8 days itinerary Geneva to Zurich
Aug 1st, 2012, 03:41 AM
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8 days itinerary Geneva to Zurich
Hi Me and my husband are planning a trip to Switzerland on September 11-18
This is our initial itinerary
Arrive in Geneva
Spend 2 nights in Montreux
then 3 nights in Wengen
2 nights in Lucerne
and depart Zurich
Is this ok?
This is our initial itinerary
Arrive in Geneva
Spend 2 nights in Montreux
then 3 nights in Wengen
2 nights in Lucerne
and depart Zurich
Is this ok?
Aug 1st, 2012, 04:45 AM
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for that much train travel in a 8-day period look at buying two 4-day-consecutive Swiss Passes, which cover not only trains but lake boats on lakes in Geneva, Lucerne and Interlaken as well as city buses and trams and gives free etnry to over 400 Swss museums - a Saverpass is two names on one pass.
why buy two 4-consecutive-day passes and not on 8-day consecutive Saverpass - well because for travel after Sep 1, 2012 you can buy 2 4-day passes for the price of one - a great special that applies only to the 4-day consecutive or 4-day flexipasses - cheaper than an 8-day pass and would cover all your trains and boats as uutlined including 100% up to Wengen.
For lots of great info on Swiss trains and passes, etc I always spotlight these IMO fantastic sites - www.swisstravelsystem.com - http://www.budgeteuropetravel.com/id3.html and www.ricksteves.com.
Compare pass prices both in dollars if bought in US - if you live there and the same exact pass if bought in Switzerland (at any train station) - I have bought passes for years and often the price for the same pass in dollars for some reason has been cheaper than if bought in Switzerland - this is not always the case so compare and if little difference just buy upon arrival.
why buy two 4-consecutive-day passes and not on 8-day consecutive Saverpass - well because for travel after Sep 1, 2012 you can buy 2 4-day passes for the price of one - a great special that applies only to the 4-day consecutive or 4-day flexipasses - cheaper than an 8-day pass and would cover all your trains and boats as uutlined including 100% up to Wengen.
For lots of great info on Swiss trains and passes, etc I always spotlight these IMO fantastic sites - www.swisstravelsystem.com - http://www.budgeteuropetravel.com/id3.html and www.ricksteves.com.
Compare pass prices both in dollars if bought in US - if you live there and the same exact pass if bought in Switzerland (at any train station) - I have bought passes for years and often the price for the same pass in dollars for some reason has been cheaper than if bought in Switzerland - this is not always the case so compare and if little difference just buy upon arrival.
Aug 1st, 2012, 05:34 AM
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Hi NinaCarpz,
Yes, your itinerary sounds fine. I would include the scenic Golden Pass train route to go from Montreux to Wengen. You can see the route at the Swiss rail site at
www.rail.ch
and you would use
from Montreux
To Wengen
Via Gstaad
Oh, and I've always found the Half Fare Card to be the most economical way to use the trains. It costs 110 chf and gives you half off practically everything that moves in the country.
Price out all the train trips you're planning to take, then compare the sum to all the passes and the HFC. That two-for-one price for the Swiss Pass is an excellent deal, though.
Have fun as you plan!
s
Yes, your itinerary sounds fine. I would include the scenic Golden Pass train route to go from Montreux to Wengen. You can see the route at the Swiss rail site at
www.rail.ch
and you would use
from Montreux
To Wengen
Via Gstaad
Oh, and I've always found the Half Fare Card to be the most economical way to use the trains. It costs 110 chf and gives you half off practically everything that moves in the country.
Price out all the train trips you're planning to take, then compare the sum to all the passes and the HFC. That two-for-one price for the Swiss Pass is an excellent deal, though.
Have fun as you plan!
s
Aug 1st, 2012, 09:15 AM
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Oh, and I've always found the Half Fare Card to be the most economical way to use the trains. It costs 110 chf and gives you half off practically everything that moves in the country.>
even better than the 2 for the price of 1 pass special I described - or even not with the travel envisioned - and with an at will pass I always find myself doing more than if I even had to buy tickets at half price - plus never having to wait in line, etc.
Half-Price is probably best for Swandav because I believe she has seen all of Switzerland and now goes mainly to one place? But if traveling around the country much I'd strongly look at the Swiss Pass - anyways compare prcies at www.sbb.ch and the pass.
folks staying in Wengen may find they want to go down to Interlaken say at night or just to re-load food, etc at lower prices at the huge Coop supermarket right by Interlaken-Ost station, etc - You will use a pass more than the defiite trips you have in mind often - perhaps on a rainy day in Wengen then hop the trains to Bern or Lucerne - cities more enjoyable in wet weather than trekking around the muddly Alps - and these can cost a ton even at half-price - pass gives you freedome and flexibility to on a whim say - ah 4pm - nice afternoon - let's pop down to Interlaken and do a short boat cruise on Lake Thun (boats covered in full by pass), etc.
If you know exactly what you will do and where you will go and will do no more then yes take whatever is cheapest but for the average tourist traveling around Switzerland from place to place the Swiss Pass I believe is the ticket to ride - and especially so with the 2 for the price of 1 pass offering for travels after Sep 1, 2012.
even better than the 2 for the price of 1 pass special I described - or even not with the travel envisioned - and with an at will pass I always find myself doing more than if I even had to buy tickets at half price - plus never having to wait in line, etc.
Half-Price is probably best for Swandav because I believe she has seen all of Switzerland and now goes mainly to one place? But if traveling around the country much I'd strongly look at the Swiss Pass - anyways compare prcies at www.sbb.ch and the pass.
folks staying in Wengen may find they want to go down to Interlaken say at night or just to re-load food, etc at lower prices at the huge Coop supermarket right by Interlaken-Ost station, etc - You will use a pass more than the defiite trips you have in mind often - perhaps on a rainy day in Wengen then hop the trains to Bern or Lucerne - cities more enjoyable in wet weather than trekking around the muddly Alps - and these can cost a ton even at half-price - pass gives you freedome and flexibility to on a whim say - ah 4pm - nice afternoon - let's pop down to Interlaken and do a short boat cruise on Lake Thun (boats covered in full by pass), etc.
If you know exactly what you will do and where you will go and will do no more then yes take whatever is cheapest but for the average tourist traveling around Switzerland from place to place the Swiss Pass I believe is the ticket to ride - and especially so with the 2 for the price of 1 pass offering for travels after Sep 1, 2012.
Aug 1st, 2012, 01:24 PM
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between Wengen and Lucerne be sure to take the scenic Brunig Pass route, part of the fabled Golden Pass route rather than the quicker mainline route via Bern
In any case you first must go down to Interlaken-Ost then take a train on mainline via Bern or, IMO much more scenic take a train that first trundles along lovely Lake Brienz to Meiringen, where it reverses to begin its strenous ascent up to the summit of the Brunig Pass and then plunges down towards Lucerne, passing some neat Alpine lakes en route before going along a big of the shores of Lake Lucerne to Lucerne.
This is the only SBb - Swiss Federal Railways (mainline trains owned by the Swiss state) to use cog-wheels to help climb and to help brake on steep ascents and descents - hearing the cogs go down only adds to the excitement IMO.
So though it may take an hour or so longer - perhaps even less take the Brunig Pass route and you could also hop the few daily official Golden Pass train with commentary en route - 100% covered by a Swiss Pass - no reservations required but suggested to get a place in a domed Observation Panoramic car.
In any case you first must go down to Interlaken-Ost then take a train on mainline via Bern or, IMO much more scenic take a train that first trundles along lovely Lake Brienz to Meiringen, where it reverses to begin its strenous ascent up to the summit of the Brunig Pass and then plunges down towards Lucerne, passing some neat Alpine lakes en route before going along a big of the shores of Lake Lucerne to Lucerne.
This is the only SBb - Swiss Federal Railways (mainline trains owned by the Swiss state) to use cog-wheels to help climb and to help brake on steep ascents and descents - hearing the cogs go down only adds to the excitement IMO.
So though it may take an hour or so longer - perhaps even less take the Brunig Pass route and you could also hop the few daily official Golden Pass train with commentary en route - 100% covered by a Swiss Pass - no reservations required but suggested to get a place in a domed Observation Panoramic car.
Aug 1st, 2012, 08:48 PM
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Pal -- please read all of my post. I did add that
"That two-for-one price for the Swiss Pass is an excellent deal, though."
It would be hard to beat that price.
Pal -- I've never run around the country and have always based myself at one place. If I want to see other places, then I stay there for 4 or 5 nights on my next trip. I don't like to pack/unpack or just set foot in places.
s
"That two-for-one price for the Swiss Pass is an excellent deal, though."
It would be hard to beat that price.
Pal -- I've never run around the country and have always based myself at one place. If I want to see other places, then I stay there for 4 or 5 nights on my next trip. I don't like to pack/unpack or just set foot in places.
s
Aug 2nd, 2012, 05:06 AM
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sorry swandav for not more carefully reading your post. and yes for someone basing in one place either the Half-fare Card or Swiss Card (same as half-fare thing but gives trip to and from any place and this aspect could make it better for some than a Half-Fare Card, or just buying tickets lodcally could well be better than a Swiss Pass - assuming no sales are on!
Aug 2nd, 2012, 10:56 AM
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anyone going to Lauterbrunnen from Interlaken-Ost (for Wengen) should know that the train splits at Zweilutshcenen (sp?) shortly after leving Interlaken - half the train trundles up a valley to Grindelwald and the other half to Luaterbrunen.
I have taken this train many times and there are always flummoxed folks who suddenly have to get out of one car and into another car that will actually take them to where they want to go - often that car is already crowded - so be sure to read the labels on the outside of each car on the standing train in Interlaken to be sure you are in the right half.
And the train does split - one poster here claims that it does not but ignore her - confirmation right from the BOB Railways proved she did not know of what she was talking when she adamantly claimed the train did not split and actually left from separate platforms in Interlaken - the trains do split so get on the right half for a smooth ride.
I have taken this train many times and there are always flummoxed folks who suddenly have to get out of one car and into another car that will actually take them to where they want to go - often that car is already crowded - so be sure to read the labels on the outside of each car on the standing train in Interlaken to be sure you are in the right half.
And the train does split - one poster here claims that it does not but ignore her - confirmation right from the BOB Railways proved she did not know of what she was talking when she adamantly claimed the train did not split and actually left from separate platforms in Interlaken - the trains do split so get on the right half for a smooth ride.
Aug 2nd, 2012, 11:33 AM
#10
Itinerary sounds fine to me.
In Montreux I recommend Chateau de Chillon, the Rochers de Naye tram up the mountain if the weather is nice, Old Town Monterux, and if you happen to be there on Tues/Sat the Vevey street market, on Fri the Montreux street market.
In Montreux I recommend Chateau de Chillon, the Rochers de Naye tram up the mountain if the weather is nice, Old Town Monterux, and if you happen to be there on Tues/Sat the Vevey street market, on Fri the Montreux street market.
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