snootyb

Hi, I decided to stick to switzerland. i am skipping zermatt based on the feedback -- so now i am thinking we fly into Zurich but go straight to Lucern ( 3 nights) ; Wengen (3 nights) ; Montreux (3 nights) ; Zurich ( 2 nights). If I skip Zermatt i have one and maybe two additional nights to spend which i need to think of. Also any suggestions on things to do: Based on online research, I am thinking Mt. Titlis, Jungfrau, the Gruyere cheese factory, the chocolate factory (all day trips as suggested). Thank you again.

PalenQ

Perfect itinerary now - those extra two days -spend them in Wengen - there is so so much to do in that area -go down to Interlaken and take lovely boat rides on the two lakes bookending Interlaken (free with Swiss Pass) and yes do the Jungfraujoch from Wengen -take a whole day.

But Zermatt is also nice -if just for the Matterhorn (though it seems clouds or haze often obscures it).

suze

<<the Gruyere cheese factory, the chocolate factory>>

I would instead do the castle at Gruyeres and the castle at Montreux.

Your new itinerary is MUCH better!

PalenQ

The Gruyeres Cheese Factory tours took me about 15 minutes - just a walk thru though I suppose they also have proper tours - but was not impressed.

Gruyeres great walled town and yes great castle.

PalenQ

All of Switzerland outside cities and especially in Alpine areas seems to be a farm with cows everywhere - footpaths may have cow dung on them - must I report I was at a farm because I may have stepped on some?

kja

Too many days in Switzerland? Well, I spent 30 days there, and regretted that I didn’t have time to see more of this spectacular country. You can click on my name to find my trip report. But it’s your trip and your call, and honestly, ONLY you can decide what most fits your interests and travel style.

I think your revised itinerary is much better. I’d add your two nights to Wengen (so you have time to explore the area if the weather isn’t good) or at least I’d add one night there, and then add your other night to Montreux or Lucerne, depending on your interests.

And please get a decent guidebook – the cost will be nugatory in comparison to the cost of your trip, you will get information about what to see and do, and you will learn things that you don’t even know to ask.

twk

I agree with Pal--I'd add at least one night to Wengen, might add the other one to Montreux if you don't add them both to Wengen.

The chocolate factory at Broc and Gruyere make a good combo daytrip from Montreux. Go to the choloate factory first (tours start at 10) because it get's busier as the day goes on. At Gruyere, the train station is next to the cheese place, and the old town is up the hill. The old town is the better attraction, but you might pop in and look at the cheese making process if you are there at the right time (think the last tour is at 2 pm) and particularly if you have a consecutive days Swiss Travel Pass, as I believe admission is included.

swandav2000

Hi again,

I agree with the others here -- don't add a destination, but put those extra nights into the places you've already chosen. I again agree with twk to add one night to Wengen and one to Montreux. If you stayed in Montreux for 3 nights, that's only 2 full days, and that's only enough time to see the basics. If you added 1 night/1 day, you could spend time in the vineyards of the Lavaux (between Vevey & Lausanne). There are lots of very easy, paved walks in the vineyards and also some little touristy trains to take to see them. There are several wine caves for tasting, and a big facility in Rivaz where you can taste a lot of wines from the region.

Have I missed your travel dates? Will this be in the summer or in the fall?

Have fun as you plan!

s

tipsygus

While you are in Wengen your 4 year old will love the open air museum at Ballenberg near Brienz. Combine this with a boat traip on the Brienzersee from Interlaken Ost and then a bus from Brienz it makes a great day out if weather is not good enough for the peaks.

snootyb

Hi, thanks a ton again. Spending that extra night in wengen though quite tempted by the vineyard mention near Montreux. I've taken notes on places to cover from the comments. I must say twk your pictures are gorgeous. Regards the Swiss pass, I am unclear whether we should take the 1st class or 2nd class. The differences aren't too clear on the website or maybe I missed it. We will probably have breakfast at whatever hotel we stay at but any other recommendations on places to eat at or places to see or shop would be lovely if not asking for too much. thanks once again. I will book my hotels tomorrow so any recommendations for hotels in Zurich, wengen, montreux, Zurich would also be great.

PalenQ

Regards the Swiss pass, I am unclear whether we should take the 1st class or 2nd class.>

Many of your trips will be in mountainous areas -trains there have but a smattering of first class but for intercity trains there are dedicated first-class cars that have fewer seats in same size car as 2nd and on boats first class only on the front upper deck-premium seats -that said you are not taking many long train trips and most folks find 2ndcl fine in Switzerland. I always have a first-class pass and enjoy its benefits - very subjective takes -but again most here say they were happy with 2ndcl.

But there is a difference -like hopping on trains and usually finding more empty seats in 1st cl.

check the sites I gave above for the typical difference between 1st and 2ndcl -www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

kja

In Zurich, you might consider the Hotel St. Josef.
http://st-josef-zurich.hotels-zurich.org/en/

PalenQ

Note on trains or boats with two classes if you find 2nd class too crowded or just want to go first class you can with your pass pay for an upgrade between the normal first- and second-class fares.

May be cheaper than buying a first-class pass and let you go 1st cl say on Golden Pass Interlaken-Montreux or on lake boats, etc.

swandav2000

Hi again,

Do you mean you are booking now for a trip that starts this Friday?

You are travelling at the very high season to the very busiest tourist spots. You may have to be happy to take whatever is available. Probably a first step would be to go to booking.com, input your dates and your towns, and see what's available.

You also haven't given your preferred price range per night so that our recommendations would be relevant to you.

Some good hotels in Montreux are the Eden Palace au Lac, 4 star, right on the lake (I've stayed there 3 times, but some time ago, before they added the pretentious "Palace" to their name); Royal Plaza, 5-star, right on the lake; the Au Fil de l'Eau, 4-star, right on the lake (stayed there once with my mom under the last owners -- be aware that it can be noisy at night due to the diners); the Golf-Hotel Rene Capt, 4-star (never stayed there, but it's right on the lake in a quiet spot). Another place I haven't stayed at but like the location of, is the Hostellerie Bon Rivage in La Tour-de-Peilz, between Montreux & Vevey. It's a 3-star right on the lake and right at a bus stop. Your hosts will give you a Riviera Card, making the busses free, so you can be in Montreux quickly.

Have fun!

s

snootyb

Hi, me in Lucern living out the plan based on the advice in this forum and so far it's going great. We go to wengen tomorrow. Just wondering what route to take. There is a golden pass option which is 7 hours probably too long, there is another route of non golden pass which has two stops. Is there no direct option to wengen ? We have two bags and a stroller. Also is it advisable to get on the golden pass panoramic train for this leg ? In wengen for 4 nights and then in montreux for 4 nights then Zurich for 2 nights. Just wondering on best trains to take. Thanks again ! Staying at stern luzern hotel. Lovely location and good service.

tipsygus

Iwould take what you are calling the Golden Pass route, over the Breunig Pass via Meiringen to Interlaken Ost. You need to go to Interlaken Ost anyway to change trains for Wengen. Your train changes would be in Interlaken and Lauterbrunnen, both a matter of vhanging platforms and easy to do. Don't bother with the panoramic train all the trains have large windows and are comfortable.

You could finish the Golden Pass route (it's marketing ploy calling the it the Golden Pass route) from Wengen, or at least from Interlaken via Spiez and Zweisimmen to Montreux. on this part of the route you have again to change trains in Interlaken, Spiez and Zweisimmen but again they easy cross platform changes.

The journey from Lucerne to Wengen should only take about 21/2 hours, it's few years since i wnet from Interlaken to Montreux so I am not sure how long the jurney s, but it is well worth it.

PalenQ

It's about 3 hrs Interlaken-Ost to Montreux via Golden Pass route - not that much longer than fastest route via Bern.

annhig

try to download the SBB timetable app - it's really easy to use.

snootyb

Hi thanks a ton for the great advice. We did 3 nights in lucerne, 4 nights in wengen, 4 nights in montreux and 2 nights in Zurich. We had a lovely time and very relaxed just the way we wanted. However, we still saw and did a lot every day as it's so easy to get around switzerland and the days are so long. It was bright even at 9 pm ! We stayed at the stern luzern in lucern. They had the best food and wine and soft beds although the rooms are small but neat and tidy. Mt titlis and mt Pilatus were decent trips to do and I would recommend. Also enjoyed the little tram that takes you around lucerne. Wengen was the most beautiful. We visited JungfrauJoch. Didn't like the touristy feel of the place until we got to the top and out on the mountain and then it was just exhilarating. We also visited Murren -lovely little village and wengen itself is a quaint little village which had activities for kids and adults ��We played table tennis, rented a balancing bike for our toddler and drank a lot of different kinds of beer and wines. Stayed at the belvedere. Nice hotel with large rooms and nice service. The ballenberg museum met our need to see farm animals and our toddler had a great time there. It was a day well spent. Interlaken was pretty but we didn't go boating as we didn't have the time. We did have a lovely boat trip in lucerne and the Swiss pass was terrific in that, we entered almost every place we wanted for free. The Charlie Chaplin museum in montreux was an exception. We loved that experience too as much as liked montreux. It was more a party place and the Eau De Lac has a great location on the lake. Breakfast was pretty dull and mindless but montreux itself was gorgeous and very different from the beauty of the mountains. In wengen we really enjoyed the trummelbach falls and all the mountain walks we did. Sorry I'm jumping here but I want to capture everything so it might help the next person to travel. We also went to the outlet mall in ALLMEND. Not much to shop but the food was great. Zurich was only two nights and we kind of wasted it going to the Black Forest which isn't really worth it as you don't go into the forest at all but just a souvenir shop. Oh we also don't recommend the chocolate train as you don't see much at all. Too many hours for just visiting some shops. But we enjoyed the vibe of Zurich. People were a bit uptight though. Less smiling and friendly compared to the rest of switzerland. We enjoyed Japanese food at Kai and the play park right next to it. Rhine falls was also nice. All in all a lovely trip and a great family vacation we will cherish. Thank you friends for lovely advice. I really valued it and it helped make for a great trip.

kja

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for reporting back.