Jennifer

Husband and I are heading to Switzerland and Italy next March. We are familiar with Italy, but Switzerland is new for us.<BR>Does anyone have recommendations for ways to research train trips from Zurich to Milan and Milan to Lucerne? We are flying into Zurich and want to head for Milan right off the plane. Since we are not familiar with the Swiss rail system, any help given would be gratefully received.<BR><BR>Thanks!<BR>Jennifer

orgy7

sorry for being a jerk but try typing "train from zurich to milan". in a search engine..

Snoopy

I did. Here's one hit.<BR><BR>http://www.europe-train-ticket.com/Zurich.htm<BR><BR>Takes about 4 hours. The train ride, that is.

Jennifer

Actually,orgy7, the exact verbiage you provided netted the exact results I was looking for.<BR>Thank you.<BR><BR>Now I need to search a little farther to try to find out more about the exact route.

Rex

Well, at least orgy7 realizes what a jerk answer that is/was.<BR><BR>The website www.raileurope.com - - and specifically http://www.raileurope.com/us/rail/fa...ules/index.htm - - is often a good place to start for information. <BR><BR>You get information that looks like this:<BR><BR>From Zuerich Hb <BR>To Milano Centrale <BR>Route Effective 6/16/2002 to 12/14/2002 <BR>Fare Effective 1/1/2002 to 12/31/2002 <BR>Time 03:45 <BR>Distance 293 km / 183 mi <BR><BR><BR>and listings of the numerous departures.<BR><BR>They list the adult fares as $89 USD first class, $58 second class. Without further research, I can reasonably guess that the tickets will cost 20% less than that once you are in europe, and no additional fees to pay (shipping and handling).<BR><BR>There are websites for each additional country listed on the webpage http://mercurio.iet.unipi.it/misc/timetabl.html (note: no "www").<BR><BR>Have a great trip.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

s

Hello Jennifer,<BR><BR>Hope I’m not going to be another jerk, but it seems odd to fly into Zurich when you want to be in Milan?? So many flights from the US go directly to Milan that this seems a bit difficult to me.<BR><BR>In any case (!!), the Swiss rail info is at www.rail.ch. Go to “Travel/Timetable” and input your data. For the departure station, be sure to enter “Zurich airport” to distinguish it from the main station downtown. You’ll find that the trip from Zurich airport to Milan is 4.52 hours with one or two changes. The trip from Milan to Luzern is 4.16 hours with one change, 4.13 hours with 0 changes, or 3.31 hours with one change. You can click on “Journey Guide” to get a precise breakdown of the journey; click on the town name to see all of that town’s departures; or click on the train number to see details on that train (restaurant car, reservations requirements, etc).<BR><BR>Have a great trip!<BR><BR>s<BR>

Jennifer

Thanks for the help everybody.<BR><BR>Hey, S, I understand the confusion with our flight plans. It turns out that we really want to see Zurich and Lucerne, but we're spending the weekend with our Milan friends first, then heading back north. Plus, Expedia was practically giving away non-stop tickets between O'Hare and Zurich a few days back, and we jumped at the chance.<BR><BR>Thanks you so much for the rail.ch address and the tip about the Zurich Airport stop. That's golden.<BR><BR>I'm so excited! This is going to be a wonderful trip - even at the end of winter.

Tom

What price did you get for ORD-ZRH?<BR>

Jennifer

Swiss Air, Non-stop, all taxes, fees, and paper tickets charges = $496 per person.

Tom

Good price. Not all that rare, at least not in years gone by, for March. Glad you're happy with yourplans. Really. Not trying to be cynical at all.<BR><BR>I thought maybe you meant $350 or less.<BR>

Jennifer

It felt pretty close to that at a starting price of $411, not including all the other charges.<BR>I was also expecting to pay a lot more for non-stop. I've gotten incredible airfare deals before, but they always had connections. This should be a real treat.<BR><BR>In the $350 price range you mentioned, Expedia had trips from ORD to Milan and Florence for $353 this week - but, again, they are not non-stop.<BR><BR>I'm looking forward to having my air travel complete in 9 hours or less each way, and only once through customs, and no stops.

xxx

The $350's from Chicago to Italy this far in advance for March? The airlines are really bending fares to the breaking point.<BR><BR>Or is this somewhat unique to Italy? Any to Spain too? Guess i should check.<BR>

jw

S' do you have your November flight booked yet? J.

s

Hello jw!!<BR><BR>(Our apologies to Jennifer as jw and I catch up here for a minute)<BR><BR>I saw your first post this am a few minutes ago; I saw a Switzerland post topped, and as I clicked to open it, I knew you were up and having your Saturday Swiss fix. Good to be sharing this time with you!<BR><BR>Yes, I’ve changed my tickets. Because it’s low season, I got a discount that covered the $150 change fee and left me with a shopping $46 left over!! However, like some folks here in the US, I’m wondering if the fall will be a travel season or a season of another nature. I just don’t know if my heart & my head will let me go! Like you, I may be living off of memories for the interim.<BR><BR>However, I am **planning** the trip with enthusiasm at full throttle!! I continue to check the Interhome website to see if the apartment I want has been rented out yet, and my countdown calendar is at 41 today! <BR><BR>So have a wonderful Saturday. Maybe I’ll see you again on the other side of the server shutdown today.<BR><BR><BR>To Jennifer -- I shudda known. Thanks for not taking offense at my comment!<BR><BR>s<BR>

up pup

up<BR>

CharlieB

The best site for rail travel in Europe I have found is www.bahn.de. Do not be intimidated by all the German. On the left hand banner you will find something about "auskunft" and "ankunft", under that you will see "travel service - time table". Clicking on that get you into the English pages, then just type in your journey. You then can find all the connections including trains and busses, route maps, fares, train make up and even directions to and from your hotel to the train station as well as likely taxi fares.