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3 months in Switzerland this summer, need suggestions on weekend trips

3 months in Switzerland this summer, need suggestions on weekend trips

Old Mar 7th, 2017, 12:25 PM
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3 months in Switzerland this summer, need suggestions on weekend trips

I would be working in Zurich this summer from June to end of August. Now I have all the weekends, and a few long weekends as well. I would like to see as much of Switzerland as I can, with exception of a couple of weeks when I would go out to different places in Europe.
I would like to get some variety as well, while I would mostly be going to Alpine places, I would like to visit other beautiful places as well. I'm more of an outdoor person, so I would prefer small-medium hikes, walks and villages, and would prefer places with lesser number of tourists.
I need more suggestions on places and areas I could go to. And which of the months ( june, july, august) would be better for which places, considering crowds, wild flowers, how much of snow is there on the mountains etc.
1. Berense Oberland seems to be an area I would go to a few times, maybe villages like Gimmelwald, Murren, Andermatt etc. I would like to get hike/walk recommendations here.
2. Then the lake towns of Lucerne, Thun, Spiez. Any other ones?
3. The Italian region, Lugano and around.
4. Engadine valley.

Any other suggestions on areas to visit, any specific villages or hikes to go for to get really beautiful views or more varied scenery would be really great.
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Old Mar 7th, 2017, 12:26 PM
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Also, how much in advance should I make bookings at places, in general?
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Old Mar 7th, 2017, 01:56 PM
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It's just one small idea but I think it's really fun & happens at that time of year.

Go to the Vevey Saturday morning farmers market when the Marche Folklorique is going on (the regular farmers market in the square plus wineries and live music).
http://www.marchesfolkloriques.ch/
The whole town comes out for it!
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Old Mar 7th, 2017, 02:19 PM
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No need to book rooms far in advance. In fact, since you'll be in country all summer you'll have the luxury of waiting for weekends when the weather forecast is good. Then you can book a few days ahead.
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Old Mar 7th, 2017, 02:33 PM
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Three months with lots of trips begs for the Half-Fare Card (bought at any Swiss station) that gives you half-off everything transport-wise almost in Switzerland- most trains, buses, boats and expensive Alpine gondolas - for details on Half-Fare Card and Swiss transports in general check www.swisstravelsystem.com; www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

Switzerland is tiny - on a weekend you can easily go anywhere or even to Germany or Austria or northern Italy -Half-Fare Card I think gives 1/4 off international portions of journeys.Mearby Bavaria has lots of see and do like Mad Ludwig's Neuschwanstein Castle!

Bern is to me one of Switzerland's finest cities - and practically a suburb of Zurich.

Montreux and Vevey on Lake Geneva are neat bases - Gruyeres is a neat walled old town - trek to Broc for Willy Wankesque tours of Nestle's Callier chocolate factory -take a train to Broc-Factory, right by the entrance.
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Old Mar 7th, 2017, 02:54 PM
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I'm green with envy - three months!

I love the Lower Engadine, have visited three times in the past couple of years. Scuol, our town of choice is about a three hour train ride from Zurich. Lots of lovely hikes there, plus the Bogn Engiadina mineral spa.

Lots of pretty little villages in the area, some of which you can hike between (or walk one way, take the train back).

I have quite a bit of walking info detailed on my Swiss trip reports, you might get some ideas from them - I've posted a few below.

You might also enjoy Freiburg im Breisgau and the Germany's Black Forest. Freiburg is just a two hour train ride from Zurich.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...e-170136-2.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...witzerland.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...r-oberland.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-walkabout.cfm
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Old Mar 7th, 2017, 03:15 PM
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How about a ride on Switzerland's iconic postal buses over Alpine passes and not like trains under them?

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...witzerland.cfm
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Old Mar 7th, 2017, 05:25 PM
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I'm jealous! Switzerland is delightful.

You might find some useful ideas in my trip report:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...any-thanks.cfm
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Old Mar 8th, 2017, 06:48 AM
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Do like Swiss people:
Have a look at the weather forecast on Thursday and Friday.

Choose then the area you want to go to. If weather is bad in German speaking Switzerland, it's often fine in Ticino or In Valais resp. Lake Geneva, or vice versa.
Phone then to the hotels yoou like or book via www.booking com. If you are a bit flexible, you will always find last minute accommodation, may be not at the place you wanted, but just 1-2 train or bus stops away.

Mountain flowers: everyting begins in the South, usually in April. In early June rhododendron will be in flowers in the valleys of Ticino, 1 month later all over the Alps. You find more alpine flowers in non touristy valleys, like Val Canaria (Airolo), Val d'Herens (around La Sage, La Forclaz, Villa).

For hikes, have a look at the hiking map of Switzerland:
http://map.wanderland.ch/?lang=en
or at the official map of Switzerland, where you can load down hiking trails, train and bus stops too:
http://map.wanderland.ch/?lang=en
For accommodation (by far not complete, however) http://www.mapplus.ch/ may help more

You may have a look at
http://www.myswitzerland.com/en/home.html
http://www.swisstravelsystem.ch/en/
http://fahrplan.sbb.ch/bin/query.exe/en
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Old Mar 8th, 2017, 08:27 AM
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I agree with neckervd's tip to check the weather. Due to the mountains, the weather can vary a great deal from one area to another.

I would use the Myswitzerland website to get an idea of what there is to see and do in various areas and since you have 3 months, I think it would be wise to invest in a good guidebook for Switzerland as well.

On any given Wednesday/Thursday, check the coming weather for the weekend, pick a place where the sun will be shining and then do your research to decide just what you will do. You don't need to plan anything any farther ahead than that.

I also agree you should get a half fare card as you will be able to use it enough to get good value from it.

Also be aware that in some areas, if you stay in a hotel that participates in a local 'Guest Card' plan, you will get free or discounted transportation in the area on the bus/train, cable cars, etc. The best Guest Card I've seen is the one for Davos-Klosters. All your transportation is free and there are various discounts as well.
http://www.davos.ch/en/davos-kloster...al/guest-card/

There are others:
https://www.google.ca/webhp?sourceid...d+guest+card&*
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Old Mar 8th, 2017, 11:15 AM
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The best Guest Card I've seen is the one for Davos-Klosters. All your transportation is free and there are various discounts as well.>

Are hotel prices thus a bit higher than areas that do not?
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Old Mar 8th, 2017, 01:56 PM
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I should have mentioned the details about Marche Folklorique in Vevey. You purchase an empty glass in the morning, then can taste wine as much as you like until they stop around Noon. Little carts roll around the market, plus the wineries serving at tables under the pergola.
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Old Mar 9th, 2017, 08:06 AM
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PalenQ, hotel prices are not higher, they're lower! Like anywhere, hotel prices reflect 'popularity' and how much competition exists. Since Davos is not that well known to the majority of tourists, the prices are lower than the more 'popular' places like Interlaken, Zermatt, St. Moritz, etc.

So if the area interests you (and Melnq8 might also be interested) I can suggest a hotel for example that has a deal for April/May that will get you a room (for 2 people) for 7 nights with breakfast for around 490 CHF. That's $480 USD, $650 CAD, 395 GBP. Some people do not believe you can visit Switzerland for such low prices. That's what annoys me when people say, 'Switzerland is expensive'. It is if you don't know where to go and just follow the herd.

The only add to that price is the 6 CHF per person per night 'City tax' which is in fact how the Guest Pass is paid for. But everywhere adds such a tax.

That is for a 3 star boutique hotel with an award winning restaurant. http://bellevuewiesen.com/

Or check out their mountain bike package at 700 CHF for a week including packed lunches and bike transport. This area is great for both biking and hiking. http://www.davos.ch/en/summer/activities/

I cannot emphasis enough the value of the Guest Pass for local transport (plus other discounts). The hotel is in a small village just outside Davos itself and most guests even if they have a car, use the bus that stops right outside the front door of the hotel, to get to wherever they want to go.

So for example, you take a bus down the valley, get off somewhere, take a cable car up the mountain, hike across to another cable car, descent back into the valley, hop on a bus/train back to town, bus back to the hotel. All for free.

The down side to this particular hotel for some people is the location. There is nothing in the village other than a minimarket. The last bus from Davos to bring you back leaves town around 7.30 PM. So you must eat dinner in the hotel (they offer a half board add-on) or eat quite early in town and then return to the hotel for your nightcap.

Some people will want more choice or nightlife perhaps and so would do better staying in town. You have a choice of Davos or Klosters and most hotels will be participants in the Guest Card program. You will find similar offers for one week package deals at similar prices. You just need to make sure they include the Guest Card.
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Old Mar 9th, 2017, 11:58 AM
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Great advice from Dogeared - Davos I think would be nicer for a youngster than more quiet towns - I stayed there once and loved it - some nice but not mountain-climbing hikes.
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Old Mar 9th, 2017, 04:28 PM
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Thanks Dogeared. We visited Davos for the first time this past December, and actually considered it for our upcoming trip (although we preferred Klosters).

That is quite a deal - 490 for seven nights with breakfast!

>

I agree. Years of visiting Switzerland has taught us a lot of tricks. There's a method to our madness.

I've been unable to find out if the Ilanz area has a guest card?
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Old Mar 10th, 2017, 07:59 AM
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I agree. Years of visiting Switzerland has taught us a lot of tricks. There's a method to our madness.>

Yes IME too - I've rarely paid more for hotels in Switzerland than in other countries but you have to look around.
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Old Mar 10th, 2017, 08:58 AM
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I think the only option in the Ilanz area Melnq8, would be https://www.graubuenden.ch/en/offer/graubuendenpass


It appears to be reasonably good value for money although not nearly as good as the Davos-Klosters Guest Card which covers a whole lot more.

I would say that on our last visit, the Davos card saved us at least an average of 50 CHF per day for the cost of 6 CHF per day in the 'City Tax.' Since we stayed 10 nights, that adds up.
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Old Mar 10th, 2017, 10:54 AM
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Wow, that's a wealth of information, thanks everybody for the detailed replies.
I've started looking at places, I'll probably keep 10 weekends for Switzerland, with 3-4 in Bernese Oberland, 1-2 for the Italian part, 1-2 for Valais, maybe 1 in St.Moritz area and 1 around Zurich and Geneva each.
Outside Switzerland, I'll probably go to Colmar, since it's closeby, once to Black Forest in Germany and once to the Dolomites.

About the Half Fare card, it's valid only for a month, right? I would get complete value if I go on all 4 weekends to places in Switzerland, use Gondola rides and ferries, right?

Thanks again everyone, I'll do some more research and get back with more specific questions.
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Old Mar 10th, 2017, 11:30 AM
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I noticed there is something called as a "super saver ticket", does the half fare card discount apply to these tickets? If I get these super saver tickets, and I don't go many gondolas and rides, is the half fare card worth it?
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Old Mar 10th, 2017, 01:04 PM
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Thanks Dogeared. I'm familiar with the Graubunden Pass. We'll have a Half Fare Card, so we're covered. I never have seen the point in buying double passes.

IME most guest cards cover things we're not interested in, such as access to swimming pools and skating rinks, etc, but just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something.

We'll be staying in an apartment anyway, so not eligible for a pass offered through hotels.

As an aside, and I could well be wrong, but I think Europeans are more inclined to stay put in one location for a week or longer than the typical American is - less vacation time usually means moving around a bit more to fit more into the average two week holiday.

Pal - what I meant by having learned a few tricks primarily refers to self-catering - renting apartments which can be had for less than a week in the low/shoulder seasons and don't require a Saturday check-in and check-out, or staying in 'apart hotels' that offer low rates in the off season because they don't offer breakfast or daily service. Saves a mint over staying in a three star hotel, let alone somewhere fancy.

Self-catering is a money saver and we like having the extra space anyway. I feel rather cooped up in a hotel for more than a day or two.

Another perk in dealing directly with apartment owners is that they'll often accept an off season booking with no deposit and no cancellation penalty, just an agreement to pay in cash upon arrival.

This is our usual MO. We're paying between 80-83 CHF per night for our apartments in May/June inclusive of cleaning, visitors taxes and WiFi. Works for us.
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