of staying in a busy tourist town, they stayed in Thun, which gave them access to nearby destinations, including Mürren. Courtesy of Nishtha Chaudhary. My mom dreamed of visiting Switzerland for years, but the high cost kept us from going sooner. We chose to stay in Thun over Interlaken for its affordability and convenience for day trips. Our time in Thun also gave us scenic views, a quieter pace, and easy access to Interlaken. A trip to Switzerland had been my mother's dream long before it was mine. She'd seen the destination in movies and travel videos for years and always said she wanted to see it in person someday. Every few years, my family would talk about going, compare flights, and then let the idea go.