Switzerland in August for a family of 11 with 2 seniors..
Apr 23rd, 2016, 04:08 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Switzerland in August for a family of 11 with 2 seniors..
Hello All
Based on a past trip to Switzerland with an amazing itinerary courtesy Fodors.com , I am looking to plan another one to the same area with our parents, both 60+ and 2 kids , 8 & 11 and then the rest in the middle age groups.
Day 1 - Birmingham to Zurich and then to Interlaken/Grindelwald by nightfall. Zurich day tour.
Day 2 - Visit the Jungfrau + anything else that can be clubbed in.
Day 3 - Visit Trummelbach Falls and then to Lucerne for the evening
Day 4 - Via Alpnachstad to Pilatus on the rack railway
Day 5 - Open , ideally paragliding in Lucerne if the weather permits
Day 6 - Lucerne to Zurich and back to the blighty!
Given that the days will be much lighter in August, I can look to club the paragliding at Grindelwald and catch a couple of places around Lucerne or get back to the UK Day 5 evening.
It would be great to get some feedback on this, alongwith tweaking the travel dates and places to get the maximum out of the week in there.
For the duration , what would be an advisable travel plan ? Using a 4 day Swiss Pass ? Anything else..
All suggestions are more than welcome and I thank you for that.
Cheers
Dharmesh
Based on a past trip to Switzerland with an amazing itinerary courtesy Fodors.com , I am looking to plan another one to the same area with our parents, both 60+ and 2 kids , 8 & 11 and then the rest in the middle age groups.
Day 1 - Birmingham to Zurich and then to Interlaken/Grindelwald by nightfall. Zurich day tour.
Day 2 - Visit the Jungfrau + anything else that can be clubbed in.
Day 3 - Visit Trummelbach Falls and then to Lucerne for the evening
Day 4 - Via Alpnachstad to Pilatus on the rack railway
Day 5 - Open , ideally paragliding in Lucerne if the weather permits
Day 6 - Lucerne to Zurich and back to the blighty!
Given that the days will be much lighter in August, I can look to club the paragliding at Grindelwald and catch a couple of places around Lucerne or get back to the UK Day 5 evening.
It would be great to get some feedback on this, alongwith tweaking the travel dates and places to get the maximum out of the week in there.
For the duration , what would be an advisable travel plan ? Using a 4 day Swiss Pass ? Anything else..
All suggestions are more than welcome and I thank you for that.
Cheers
Dharmesh
Apr 23rd, 2016, 04:32 AM
#3
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 57,890
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You are being overly optimistic about the mountains. the tops of the taller mountains are often wreathed in clouds for several days at a time - so you can't allow just one day for the mountains. If you go up when it's cloudy you will see nothing.
We were 3 days in Interlaken before we got a day open at the Jungfrau - not a problem for us since we had planned several days in the area and toured several of the smaller towns/castles and the lakes.
This is less true of the lower mountains - like Mt Pilatus - which are not in the clouds SO much of the time.
This means you need other options for things to do in case the days you want to ascend the mountains are not possible.'
If getting up the Jungfrau is really important I would want at lest 3 days/nights there.
We were 3 days in Interlaken before we got a day open at the Jungfrau - not a problem for us since we had planned several days in the area and toured several of the smaller towns/castles and the lakes.
This is less true of the lower mountains - like Mt Pilatus - which are not in the clouds SO much of the time.
This means you need other options for things to do in case the days you want to ascend the mountains are not possible.'
If getting up the Jungfrau is really important I would want at lest 3 days/nights there.
Apr 23rd, 2016, 07:53 AM
#5
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Using a 4 day Swiss Pass ? Anything else..>
well check out the Berner Oberland Pass - valid in the Jungfrau area and Lucerne too. For lots of good info on Swiss transports check www,swisstravelsystem.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com. Kids get a free Family Pass so never pay anything for anything their parents pay for or have a pass for.
well check out the Berner Oberland Pass - valid in the Jungfrau area and Lucerne too. For lots of good info on Swiss transports check www,swisstravelsystem.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com. Kids get a free Family Pass so never pay anything for anything their parents pay for or have a pass for.
Apr 23rd, 2016, 12:46 PM
#6
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,784
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If your three generations have travelled together before, you probably know that getting everyone to agree is like herding cats. So don't do it. Have an advance understanding that your group can split up during the day, reuniting over the supper table.
Apr 25th, 2016, 12:53 PM
#8
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
- Open , ideally paragliding in Lucerne if the weather permits>
The Interlaken area has lots of this too and in arguably more awesome terrain - http://www.paragliding-interlaken.ch/en
The Interlaken area has lots of this too and in arguably more awesome terrain - http://www.paragliding-interlaken.ch/en
May 14th, 2016, 04:51 AM
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Many thanks All. Its been a few weeks since and a lot of water has flown down the river...
Change of plans :
Geneva to Lucerne via train and then 2 days in Lucerne ( Pilatus + Paragliding if permissible )
Lucerne to Interlaken and day travel to Grindelwald for Jungfrau and another day for Trummelbach + Murren + Schilthorn. Keeping 3 days there as suggested.
Yes, getting 3 generations together is a challenge but knowing their traits will help and we plan accordingly.
Thanks for the suggestions on the travel pass
Cheers All
Change of plans :
Geneva to Lucerne via train and then 2 days in Lucerne ( Pilatus + Paragliding if permissible )
Lucerne to Interlaken and day travel to Grindelwald for Jungfrau and another day for Trummelbach + Murren + Schilthorn. Keeping 3 days there as suggested.
Yes, getting 3 generations together is a challenge but knowing their traits will help and we plan accordingly.
Thanks for the suggestions on the travel pass
Cheers All
May 14th, 2016, 09:45 AM
#12
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Geneva to Lucerne via train and then 2 days in Lucerne ( Pilatus + Paragliding if permissible )>
The Golden Pass, one of Switzerland's legendary scenic trains, connects Montreux on Lake Geneva to Spiez- change there for Bern and Lucerne- takes about a bit longer than fastest route but much more scenic - running thru sweet Alpine valleys. reservations optional but suggested to get a place in an observation car.
http://www.goldenpass.ch/en/goldenpass/offer/view?id=14
And you can take the GP between Lucerne and Interlaken-Ost too - over the scenic Brunig Pass.
The Golden Pass, one of Switzerland's legendary scenic trains, connects Montreux on Lake Geneva to Spiez- change there for Bern and Lucerne- takes about a bit longer than fastest route but much more scenic - running thru sweet Alpine valleys. reservations optional but suggested to get a place in an observation car.
http://www.goldenpass.ch/en/goldenpass/offer/view?id=14
And you can take the GP between Lucerne and Interlaken-Ost too - over the scenic Brunig Pass.
