pbindigo

Day 1 - Wengen/Murren - Overnight in Interlaken
Day 2 - Grindelwald - Overnight in Interlaken
Day 3 - Jungfrauch - Overnight in Interlaken
Day 4 - Lauterbrunnen - Overnight in Interlaken
Day 5 - Rhine Falls - Overnight in Zurich
Day 6 - Luzern/Mt Titlis - Overnight in Zurich
Day 7 - Mt Rigi/Zurich - overnight in zurich
Day 8 - Appenzell - Overnight in Zurich
Day 9 - Lugano - Overnight in Lugano
Day 10 - Lugano - Overnight in Lugano
Day 11 - Gornergrat - Overnight in Zermatt
Day 12 - Zermatt - overnight in Zermmat

I am traveling with 2 kids 3 yrs and 5 months and my mom and wife. Primarily interested in scenic places/trains/to relax and want to avoid places that are too touristy. For this itinerary I have a few questions and hope someone can help with suggestions and alternatives.
(i) Should I replace either Lugano or Zermatt portion of the trip with Lausanne instead? Is my itinerary too "mountainous" ?
(ii) Will the 15 day swiss flexi pass be more cost effective (with the family card) compared to buying tickets for trips separately or buying the half fare card instead?
(iii) Am I spending too much time or too little time in any location?
(iv) Is the day trip to Appenzell feasible or even worth it on day 8?

Thanks a lot for your help in advance

swandav2000

Hi pbindigo,

I would like to ask what time of year you will be there. If you want to avoid tourists, you will have to avoid Interlaken in the summer months -- and opt to stay in one of the smaller villages in the mountains. Interlaken itself really is tourist central, with tour busses and souvenir shops throughout the summer months. It isn't as bad in the late fall or spring though.

Zürich, Rhine Falls, and Appenzell are not too mountainous, so you should enjoy those days on the plains. If you really are mountain'd-out, though, you don't have to ascend Titlis or Rigi and can just enjoy the lake system around Luzern or maybe cruise to Rapperswil on Lake Zurich instead.

I do think I would not want to have two 2-night stays at the end of the trip, though. It'll be hard to get everyone and the babies all packed up just about every other day. I think I would opt for either Lugano or somewhere on Lake Geneva and enjoy the contrasts, and stay for four nights.

have fun as you continue to plan!

s

pbindigo

swandav2000

Thanks for the response. I will be there in late Sep/early Oct.

Good suggestions on the 2 night trips at the end of the trip. Will look to switch the order for Interlaken to be the last part of the trip. Should I switch to some other town in Interlaken as the base? If so, any suggestions in terms of accessibility to the region?

Also any suggestions on whether to go for a pass or daily tickets?

swandav2000

Hi again,

At that time of the year, I would prefer to go up to one of the car-free villages, either Wengen or Mürren. You may lose 20-30 minutes a day in transport time over staying in Interlaken, but you'll have more joy for more hours in the evenings and mornings with the stupendous views. If you want to spend your time walking/hiking in the mountains, you'll find the trail heads to be pretty much on your doorstep.

Why would you switch Interlaken to the end of the trip? I would put it first, when the weather is more likely to be warmer. I would put either Lugano or Montreux at the end because those places stay warmer longer. I was just saying I would not have two two-night stays at all -- choose one and stay there for four nights.

As for which pass or discount card -- someone just has to do the math. Whenever I used to do the math, I had to do a spreadsheet to keep track of all the options & combinations; and every time, the Half Fare Card came out as the most economical choice (but normally by less than 100 chf). YOu can get all the fares for your trips & excursions at the Swiss rail site

www.rail.ch

Have fun!!

s

pbindigo

Hi swandaav2000

Thanks for the insightful suggestions. We are starting with Berner Oberland region and are looking for accomodation around Murren. I really would like to spend some time in Zermatt/Gornergrat. Will probably switch a day at Zurich with Montreaux so that it will be 4 nights in BO, 2 nts in zermatt, 3 in zurich and end with 3 in Montreaux

swandav2000

Hi again,

I fear I am being nothing but negative with your plans, but again, I think you need to re-look. This plan has you moving back-and-forth through the country. Starting in the Jungfrau region (Mürren), you are moving south to Zermatt then north to Zürich then south to Montreux. I would suggest that you rather go in one direction, either south to north or the reverse.

How are you entering & leaving the country? That would have an impact on choosing your first & last stops.

But anyway, how about going: Zürich - Oberland - Montreux (via the Golden Pass route) - Zermatt.

Have fun as you plan!

s

pbindigo

My flights in and out of Europe is through Belgium. I intend to take overnight trains from AMS to BASEL and back. It does look like a bit of travel within Switzerland but since I guess this would just add a few hours over a 12 day itinerary. What do you think?

I did end up with the 15 day saver pass so would be taking the golden pass route from Zurich to Montreux on the last leg.

swandav2000

Well, I would still try to even out the travel rather than going south to north to south again. I guess I might go:

Basel - Zürich - Oberland - Montreux - Zermatt - Basel

s