8 Day trip to Swiss and France

Old May 26th, 2015, 03:27 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
8 Day trip to Swiss and France

Hi everyone, urgently need your suggestions to plan my first ever trip to Europe. Please find below the tenative details of my trip and things I have taken into consideration. Accordingly feel free to fill me in with your revered advices.

Kindly note - I will be travelling with my wife.

I have 27th June to 5th of July to plan my trip. Broadly I am flying in on 27th (London to Zurich) and flying out on 5th July (from Paris)

Jun 27th (Sat) - Plan to fly to Zurich early morning. Need to decide if I should stay over for the night or directly headover to Interlaken for the night.
Filler - Heard Few things like visit to choc factory/walk around the city chapel or river can be done in few hours. If there is anything else worthwile to do around then I can stay over for the night and leave for Interlaken/Murren next day.

27th night/28th morning to 30th - Planning to stay at some beautiful hill top budget hotel (3*)/ backpackers/ some acco booked through airbnb, for next 2-3 days. Need to plan this in more detail
Fillers - Plan to goto Jungfrau. Also look forward to do one of those countryside trek. Not sure if the costly sport activities such as diving/gliding/etc. will fit the budget. Other than that not quite sure how to spend the time most effectively (Suggestions pls!)

1st July - I have whole of this day to kill
Fillers - If possible wish to do one of those panoramic train tour such as Glacier/Golden pass etc. Someone suggested Bern has very beautiful valley landscape (change from the hilly terrain near Interlaken)

2nd July - Plan to visit Paris. Either can take the night train(to save time, hopefully will get reservation and cost difference is not huge) or travel early morning from Geneva/Bern/etc.
For next 3 days will be in Paris 2-5.

Fillers - . I am thinking of doing the regular - Eiffel, Louvre, D'Orsay, Disney(1 day), River siene tour, city bus tour. Kindly suggest whether they seem fine or I can better plan it in the 3 days of stay in Paris.

Thanks a ton. Kindly let me know if you need any other necessary details

Cheers.
Viciss is offline  
Old May 26th, 2015, 03:50 AM
  #2  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Also if possible do suggest how to go about booking the train tickets and stays. Moreover, what makes better financial sense should I buy Swiss travel pass (4days) + train ticket paris (150 euro) or France-swiss Eurail pass (5 days). In terms of ease of travel within Swiss and benefits for local tours n travel, are poth passes similar?

Thanks

I know I am put up a lot of questions. Will appreaciate if any experienced traveler/member can share even few words of advice. It will a long way in making the trip more memorable.
Viciss is offline  
Old May 26th, 2015, 03:57 AM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Swiss Pass will be a good deal I think but not the Swiss-France Eurailpass because that pass will not cover many things a Swiss Pass will - especially in the Jungfrau Region - the 4-day Swiss Pass will be a good deal I think - anyway here are some superb sites for help planning the rail portion in Switzerland - www.swisstravelsystem.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

For discounted train tickets Swiss to Paris www.voyages-sncf.com and www.capitainetrain.com has deep discounted tickets if you book way in advance - those two sites have the same trains but are different booking engines - anyway can save a ton over regular fare but those tickets are non-chnageable non-refundable I think.
PalenQ is offline  
Old May 26th, 2015, 04:21 AM
  #4  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks @PalenQ. will definitely have a look at the suggested sites for more info. DO you reckon I can do a panoramic tour during the limited time-period of my visit. If yes, which one will you suggest. moreover any suggestion for the city from where I should take the train to Paris.

Thanks
Viciss is offline  
Old May 26th, 2015, 04:27 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,331
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I would spend the 27th & 28th in Luzern, and then spend the 29th & 30th in one of the mountain villages in the Jungfrau region such as Grindlewald, Wengen, Lauterbrunnen, Murren, or Gimmelwald.

They all have great views and are springboards to great hikes. Gindlewald is very touristy and is essentially a resort. Wengen and Murren are small traffic-free towns and are a delight. Gimmelwald, my favorite, is a tiny traffic-free village perched on a cliff.

Sleep in Bern on the 1st. It's got a Paul Clee museum, a terrific Einstein museum, and a good medieval core.

Also, let the weather guide your itinerary here. If the forecast is dreary, the alps won't be as rewarding and you may want to trim a day or two and add them to Paris. On the other hand, if you get great weather I would ditch Luzern entirely and add the time to the alps.
Edward2005 is offline  
Old May 26th, 2015, 05:51 AM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Well one scenic train you could take would be the Golden Pass between Interlaken and Montreux, on Lake Geneva - spend a few days in that sweet area and then take a train from either Lausanne or Geneva to Paris. The Golden Pass has panoramic observation cars and goes by lovely alpine areas of lush valleys framed by snow-covered Alps. Swiss Passes fully valid on the Golden Pass.
PalenQ is offline  
Old May 26th, 2015, 06:07 AM
  #7  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks @Edward2005 for your captivating suggestions. Do tell if it will be possible for me to do a panoramic ride in between. Also how do you suggest we may spend our time during stay at Lucerne.

I am evn thinking of squishing an additional day for switzerland and cut short paris trip to 2 days only.
Viciss is offline  
Old May 26th, 2015, 06:17 AM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Between Lucerne and Interlaken-Ost, stepping off point for trains to Wengen, Grindelwald, etc you can take the Golden Pass scenic train which goe sup and over the Brunig Pass - a really neat ride and once in the Interlaken area every train is scenic - sometimes dramatically so - also aerial gondolas go off in all directions - be sure to take one of those iconic Swiss things.
PalenQ is offline  
Old May 26th, 2015, 06:29 AM
  #9  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
So from the feedbacks, the trip is shaping up as something like this -

Day 1(27th Jun) - Zurich to lucerne . Night stay - Lucerne
Day 2 - Lucerne to Interlaken. Night stay - Murren
Day 3 - Murren (Trip to Jungfrau)
Day 4 - Murren (mayb?). Countryside Trek or Day trip to Bern?
Day 5 - Murren to Montreux/Laussane (via Golden Pass)
Day 6 - M/L to Paris (via Geneva) (boat ride on Lake Geneva?)
Day 7 - Paris (Day - Louvre, Evening - Eiffel/Siene River Cruise?)
Day 8 - Paris (City bus tour(hop on/off) or D'Orsay ?) or just roam around
Day 9(5th Jul) - Paris to home

Travel Plan - Swiss Pass(Jungfrau discount, Golden Pass free?) + Geneva to Paris TGV ticket

Guys how does it sound? Is it good to go ahead with the bookings or do you suggest any further fine tuning

Must say your feedbacks have been invaluable so far

Cheers
Viciss is offline  
Old May 26th, 2015, 05:01 PM
  #10  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Kindly respond if the above itinerary looks viable. Also need clarifications regarding

1. Does Golden Pass gets covered fully in swiss pass or do I need to make reservation separately.

2. For the stay in swiss from 27th to 2nd morning (does it count as 4 days or 5 days?), should I take 4 or 5 days swiss travel pass or 3-4 days flexi pass

Thanks
Viciss is offline  
Old May 27th, 2015, 04:59 AM
  #11  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Can you pls suggest hotels/hostels at the below places
1. Luzerne
2. Murren
3. Lausaane/Vevey/Montreux
4. Paris

Also what is the cheapest way to commute around Paris?

Much thanks
Viciss is offline  
Old May 27th, 2015, 05:31 AM
  #12  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,343
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hi Viciss,

What is your budget for your hotels? Please give us some hard figures -- 150 chf or 250 chf, etc. Everyone will have a different idea of what "budget" or "moderate" would be.

s
swandav2000 is online now  
Old May 27th, 2015, 05:44 AM
  #13  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Lauterbrunnen and Grindlewald have more budget accommodations than Murren or Wengen I think - Murren is also more isolated and more a pain to get to and from - taking a train first to a gondola to Lauterbrunnen then a train to ...

reservations are not required on the Golden Pass train - optional and advised if you want a place in an observation panoramic car though - easy to make once in Switzerland or on the official GP web site.
PalenQ is offline  
Old May 27th, 2015, 08:47 AM
  #14  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hi swandav2000, my preferred budget is around 150 CHF.
Viciss is offline  
Old May 27th, 2015, 08:50 AM
  #15  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Interlaken itself, a wonderful city that few take time to explore, has very affordable accomodations within that price range - Lucerne may be a bit tough.
PalenQ is offline  
Old May 27th, 2015, 10:39 AM
  #16  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Also what is the cheapest way to commute around Paris?>

by metro - if there from Monday thru Sunday and taking several metro rides check into the Navigo Pass - not sure of current name but unlimited rides on metros and buses for whole week but week only comes Mon-Sun, for the needs of commuter I guess.

http://translate.google.com/translat...e/&prev=search
PalenQ is offline  
Old May 27th, 2015, 12:08 PM
  #17  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Most people don't use the metro that much and their time there does not often comport with the Mon-Sun scheme of Navigo - the best thing for most is to buy a 'carnet' of metro tickets - a group of ten tickets at a time - cheaper than buying individual tickets and they can be shared with anyone - buy them in machines or at ticket windows and if you don't use all bring em back next time seem to be valid forever.
PalenQ is offline  
Old May 27th, 2015, 02:05 PM
  #18  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Navigo passes for a week cost about 22 euros I think - many folks will never ride that much!
PalenQ is offline  
Old May 27th, 2015, 09:46 PM
  #19  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,343
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hi again,

I didn't realize what your dates were and how late you are to start your reservations. This is especially troublesome because the world famous Montreux Jazz Fest runs from 3-18 July, so some performers who come early and lots of others may already be holding hotel rooms for those dates. So, 150 chf per night for 3 nights will give you a budget of

But I did a check at the area's central reservation site

www.montreux-vevey.com

and here's what they still have available for 1-2 July:

Golf-Hotel Rene Capt (Territet) 159 chf
De la Vielle Tour (La Tour-de-Peilz) 125 chf
Hotel Masson (Territet) 140 chf
Hostellerie de Geneve (Vevey) 150 chf

There were some others available, but I didn't include them here because they are not convenient at all.

Of those listed here, I would coose the Golf-Hotel Rene Capt because I love its location. It's a bit away from the madness of central Montreux, and it's closer to Chillon, and it's right on the lake. Other than that, I would choose the Hostellerie de Geneve, which is actually a very popular restaurant right in the center of Vevey, a few feet from the lake and a few steps from the train station.

If you could push your budget, I would recommend the Hostellerie Bon Rivage in La Tour-de-Peilz. It sits right on the lake in a suburb of Vevey, right at a bus stop. For your dates, the rate is 165 chf.

Good luck finding some good places!

s
swandav2000 is online now  
Old May 27th, 2015, 09:48 PM
  #20  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,343
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Sorry. I realized later that you only want 1 night -- I did check hotels for that one night but forgot to change what I wrote just above that.

s
swandav2000 is online now  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -