joaniejd

Hi, we will be taking our then 6 1/2 month old baby to Switzerland in September. Have yet to travel with baby-so will be an experience!

We have the ability to stay in any of the following cities: Davos Dorf,Davos-Platz, Geneva, Vitznau, & Zurich. Geneva seems pretty & interesting, not sure about some of these other place. With the baby, we will probably want to only go to 2 locations & will be going for about 12 days.

What do you think is the best way to divide up the trip? Is there enough to do in these places (with baby in tow) Obviously we'll be taking it easy, doing a few activities/day due to baby (not as robust a trip if it were just me & DH)

Im thinking Geneva Plus one of these other places? Would love some ideas out there? Thanks so much!

logos999

Stay at home, would be the only reasonable advice!

nytraveler

I think I would stay just in Geneva - in an apartment - which will make it much easier with baby. Then I would rent a car for day trips.

There is a lot to do right in the town and on the lake - as well as numerous options for day trips - either further along the lake or up into the mountains for half a day or so.

(I don;t suggest a lot of time in the mountains because baby is really too young to enjoy long hikes - and with a child that small - there is just so much you have to carry around with you.)

suze

I would stay in Geneva the whole trip and take day trips from there. I very much favor the french-speaking part of Switzerland, is one reason.

The 'Old Town' in Geneva is an interesting area. Go out to Gruyere for a nice day trip. There is a fascinating castle there and some nice restaurants in the village for lunch. I heard the cheese making is 'boring' but we didn't go.

And very very easy to take the train out to Morges, Lausanne, Vevey, and/or Montreux. These are all lovely towns that sit right along Lac Leman. There are also boat trips to get there from Geneva or between some of the towns. At Montreux is Chateau de Chillon an amazing old castle (1100). Also the Roche de Nayes tram line from the station that goes up the mountainside to a restaurant look-out point. Vevey has a fantastic Saturday AM open air farmers market in the town square. Also a smaller one on the pedestrian street on Tuesdays, and Montreux has their version on Fridays under the pergola.

I have dear friends in Vevey and Montreux and have spent two weeks with them on many occasions. Plenty to see and do IMO.

jules4je7

I have a friend who took her son at 7 months old to Paris for 2 weeks, and it went fine, in fact it's a GREAT age to trvale in since they're not walking and have a harder time getting away from you.

I'd probably choose two cities to minimize moving around...and make sure you take one of those baby carriers like a baby bjorn or whatever he/she is comfy in.

Ignore Logos999. Bad advice.

Jules

kleeblatt

I drove through Vitznau yesterday and live about 25 min. away from there.

Vitznau is a little village located on the Vierwaldstättersee. It has bus stops and a ferry stop but no trains. You can take the mountain train up to the Rigi or you can walk a bit along the shore. I like Vitznau but for your situation, I think Geneva and Davos are better destinations. Davos offers more hiking wise since it's right in the mountains. I also think it's more buggy friendly.

LynnP

I second Geneva and Davos, there is lots to do around there that can easily be done with a baby. I also heartily support the idea of an apartment. We travel a lot with our baby (shock horror) and find having a washing machine and a kitchen blissful. My daughter often prefers to be in the hotel room or apartment after 7pm to crawl around and be a baby so we have tended to eat in or eat early. Apartments make it easy to do that. We have managed to successfully picnic in hotel rooms too, apartments give you more choice.

Many, many, many people living in Switzerland take babies hiking or walking all through the year. I am one of them. BAbies just like being with their parents and can be dressed warmly enough for any conditions. I would take a baby carrier, a sling or something similar to a Baby Trekker (what I use) rather than a buggy for most things unless you are just heading around a town or travelling on a boat.

julia_t

Believe it or not, travelling with a small baby is much easier than with teenagers. It's certainly less stressful - remember this in 16 years time!

I would tend to rent an apartment for the reasons given above, more space, washing machine, kitchen to prepare baby food. If you want to stay in two places most rental companies let on a daily rate, minimum stay 3 days, so that could be an option. Some hotels offer a baby-sitting/listening service so you and your husband could have a nice dinner a deux.

Anyway, don't let a baby deter you from travelling at all. This is the easiest you will have it until the children have all grown up and left home.