the Glacier Express IMO and IME is not worth the long detour to get to St Moritz - the GE being IMO the most overhyped train in Europe and not nearly the most scenic route in Switzerland IMO. But the tiny portion Visp to Zermatt that the GE rolls over is a very sweet awesomely scenic route but regular trains at cheaper pricing roll over that part constantly with obviously the same scenery. Plus it's a long haul of about 6 hours Brig to St Moritz and a few hours from Murren or Grindelwald to Brig - an all-day marathon. and going to either St Moritz or Zermatt for at most a few hours IMO is not worth the long train ride. I'd spend another few days in the Berner Oberland area as there is so so much to do - perhaps go via the scneic Brunig Pass train from Interlaken to Lucerne - stop there for a few hours to see one of Europe's most loveliest looking cities before going on via Zurich to Munich.

And as you are traveling quite a bit on trains you may want to investigate the Eurail Select Pass for Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Italy - a 4-country pass as you much pass thru Austria en route from Munich to Venice - this is a first-class pass and judge it as so - my decades of incessant European rail travel exhort me to advise anyone on the trip of a lifetime (or even a decade) to go first class - so so much more relaxed - lots bigger seats, lots more empty seats, more room for luggage - etc. Anyway for lots of great info on European trains and passes check out these IMO great sites - www.seat61.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com - check www.seat61.com's commercial link to RailEurope for railpass pricing - and again when comparing the pass price to regular cheapest tickets it is like comparing apples and oranges, first class vs 2nd class (which ain't a cattle car but just that 1st class is more relaxed for folks carrying around luggage especially.

Thanks PalenQ for the great advice! Do you know if the Eurail Select Pass covers most train travel within Switzerland? Also, one of my travel mates wanted to see The Matterhorn, but I'm my research it seems that the scenery in the Bernese Oberland is just as good, if not better.

well the Matterhorn is world famous but you are taking a good chance of not seeing it once there with just an afternoon or so as this famed peak is IME not unusually shrouded in clouds or fog - have to be able to wait it out or the trip just for that could be literally a wash out! Eurail Select covers most Swiss trains that you would be taking - 100% to Interlaken-Ost but then only 25% off up to Murren, Grindelwald, etc. But the fare to Grindelwald ain't much - to Murren however it is as steep as the walls of the Lauterbrunnen canyon Murren is perched on.

I think you'll find one day at Oktoberfest more than adequate. At night, the tents are all leased by various companies and there are really no places for individuals.

The weekends are full of drunk folks, particularly towards the end of Oktobefest. I was there once with over a million people. Could barely walk.

Go the Marienplatz and check out what's happening. If you want a beer or three, go to the Hofbrauhaus and listen to the oom pah band. While there, see if you can imagine that this is where Hitler started his political career. Jumping up on a table and spouting Nazi propaganda. Check outt he ceiling and see how they vented smoke before there was electricity.

Thanks again PalenQ !!

Thank You Rastaguytoday!
After talking to people that have been there in the past and my research , one day at Octoberfest on a weekday seems to be sufficient to experience the flavor of Octoberfest. Do you know if reservations are essential for a table in the tents for a weekday night?

No, a table is not essential. However, each area of a table, which is very long, is reserved for a corporate group.

See the pictures to get an idea of size.

http://www.rowdyingermany.com/2011/09/oktoberfest-tents.html

Time to learn the chicken dance, which the crowd does about every 10-15 minutes.

I was fortunate one night to be the 'honorary' employee of a group of Siemens employees. I'm pretty sure they were making fun of me, but what the hell.

Whatever you do, don't go on some of the rides, particularly if you've had your share and my share of beers. Germans love to do this to see Americans throw up.

However, the bumper cars are great, much faster than American bumper cars.

On another subject, I think you will be sick of moving from one place to another so often. And losing a minimum of half a day each time you move. I would cut the number of stops in half.