twk

Thanks for reporting back on your experience. Glad it worked out for you.

annhig

yes, thanks for taking the trouble to come back and tell us how you got on.

i'm particularly grateful as we are going to Switzerland next week - so it's reassuring to read that you had such a good time, albeit there are just the two of us, not small children involved.

Any tips to pass on?

PalenQ

Yes thanks for reporting back - we all learn from your experiences!

swandav2000

Hi again!

Yes, I'm also grateful that you posted your trip report! Thanks for taking the time to do that.

Just a small correction -- the Charlie Chaplin museum isn't in Montreux, but outside of (above) Vevey, in the village of Corsier-sur-Vevey. I went last year and agree -- it's a stunning museum and so enjoyable to see bits of his life and art.

I do agree about the Chocolate Train! I really hate to see when folks spend (or imo "waste" a full day doing that).

Thanks again!

s

elnap29

Glad to hear you enjoyed your time in Lucerne and that the Swiss Travel Pass was worthwhile. We are headed there soon.

snootyb

Yes sorry forgot to mention Charlie Chaplins home and museum is in Vevey but its so easy to get there from Montreux. For the couple trip annhig, I would recommend an extra night in Zurich to check out the night life. Maybe a visit to the Casino in Montreux, party a little : ) which we couldn't really do but frankly did not miss. We also used google maps a lot to get around. just fyi. Now we are planning another trip in september. Vaery unlike me to plan two such trips but we have a big break coming up end september and by chance we got a 90 day schengen visa, very unusual for here so wanting to maximize it : ) thinking spain, italy, or france. doing some more research now. any advice valuable

PalenQ

For the couple trip annhig, I would recommend an extra night in Zurich to check out the night life>

Think annhig's night life is perhaps an early night back in the hotel?

annhig

lol, pal, you know me too well! We did in fact have several nights out in Lucerne - 2 at the concert hall at the Music festival and the last night on a steam ship listening to a Jazz Band but the only way we managed that was for DH to have a good nap in the afternoon.

snooty - thanks for the tips about the tourist train around Lucerne [ideal for us with DH's walking problems] and Mount Pilatus, though unfortunately it was a bit cloudy up there the day we went, and we didn't linger. Luckily the day we went up the Jungfraujoch it was beautiful and we could see for a very long way; we also did a lovely walk down from Kleine Scheidegg to Wengenalp on the way back which I can thoroughly recommend.

annhig

BTW snooty, you might like to look at Sicily - we were blown away by it last year and there is loads there to do, [or not], as well a fab food.

PalenQ

I do agree about the Chocolate Train! I really hate to see when folks spend (or imo "waste" a full day doing that).>

It is what it is - great for folks who like the trappings of a guided tour and luxurious Belle-Epoque Pullman train coaches- but I agree you can do it on your own easily and avoid the rather steep cost of the Chocolate Train.

But for folks who don't want to plan much it may be a good thing -has been around for years now so someone must like it? (Or be duped into it?)

swandav2000

Yes, well the Chocolate Train is well advertised, and folks who don't do a lot of independent research may see the pretty pictures and not realize how easy it is to do on one's own. The same situation, I think, for the Swiss scenic trains. I've been on the train route from Innsbruck to Zürich through the Tyrolian Alps and thought the scenery along the way was at least as good as some of the marketed Swiss scenic trains. I thought at the time that, if it were Switzerland, it would be a marketed & named route. The Swiss are just so good at seizing a view or an experience and then selling it ....

s

kja

Although an admitted chocoholic, I wasn't enamored of the tour at Broc's Maison Cailler -- I found it more interesting for the information about the making of chocolate than for the tasting itself. I didn't take the "Chocolate Train," but if the goal of the trip is just for the tasting, I'd say buy some chocolates at the local grocers and use that time for the many other interesting things in the area. JMO.

swandav2000

kja, the Chocolate train has 2 main goals, I believe. The first is the cheese-making demonstration and tasting in Gruyeres, and the second is the Cailler factory. Now, seeing Gruyeres and enjoying double cream and fondu is just wonderful, and I've done it numerous times. Of course always on my own. I've never been to the Cailler factory despite being in the neighborhood numerous times .... as you say, I far prefer to buy gourmet chocolate or a chocolate pastry wherever I am!

s

kja

@ swandav: Thanks for clarifying!

PalenQ

I always think of Willy Wonka and chocolate factories - always wanted to go but yes probably more pedestrian tour than exciting?