Swiss Trip Itineraryand Charges

Old Dec 4th, 2016, 01:32 AM
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Swiss Trip Itineraryand Charges

Hello,

I am willing to tour Switzerland, with my wife, in late May or early June 2017. My plan is to travel from Paris to Switzerland stay there for 2/3 nights and proceed to Venice.

In Switzerland, I am planning to stay in Interlaken and visit Mt Titlis and Mt Jungfrau in 2 respective days. Please suggest whether this is a good idea..

From Paris I will fly to Geneva (as it seems to me a cheap option) - - Please recommend on this...

1. From Geneva should I have buy a Swiss Rail pass for 3/4 days and travel all though in train?

2. Is Interlaken an economic place to stay, from where I can cover the sight-seeings easily?

3. Easiest means to cover Mt Titlis and Mt Jungfrau, from Interlaken... How and what should be the extra charges to travel and enter the facility provided I have Swiss Pass?

4. What else (activities/places) in Switzerland I can visit/explore in this tenure, in the time remaining?

5. Switzerland to Venice - Is it good to come back to Geneva and fly to Venice? or should i take train?.. which would be convenient?


Thanks in Advance..
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Old Dec 4th, 2016, 02:55 AM
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Paris - Geneva:
journey time city center (Gare de Lyon) to city center (Place Cornavin):
3 hrs by train, train web fares start at 29 EUR
www.voyages-sncf.com
4 1/2 hrs by plane, fares for the flight only start at 33 EUR; add at least 10 EUR for local transport.

But you don't need to go to Geneva, if you want to visit only the 2 glacier areas of Titlis and Jungfraujoch.
You could take a direct train from Paris (dp 18.23) to Interlaken as well: web fares start at 38 EUR/pax.

You could then do the Jungfrau thing on day 2 and proceed to Lucerne in the evening (2 hrs journey).
Go to Titlis and back on day 3 and proceed then from Lucerne dp 16.18 to Milano Centrale 19.45/20.15 - Venice ar 22.40

Be aware that neither Jungfraujoch nor Titlis is worth the journey if the weather is bad.
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Old Dec 4th, 2016, 04:47 AM
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Hi Neckervd,

Thanks a lot for you reply..

Train from Paris to Interlaken ranges from 38 EUR to 115 EUR. Also I am unable to find good deals for trains in late May. Please can you advice, when is the right time to book the Tickets.. and also the min fare trains will reach Interlaken at 23:47 Hrs, which would be very late at night. Do you recommend that?

Do I require any Swiss rail pass for this trip requirement ?

Also is there anything you would like to suggest me to explore in Swiss, nearby Interlaken / Lucerne, so that I would spare one more day?

Thanks again....
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Old Dec 4th, 2016, 08:06 AM
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Do I require any Swiss rail pass for this trip requirement ?>

No- not enough travel.

For lots on Swiss trains and the Jungfrau area check www.seat61.com-sage advice on discounted tickets; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

If doing Jungfrau don't do Titlis -a long day trip from Interlaken and spend more time in the Intelaken area.
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Old Dec 4th, 2016, 08:41 AM
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"Also is there anything you would like to suggest me to explore in Swiss, nearby Interlaken / Lucerne, so that I would spare one more day?"

You asked just for the 2 snow mountains Titlis and Jungfraujoch, famous with tourists from overseas.
A visit of Switzerland is rather a bit different. May be you have a look at www. myswitzerland.com and define what you want to see.

Paris - Switzerland train tickets can be booked up to 4 months ahead.
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Old Dec 4th, 2016, 12:26 PM
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The Swiss Transfer Ticket + 1/2 off Half-Fare Card may be your best bet- for details look again at sites I mention above.
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Old Dec 4th, 2016, 12:29 PM
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The Swiss Transfer Ticket +1/2 off Half-Fare Pass gives a 100% covered ticket from any airport or border train station to any place in Switzerland and then a ticket from that one place to any border or airport in Switzerland. Can use on any train, bus, etc -and in between each first and last trip you get 50% off everything just like the Half-Fare Card.

50% off the Jungfraujoch train is worth over $100 alone.

Go from Geneva to Interlaken on any train anytime and then back also - or to other border point.
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Old Dec 4th, 2016, 08:05 PM
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Thanks PalenQ and Neckervd,

Is Montreux a good pick to spare one day. It would not be another Glacier day out and I can see more greenery and riverside there...

Any other pick you have for me if I want to spend a day away from Glaciers?

Also regarding the Swiss transfer ticket.....
my probable transfer might be

Paris-Geneva-Montreux-Interlaken-Lucerne(may not visit it not going to Titlis) - Milan..................

If not Montreux then....
Paris-Interlaken(train)-Lucerne-Milan..

Will it be available for both the route?
and half price for Jungfrau?

Thanks again.
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Old Dec 5th, 2016, 12:28 AM
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Tickets/Railpasses: have a look at
http://www.swisstravelsystem.com/en/...-overview.html
Be careful with the Swiss Transfer ticket: between Lausanne and Interlaken, it would be valid via Berne only (not via Montreux - Golden Pass). Lucerne - Milan would be possible via Interlaken only (if you buy a Interlaken - Lucerne RT ticket).
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Old Dec 5th, 2016, 07:53 AM
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Is Montreux a good pick to spare one day. It would not be another Glacier day out and I can see more greenery and riverside there...>

Not for rivers but for the neat lake and views of Mt Blanc in the distance-take lake boats - go to Castle Chillon a few miles from Montreux -very famous castle on the lake.

The Swiss Transfer Ticket covered rides in and out must each be done in one day- Geneva to one point - good only if staying put in one area most of the time.

Probably not for you it seems.

If you could re-do a day by day itinerary plan we could comment better on passes - if moving around a Swiss Pass could be great.
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Old Dec 5th, 2016, 10:43 AM
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Be careful with the Swiss Transfer ticket: between Lausanne and Interlaken, it would be valid via Berne only (not via Montreux - Golden Pass)>

Yes on the STC you must take the fastest most direct route which would be the one neckervd says.

1. From Geneva should I have buy a Swiss Rail pass for 3/4 days and travel all though in train?>

A 4 consecutive-day pass may be your best option as you will be on trains a lot - also covers buses and gives 50% off most conveyances to mountain tops

<Paris-Geneva-Montreux-Interlaken-Lucerne(may not visit it not going to Titlis) - Milan..................>

STC- only if you are going from airport to Interlaken or Lucerne in one day - and then you must leave from the same place to Milan
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Old Dec 5th, 2016, 11:22 AM
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I am traveling from India and entering Europe though Paris. Both Inbound and Outbound Flight to Europe is from Paris CDG

Below is the full Itinerary as I have structured… Yet to plan though. However, much depending upon your suggestion (thankfully)

30th May - Tue: Reaching Paris CDG @ 13:55 Hrs. Upon reaching Transfer to Switzerland.
(If I am taking flight I will prefer Geneva as flight charge is less. Overnight Stay @ Geneva / Montreux) *

31st May - Wed: Switzerland (Tour Montreux and transfer to Interlaken) *

1st Jun – Thr: Swiss (Sightseeing at Interlaken ) *

2nd Jun – Fri: Swiss Mt Jungfrau (This is a must see for me on any day of the tour)

3rd Jun – Sat: Swiss (Not sure where to go, would love to some natural diversity compared to previous days, but I am not interested in Museums and Skiing ) *

4th Jun – Sun: Start from Switzerland early in the morning to Venice. Overnight Stay @ Venice.
Will follow LUCERNE Train 153 to Milan Centrale – Venice OR
INTERLAKEN WEST Train 960 to Spiez – Milan Centrale – Venice

5th Jun – Mon: Venice city tour. Overnight Stay @ Venice

6th Jun – Tue: Start from Venice early to Florence and transfer to Rome. Overnight stay @ Rome.

7th Jun – Wed: Rome – Vatican

8th Jun – Thr: Rome – Museums and remaining

9th Jun – Fri: Early transfer to Paris (Easyjet 9:40-11:45). Evening @ Eiffel, Night bus trip

10th Jun – Sat: Disneyland

11th Jun – Sun: Louvre – River Cruise – Notredame

12th Jun – Mon: Fly back from Paris

I am not much confident about the part in Switzerland. I wont be visiting Swiss many times, so I want to cover as much beauty of Switzerland as possible. Also there is constraint in time and expense. So if you can suggest an economic tour plan for this part, it will be great…. (The start and end date of the complete tour is sort of fixed though.)

Many Many thanks…
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Old Dec 5th, 2016, 12:03 PM
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No to the STransfer ticket but probably a 3-day Swiss Flexipass + 1/2 off Half-Fare Card you can buy in conjunction with it - again sites I recommend above will have all the details about those passes. But you are traveling enough to make it a good deal -and just hop on virtually any train, boat, bus, tram, etc. flash the pass - no waiting in lines to buy tickets.
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Old Dec 7th, 2016, 01:44 AM
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Train 153 doesn't run in early morning, but in late afternoon.
Train 960 goes from Interlaken to Speiz - Bern - Olten - Basel, with no conncetion from Spiez to Milan.

What do you really want?
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Old Dec 7th, 2016, 09:59 AM
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Train 960 goes from Interlaken to Speiz - Bern - Olten - Basel, with no connection from Spiez to Milan>

well there will be a connection within an hour or so but maybe not a timed one
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Old Dec 7th, 2016, 02:33 PM
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31st May - Wed: Switzerland (Tour Montreux and transfer to Interlaken) *-If taking the scenic Golden Pass train Montreux to Interlaken-Ost try to get VIP seats that put you in a compartment right next to the drive's cabin so you can simulate driving the train! Obviously very few on each train so book on the official site very early - may need a first-class pass or ticket or just pay an upgrade difference between the two fares.

Some VIP seats are at the very rear of the train however. Seat reservations are optional I think but should be done early to guarantee a window seat in the observation compartments.
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Old Dec 8th, 2016, 01:02 AM
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Palen: "well there will be a connection within an hour or so but maybe not a timed one"

Of course, but it doesn't make any sense to leave Interlaken half an hour too early and wait there half an hour in order to see the next train from Interlaken entering Spiez railway station. After that, it will last another 15 minutes until the Berne - Milan train arrives.
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Old Dec 8th, 2016, 10:02 AM
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Yes -but what if that connecting train from Interlaken is late - do they hold up the mainline trains- if so for how long? A half-hour in the station cafe perhaps could be nice. Or just to go outside and ogle the awesome Spiez Castlefar below the station.
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Old Dec 10th, 2016, 07:01 AM
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Hi PalenQ and Neckervd... Thanks a lot...

I am still to pick my choice and 'm confused picking options..

I wish to travel from Paris to Switzerland.. 30th-May-Tuesday Morning. And leaving Swiss for Venice on 4th-June-Sunday Evening
Direct Train to Interlaken is in the evening. So Should I travel via Geneva ?

I am having 4 full days - 31, 1, 2, 3 and Two half days 30 & 4. Please suggest an itinerary

I am planning Half / One day at River / nearby excursion. Which one should I pick
(1) Lake Geneva-Montreux-Chillon Castle or
(2) Lake Thun (with St. Beatus Caves, Oberhofen castle) or (3) Lake Brienz or
(4) Lake Lucerne? -- found the advice from one of your posts

If I pick Montreux, will try to take the scenic Golden Pass train Montreux to Interlaken-Ost

One day at Junfraujoch

The other 2 days I am confused.. whether I would transfer to
(1) Lucerne and Take a trip from there..
(2) Pilatus ( as option for both Cog and Cableway is there) with a night stay up there ?
(3) Or any one from Lucerne -Brunnen / Melchsee-Frutt / Melchtal / Rigi / Stanserhorn
(4) Or San Salvadore
(5) Or St Moritz

Please help
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Old Dec 10th, 2016, 10:01 AM
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I am planning Half / One day at River / nearby excursion. Which one should I pick
(1) Lake Geneva-Montreux-Chillon Castle or
(2) Lake Thun (with St. Beatus Caves, Oberhofen castle) or (3) Lake Brienz or
(4) Lake Lucerne? -- found the advice from one of your posts>

I think a trip on Lake Brienz is better than Lake Thun - so many neat places along the way but all are nice- try to do as many as you can.

If I had to chose one I'd go for Lake Lucerne - to Fluelen and train back from there - stopping say at Vitznau for trains to Mt Rigi and raved vistas all over the spiny Alps of central Switzerland.

Railpasses fully valid on boats- with a 2nd class pass if you want to sit on the open-air up front deck you need to pay a first-class upgrade- well worth it IMO.
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