Interlaken, Lucerne & Zurich Questions / Help Please
Apr 30th, 2013, 05:40 PM
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Interlaken, Lucerne & Zurich Questions / Help Please
Hello everyone! I'm planning a possible trip to Switzerland in about 3 weeks and could use some help. I'm a single male aged 37 looking to relax, enjoy the mountains and check a couple of things off my bucket list. I'm considering the following itin:
Fri. May 17th - Fly From Austin To Zurich
Sat. 18th - Arrive in Zurich in the morning around 8am and train to Interlaken. Have Interlaken as my base until Thurs. 23rd.
Sun. 19th - Hang Gliding excursion and explore the town or go hiking around Interlaken. Any good hike recommendations?
Mon. 20th - Boat around Lake Brienz and explore some towns around the lake - Is this a full day excursion?
Tues. 21st - Flying Wheels bike tour for the day- this goes through Lanterburen & Murren
Wed. 22nd - Day trip up to Gimmelwald
* Would really like to go canyoning and find a way to squeeze that in somewhere? That and the hang gliding excursion are two things on my bucket list. Both excursions they say to allow for 2-4 hrs.
Thurs. 23rd - Train around 9am to Lucerne and explore the city the remainder of the day
Fri. 24th - Do the Golden Round Trip excursion
Sat. 25th - 9am train to Zurich and explore the city core during the day
Sun. 26th - Fly home
My focus would be to spend more time in the mountains vs. the cities. I know Zurich is very expensive but I'm curious about the cost for food, beer etc. in Interlaken and Lucerne? What's a realistic budget for food? I don't need fancy rest. Right now I have $60 per day allocated but that could be high or low? Looking forward to your thoughts. Also, for the amount of travel I'm doing would it be best to just book tickets at the station each time? I know there are some passes I could buy. Based on the train rates I could find and the boat rate to go on the lake I have about $250 figured for what I would need.
Oh, I could possibly fly home that Monday giving me an extra day in the Interlaken area.
Looking forward to your thoughts. Thanks!
Fri. May 17th - Fly From Austin To Zurich
Sat. 18th - Arrive in Zurich in the morning around 8am and train to Interlaken. Have Interlaken as my base until Thurs. 23rd.
Sun. 19th - Hang Gliding excursion and explore the town or go hiking around Interlaken. Any good hike recommendations?
Mon. 20th - Boat around Lake Brienz and explore some towns around the lake - Is this a full day excursion?
Tues. 21st - Flying Wheels bike tour for the day- this goes through Lanterburen & Murren
Wed. 22nd - Day trip up to Gimmelwald
* Would really like to go canyoning and find a way to squeeze that in somewhere? That and the hang gliding excursion are two things on my bucket list. Both excursions they say to allow for 2-4 hrs.
Thurs. 23rd - Train around 9am to Lucerne and explore the city the remainder of the day
Fri. 24th - Do the Golden Round Trip excursion
Sat. 25th - 9am train to Zurich and explore the city core during the day
Sun. 26th - Fly home
My focus would be to spend more time in the mountains vs. the cities. I know Zurich is very expensive but I'm curious about the cost for food, beer etc. in Interlaken and Lucerne? What's a realistic budget for food? I don't need fancy rest. Right now I have $60 per day allocated but that could be high or low? Looking forward to your thoughts. Also, for the amount of travel I'm doing would it be best to just book tickets at the station each time? I know there are some passes I could buy. Based on the train rates I could find and the boat rate to go on the lake I have about $250 figured for what I would need.
Oh, I could possibly fly home that Monday giving me an extra day in the Interlaken area.
Looking forward to your thoughts. Thanks!
Apr 30th, 2013, 06:34 PM
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There has not been anything budget in Switzerland in at least 10 years. Assume meals will cost about double what they do in the US _ for the same type of food in the same type of place. For perspective - a Big Mac meal costs about $17 - versus about $8 in the US.
Small towns will be less expensive than in the larger cities - but all will be expensive - esp versus a small town in the US.
Small towns will be less expensive than in the larger cities - but all will be expensive - esp versus a small town in the US.
Apr 30th, 2013, 09:26 PM
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Hi jbaileyATX,
Well, yes, a Big Mac is expensive -- it's not native to Switzerland. If you want budget fast food, you need to do what the Swiss do -- grab a grilled Wurst from a corner stand, or grab a sandwich from a Kiosk; these cost around 5-8 chf.
Generally a sit-down meal in a medium-priced restaurant will cost around 40-50 chf, more if you have wine. If you take your main meal at lunchtime, though, the meal will be around 20-25 chf. Then, in the evening you can grab some groceries for a picnic -- fresh bread, hams, cheeses, yogurts, chocolates, and wine. You can also eat in a cafeteria -- Manor department stores and Coop grocery stores often have an attached cafeteria.
I think your $60 per day will be good, assuming that you'll have breakfast in your hotel.
Beer costs about the same as bottled water.
Have fun as you plan!
s
Well, yes, a Big Mac is expensive -- it's not native to Switzerland. If you want budget fast food, you need to do what the Swiss do -- grab a grilled Wurst from a corner stand, or grab a sandwich from a Kiosk; these cost around 5-8 chf.
Generally a sit-down meal in a medium-priced restaurant will cost around 40-50 chf, more if you have wine. If you take your main meal at lunchtime, though, the meal will be around 20-25 chf. Then, in the evening you can grab some groceries for a picnic -- fresh bread, hams, cheeses, yogurts, chocolates, and wine. You can also eat in a cafeteria -- Manor department stores and Coop grocery stores often have an attached cafeteria.
I think your $60 per day will be good, assuming that you'll have breakfast in your hotel.
Beer costs about the same as bottled water.
Have fun as you plan!
s
May 1st, 2013, 05:53 AM
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There are a multitude of hikes in the berber oberland:
http://www.myswissalps.com/berneseob...ng.asp?lang=EN
http://www.gorp.com/hiking-guide/tra...ev_059875.html
and finally,
http://wanderland.myswitzerland.com/en/welcome.cfm
For a start!
If you disembark in Brienz (town), a bus at the fery landing takes just 15-20 minutes to reach an outdooor open museum--
Freilich Ballenberg- where old houses of different architecture from throughout Switzerland have been relocated for touring.
Its a nice wooded setting over so many acres with restaurants at bothe the east and west ends (if I recall correctly).
If intersted, allow maybe 3 hours, and catch the bus back to town.
From there, either bus or train back to Interlaken.
http://www.myswissalps.com/berneseob...ng.asp?lang=EN
http://www.gorp.com/hiking-guide/tra...ev_059875.html
and finally,
http://wanderland.myswitzerland.com/en/welcome.cfm
For a start!
If you disembark in Brienz (town), a bus at the fery landing takes just 15-20 minutes to reach an outdooor open museum--
Freilich Ballenberg- where old houses of different architecture from throughout Switzerland have been relocated for touring.
Its a nice wooded setting over so many acres with restaurants at bothe the east and west ends (if I recall correctly).
If intersted, allow maybe 3 hours, and catch the bus back to town.
From there, either bus or train back to Interlaken.
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