Switzerland or Germany for 10 days mid April
Jan 29th, 2014, 11:25 AM
#1
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Switzerland or Germany for 10 days mid April
We will be starting a river cruise April 25th from Basel to Paris and have 10 days prior to spend in this area.
Looking for 3 attractive small towns/villages from which we will have a car and do day trips. We have visited Bavaria briefly otherwise have never been to Switzerland or Germany
I realize weather is iffy this time of year so recommendations for areas less likely to be very wintery/snowy would be appreciated.
Thanks for any help.
Looking for 3 attractive small towns/villages from which we will have a car and do day trips. We have visited Bavaria briefly otherwise have never been to Switzerland or Germany
I realize weather is iffy this time of year so recommendations for areas less likely to be very wintery/snowy would be appreciated.
Thanks for any help.
Jan 29th, 2014, 04:23 PM
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Meersburg on Lake Constance - the most temperate area of Germany and only 2:30 hours from Basel. You can visit Lindau, Mainau, Konstanz, and Ravensburg
I was about to say Strasbourg - Ooops - its on your cruise. However, the small wine towns around it would be great; Riquewihr, Hunawihr, Bergheim, Ribeauville, and you won't see them from the Strasbourg stop.
Most of my other thoughts would you have at elevation and increase the possibility of snow you don't want.
I was about to say Strasbourg - Ooops - its on your cruise. However, the small wine towns around it would be great; Riquewihr, Hunawihr, Bergheim, Ribeauville, and you won't see them from the Strasbourg stop.
Most of my other thoughts would you have at elevation and increase the possibility of snow you don't want.
Jan 29th, 2014, 05:11 PM
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Aramis beat me to it. Meersburg on Bodensee (Lake Constance) is a lovely town. We also found Ueberlingen to be quite nice and just a short distance from Meersburg. We have stayed in both. While there, you could also visit the Baroque pilgrimage church in Birnau.
Weather permitting, I'd also add Stein am Rhein in Switzerland with it's charming medieval center and the Rhine Falls in Schaffhausen before heading to the wine towns Aramis mentions above.
Weather permitting, I'd also add Stein am Rhein in Switzerland with it's charming medieval center and the Rhine Falls in Schaffhausen before heading to the wine towns Aramis mentions above.
Jan 29th, 2014, 08:00 PM
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In addition to Meersburg, you could also look at Küssnacht am Rigi (the Küssnacht on the Vierwaldstaettesee/Lake Luzern, although Küsnacht on Lake Zurich is also fine) and explore other villages nearby like Immensee.
Also look at Weggis, Vitznau or Rapperswil.
Also look at Weggis, Vitznau or Rapperswil.
Jan 30th, 2014, 03:48 AM
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I am busy looking at these lovely places and especially like Meersburg as one of the places to stay for a few days. Additionally I think since we have 10 days we could go a little farther afield perhaps within a 6 hour driving radius of Basel
Thanks for the suggestions
Thanks for the suggestions
Feb 1st, 2014, 05:46 AM
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The Ticino region of Switzerland has milder weather and would no doubt be colorfully abloom. We always enjoy Locarno, staying at a lakeside hotel within easy walking distance to the central shopping area. You say that a 6 hour drive from Basel is ok. Locarno fits that requirement, although there can be long slow lines of traffic waiting to drive through the Gottard tunnel.
Feb 1st, 2014, 06:27 AM
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Consider using trains instead of driving, especially in Switzerland, which has superb public transportation. And some of the cutest towns are carfree.
If the weather's iffy, you'd do better in cities, where there's more to do. Maybe Bern or Lucerne, small pretty cities, rather than Zurich or Geneva.
For better weather, simpson's suggestion of Ticino is a good one. Ticino is at the southern foot of the Alps, and Locarno is on Lago Maggiore, most of which is in Italy. There's also Lugano on Lake Lugano. Check out Google images of these places.
If the weather's iffy, you'd do better in cities, where there's more to do. Maybe Bern or Lucerne, small pretty cities, rather than Zurich or Geneva.
For better weather, simpson's suggestion of Ticino is a good one. Ticino is at the southern foot of the Alps, and Locarno is on Lago Maggiore, most of which is in Italy. There's also Lugano on Lake Lugano. Check out Google images of these places.
Feb 14th, 2014, 02:43 PM
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Well I keep coming back to the big question of whether or not to rent a car?
We always get a rental car in Europe and love the freedom and flexibility.
For this trip I have read so many recommendations to use the Swiss train system that I am having difficulty making a decision. We do not plan to stay in large cities rather small towns and villages. Also we will not be doing a lot of alpine driving since we want to avoid snow. Perhaps you can answer these concerns:
Once you get somewhere on the train how do you get around the area(esp rural areas) to see sights of interest? For example hiking trails might be quite a distance from the hotel.
Does use of the train mean you need to find hotels close to the train station just for convenience?
If we do choose to drive should we stay outside of towns and take the train into those towns we want to visit?
I notice some towns may not have train service ie Meersburg and you have to go by bus-this sounds like a bit of a hassle with luggage (we travel light but will still have a medium suitcase to deal with)
I would appreciate thoughts on this from you Switzerland experts and of course thanks for taking the time to reply.
We always get a rental car in Europe and love the freedom and flexibility.
For this trip I have read so many recommendations to use the Swiss train system that I am having difficulty making a decision. We do not plan to stay in large cities rather small towns and villages. Also we will not be doing a lot of alpine driving since we want to avoid snow. Perhaps you can answer these concerns:
Once you get somewhere on the train how do you get around the area(esp rural areas) to see sights of interest? For example hiking trails might be quite a distance from the hotel.
Does use of the train mean you need to find hotels close to the train station just for convenience?
If we do choose to drive should we stay outside of towns and take the train into those towns we want to visit?
I notice some towns may not have train service ie Meersburg and you have to go by bus-this sounds like a bit of a hassle with luggage (we travel light but will still have a medium suitcase to deal with)
I would appreciate thoughts on this from you Switzerland experts and of course thanks for taking the time to reply.
Feb 15th, 2014, 06:55 AM
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You may consider Emmental area with beautiful rolling hills flanked by snow-capped Jungfrau which can be seen from a distance in clear days.
You may view my photos to get an idea of where to go in the link below:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/travel-...7641015962024/
You may view my photos to get an idea of where to go in the link below:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/travel-...7641015962024/
Feb 15th, 2014, 11:24 AM
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firstlake - there are a lot of people who simply never consider driving in Europe, for whatever reason. Often, when they reply to posters they suggest what they are familiar with; it does not make a "better". The Swiss rails system is "great" but that is a meaningless description if it does not serve the places you want to go well, with the flexibility you want, or you if you want the freedom to stop and head up some newly discovered road.
What is right for you is what feels best based on your past experience, what you want from this trip and an analysis of the ability of the rail network vs car to assist you in doing that, not the preferences of another person.
If you enjoy driving, with the freedom and flexibility it provides, then go for it. If trains seem to suit your logistical goals, which would be moving from well served centre to well served centre or staying in one location and doing a hub and spoke kind of day trip approach, then use trains.
I have done all driving trips, all train trips, and one all flying trip, for my intra-european legs and most often do a combination of driving (which I love) and trains.
To Answer Your Specific Questions;
>>>Once you get somewhere on the train how do you get around the area(esp rural areas) >>>to see sights of interest? For example hiking trails might be quite a distance from the hotel.
You find other transportation like buses or taxis or walk.
>>>Does use of the train mean you need to find hotels close to the train station just for >>>convenience?
You can do that or you can take taxis.
>>>If we do choose to drive should we stay outside of towns and take the train into those >>>towns we want to visit?
It really depends on the place. If it is a large city that is notorious for traffic (Florence, Rome, Paris, etc.) you may consider dropping the rental on arrival and picking up another when you leave. In moderate or smaller places, if you are comfortable, you can keep the car. The hotel will certainly advise on you the best and cheapest places nearby where you can park, if they don't have their own parking. The cost of parking is just an addition to the cost of the rental you need to account for - it is never a go/no go decision as far as I am concerned. I parked our car in Seville for 4 days on one trip -public garage that was walking distance to the hotel, for 15 Euros a day. It was still cheaper than two rentals
>>>I notice some towns may not have train service ie Meersburg and you have to go by bus-this >>>sounds like a bit of a hassle with luggage (we travel light but will still have a medium suitcase to >>>deal with)
I tend to agree - all art of the analysis you need to make.
What is right for you is what feels best based on your past experience, what you want from this trip and an analysis of the ability of the rail network vs car to assist you in doing that, not the preferences of another person.
If you enjoy driving, with the freedom and flexibility it provides, then go for it. If trains seem to suit your logistical goals, which would be moving from well served centre to well served centre or staying in one location and doing a hub and spoke kind of day trip approach, then use trains.
I have done all driving trips, all train trips, and one all flying trip, for my intra-european legs and most often do a combination of driving (which I love) and trains.
To Answer Your Specific Questions;
>>>Once you get somewhere on the train how do you get around the area(esp rural areas) >>>to see sights of interest? For example hiking trails might be quite a distance from the hotel.
You find other transportation like buses or taxis or walk.
>>>Does use of the train mean you need to find hotels close to the train station just for >>>convenience?
You can do that or you can take taxis.
>>>If we do choose to drive should we stay outside of towns and take the train into those >>>towns we want to visit?
It really depends on the place. If it is a large city that is notorious for traffic (Florence, Rome, Paris, etc.) you may consider dropping the rental on arrival and picking up another when you leave. In moderate or smaller places, if you are comfortable, you can keep the car. The hotel will certainly advise on you the best and cheapest places nearby where you can park, if they don't have their own parking. The cost of parking is just an addition to the cost of the rental you need to account for - it is never a go/no go decision as far as I am concerned. I parked our car in Seville for 4 days on one trip -public garage that was walking distance to the hotel, for 15 Euros a day. It was still cheaper than two rentals
>>>I notice some towns may not have train service ie Meersburg and you have to go by bus-this >>>sounds like a bit of a hassle with luggage (we travel light but will still have a medium suitcase to >>>deal with)
I tend to agree - all art of the analysis you need to make.
Feb 15th, 2014, 11:55 AM
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I actually like Stein am Rhein even better than Meersburg (though both are lovely). With more time, you could venture into southern or Eastern Switzerland (Murren, Spiez, Guarda) -- though don't know what the weather would be like at this time of year. Also consider southern Bavaria, and towns like Mittenwald.
Feb 16th, 2014, 07:38 AM
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I disagree with Aramis. Some places are better with a car, some are better without. Better with a car: Provence, the Dordogne, rural Tuscany, the Cotswolds, the English Lake District, Wales. We've happily driven in all these places. Better without a car: the Cinque Terre, the Amalfi coast in high season, all European cities, especially Venice, AND most especially Switzerland. As I said before, some places in Switzerland you can't get to with a car. Plus the driver has to keep his eyes on the twisty road, can't (shouldn't) be taking in the scenery.
And Aramis' suggestion of dropping a car as you come into Florence is impractical. Either you leave the car on the outskirts or at the airport and take some other form of transport into the historic center (where you will want to stay). Or drive into the center, get entangled in narrow streets and chance stumbling into a ZTL, a locals-only zone. There are many ZTLs in central Florence. They photograph your license plate, get your address from the car rental company (which charges your credit card for this service), and mail you an expensive ticket.
Non-Italian cities don't have ZTLs, but their centers are still crowded, and offer few, expensive parking garages. If you choose to stay on the outskirts of a city at a place where you can park, you'll see less of the sights and spend valuable vacation time on a bus or a subway getting into and out of the center.
In Switzerland, maybe a pass of some sort would offer you the flexibility you want. We had a Swiss Pass, which applied to trains, buses, and boats on the lakes. And offered a discount on privately owned trains, gondolas, etc. One of the great virtues of the Swiss transportation system is the way the schedules link up. The train connects with the boat connects with a bus, which is waiting there when you arrive.
When we stayed in Locarno, in the Swiss canton of Ticino, there were people spending their vacations exploring into the mountains on the comfortable Swiss buses.
So consider giving up the familiar -- driving -- for what I think is a better experience.
And Aramis' suggestion of dropping a car as you come into Florence is impractical. Either you leave the car on the outskirts or at the airport and take some other form of transport into the historic center (where you will want to stay). Or drive into the center, get entangled in narrow streets and chance stumbling into a ZTL, a locals-only zone. There are many ZTLs in central Florence. They photograph your license plate, get your address from the car rental company (which charges your credit card for this service), and mail you an expensive ticket.
Non-Italian cities don't have ZTLs, but their centers are still crowded, and offer few, expensive parking garages. If you choose to stay on the outskirts of a city at a place where you can park, you'll see less of the sights and spend valuable vacation time on a bus or a subway getting into and out of the center.
In Switzerland, maybe a pass of some sort would offer you the flexibility you want. We had a Swiss Pass, which applied to trains, buses, and boats on the lakes. And offered a discount on privately owned trains, gondolas, etc. One of the great virtues of the Swiss transportation system is the way the schedules link up. The train connects with the boat connects with a bus, which is waiting there when you arrive.
When we stayed in Locarno, in the Swiss canton of Ticino, there were people spending their vacations exploring into the mountains on the comfortable Swiss buses.
So consider giving up the familiar -- driving -- for what I think is a better experience.
Feb 16th, 2014, 08:23 AM
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>>>>I disagree with Aramis. Some places are better with a car, some are better without.
I find it fascinating that you disagree with me when I said exactly the same thing.
>>>>As I said before, some places in Switzerland you can't get to with a car.
And many many more that you can't get to without one, correct? If they want to go Wengen or some other car free place (there aren't that many entirely car free towns, usually just the centres like everywhere else) they will have to figure out where to leave a car and take the train.
>>>>And Aramis' suggestion of dropping a car as you come into Florence is impractical. Either you leave the car on the outskirts or at the airport and take some other form of transport into the historic center.
I didn't suggest they drop a car as they come into Florence because they are not going to Florence. I was providing background for a concept. For discussion's sake, the way you describe it is one way to do it in Florence - another is to drop the car in a nearby city after having toured Tuscany (which is better with a car as you note) and taking the train in. I have done both and found neither impractical given my overall plans and logistics. Very few places have ZTL like restrictions as comprehensive as those of Florence; Granada is another but the OP is not going there either so I won't discuss specifics for that either. It may feel impractical for you to do these things, but perhaps not for others.
If the OP decides to drive in Germany and drop the car for trains in Switzerland - great. If they don't - great. If they decide to take trains everywhere - great.
Information enabling them to make a decision based on their preferences is what is important.
I find it fascinating that you disagree with me when I said exactly the same thing.
>>>>As I said before, some places in Switzerland you can't get to with a car.
And many many more that you can't get to without one, correct? If they want to go Wengen or some other car free place (there aren't that many entirely car free towns, usually just the centres like everywhere else) they will have to figure out where to leave a car and take the train.
>>>>And Aramis' suggestion of dropping a car as you come into Florence is impractical. Either you leave the car on the outskirts or at the airport and take some other form of transport into the historic center.
I didn't suggest they drop a car as they come into Florence because they are not going to Florence. I was providing background for a concept. For discussion's sake, the way you describe it is one way to do it in Florence - another is to drop the car in a nearby city after having toured Tuscany (which is better with a car as you note) and taking the train in. I have done both and found neither impractical given my overall plans and logistics. Very few places have ZTL like restrictions as comprehensive as those of Florence; Granada is another but the OP is not going there either so I won't discuss specifics for that either. It may feel impractical for you to do these things, but perhaps not for others.
If the OP decides to drive in Germany and drop the car for trains in Switzerland - great. If they don't - great. If they decide to take trains everywhere - great.
Information enabling them to make a decision based on their preferences is what is important.
