MaloneLui

Hi, we are a family with a 6 year old and 6 months children spending time in switzerland in early august for 11 days. Landing in Geneva from Dublin and returning from Zurich back to Dublin. I am really confused which area to stay. Is it possible to stay in one or 2 palces and travel around in day trips? we r mainly targetting scenary and cultural points of switzerland. Would like to cover as much as possible at the same time at a slow pace because of the infant and child. Really appreciate responses.

Malone

tipsygus

Malone, I would suggest and many posters will disagree with me that you base yourself in one place and for easy of public transport I would suggest Interlaken, yes it's a tourist spot but with young children you need to be able to get around easily. You will have buses around the town and surrounding areas and the trains for any longer trips like Berne or Lucerne, and the steamers on both lakes. Choose an hotel, if you haven't already that has family rooms, there are some or look for an apartment. Read the MySwitzerland website for ideas and tips and as the children will travel free on the trains look at the passes available from the Swiss railways at www.sbb.ch/en you can also check travel times and fares on this site. You may also want to look at the FlyRail luggage service if it ia available from Dublin. Ryanair won't offer this service but other airlines eg Swiss International do.
Please come back with any other queries and I know everyone here help

docdan

Hi. Tipsy gus' advice is sound. I have been planning a Swiss trip for two years now and will be going there for 11 days in May, so I have faced some of your concerns. My answers are based upon such research and watching how others have posted info on these threads to similar querries.

"I am really confused which area to stay." Only because it seems you can stay anywhere and be correct. You know, if one was to visit England, perhaps Liverpool would NOT be your best choice, right? Well, it seems that anywhere in Switzerland you choose will be a great place and you can be assured it will be wonderful.

"Is it possible to stay in one or 2 palces and travel around in day trips?" Yes, it is, but it will depend on how far you wish to range on your day trips. For sure, you will want to go to the above mentioned sbb.ch website and plug in some hypothetical city pairs and note how long the train/bus/ship journeys take, and then make your plans from that information.

Of note, on the sbb.ch website is the fabled "Chocolate train from Montrose. I would suppose this would be a nice outing for a fmaily with little ones.

docdan

Please excuse me - I did mean "The Chocolate Train" from Montreux

tipsygus

Docdan the Chocolate train leaves Montreux before 9am so it would be impossible from Interlaken and to do the trip independently with two small children would be a very long day trip. Far rather if you stay in Interlaken either go to the Chocolate Show at the restaurant Schuh in Interlaken, it lasts about one hour, or go to the open air museum at Ballenberg near Brienz and take the bus from Brienz station to the east Entrance (Brienzwiler) and just outside the entrance is a small chocolate workshop and shop. Personally from my memory of the the Broc factory tour the other two are just as good. The Restaurant Shuh does charge for their show but much of the cost is given back in a voucher to spend in the shop. They also have a website in English which I think is www.restaurant-schuh.ch

MaloneLui

Hi tipsygus & docdan, Thanks very much for the advices. Sounds like Interlaken is the place to stay. I believe there is plenty to see near Interlaken like Lauterbrunnen, Murren and Jungfrau. That willl at least take about 4-5 days. Is it possible to do Schilthorn with 6 month old child, I suppose not. Will it be too much to do Lucerne reqion on a day trip staying in Interlaken. We are totally new to Switzerland, but reading a lot in forums like these. any adivices and tips are appreciated. Malone..

MaloneLui

Thanks for referring the Chocolate train, did some research on that and it looks like we will have to catch 6am train to reach Montreaux at 8.18 to get the 9.07 departure of the chocolate train. Probably worth the hastle of an early departure. Also referred the http://www.swisspasses.com/classicrail/ site and most of its journeys can be done from Interlaken except a few which are from Lucern.