14 summer day trip to Switzerland & Austria
Mar 14th, 2019, 05:51 AM
#21
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Thank you all for your continued comments. I feel overwhelmed reading them since I have no idea where anything is but quickly get my map pulled back up and start plotting all the suggestions in there. Not that I can't come back again and visit Austria and Switzerland but I'm trying to make the very most out of this first trip 
screenshot
Last edited by tailsock; Mar 14th, 2019 at 05:54 AM.
Mar 14th, 2019, 07:01 AM
#22
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Map of Switzerland (zoom in and out for all scales):
http://map.geo.admin.ch/?lang=en
http://map.geo.admin.ch/?lang=en
Mar 18th, 2019, 08:04 PM
#23
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My goodness thank you SO much for the maps! I knew there was a way to pin things but couldn't figure out where I had done that before. Perfect!
I have logged some serious hours trying to figure out this hotel situation. It's so difficult because here in the states, I usually stick to one or two hotel brands and that is definitely not possible in Austria and Switzerland! I also have tried to figure out where the city center is for all the areas we want to visit to minimize wasting time commuting to go do things. I've looked most all of these hotels up but if anyone has suggestions, I'm open to them! Even if it's just a suggestion to not stay in that area of town. My husband and I want a clean hotel with a private bathroom. Outside of that, we plan on spending all our time out and about so don't need lots of amenities.
Vienna: Hilton Vienna Plaza
Hallstatt: Seehotel Guner Baum
Salzburg: Starr Inn Premium Comfort Gablerbrau
Zurich: Hotel Motel One Zurich
Lucerne: Altstadt Hotel Krone
Grindelwald: Hotel Tschuggen
Zermatt: Welschen
Geneva: Hotel Central
(Sorry I'm not sure how to pin each of those places to share in order to make it easier for folks who want to comment, to see where they are located)
Also, we are taking very little luggage. Right now, I have our trip planned over a total (including travel to/from USA) of 21 days. Plan on taking about 10 days worth of clothing and washing clothes half way though. Are laundry facilities (washer AND dryer) fairly easy to find? Will probably do laundry around day 9 or 10 which will be Salzburg or Zurich.
I have logged some serious hours trying to figure out this hotel situation. It's so difficult because here in the states, I usually stick to one or two hotel brands and that is definitely not possible in Austria and Switzerland! I also have tried to figure out where the city center is for all the areas we want to visit to minimize wasting time commuting to go do things. I've looked most all of these hotels up but if anyone has suggestions, I'm open to them! Even if it's just a suggestion to not stay in that area of town. My husband and I want a clean hotel with a private bathroom. Outside of that, we plan on spending all our time out and about so don't need lots of amenities.
Vienna: Hilton Vienna Plaza
Hallstatt: Seehotel Guner Baum
Salzburg: Starr Inn Premium Comfort Gablerbrau
Zurich: Hotel Motel One Zurich
Lucerne: Altstadt Hotel Krone
Grindelwald: Hotel Tschuggen
Zermatt: Welschen
Geneva: Hotel Central
(Sorry I'm not sure how to pin each of those places to share in order to make it easier for folks who want to comment, to see where they are located)
Also, we are taking very little luggage. Right now, I have our trip planned over a total (including travel to/from USA) of 21 days. Plan on taking about 10 days worth of clothing and washing clothes half way though. Are laundry facilities (washer AND dryer) fairly easy to find? Will probably do laundry around day 9 or 10 which will be Salzburg or Zurich.
Mar 18th, 2019, 08:15 PM
#24
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Right now, I have our trip planned over a total (including travel to/from USA) of 21 days. Plan on taking about 10 days worth of clothing and washing clothes half way though. Are laundry facilities (washer AND dryer) fairly easy to find? Will probably do laundry around day 9 or 10 which will be Salzburg or Zurich.
But yes, laundry facilities should be available -- guidebooks like the Rough Guide and Lonely Planet routinely note their locations. Expect to pay more than you would in the U.S., as energy is generally much more expensive than in the U.S.
Mar 18th, 2019, 08:31 PM
#25
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I travel for a month at a time and take at most 5 outfits based on interchangeable items and layers; my selection allows me to go from full-day hikes and archeological sites to very high-end restaurants and everything in between. I don't feel the need to wash every item each and every time I wear it. I wash my lingerie in the sink each night, along with other items as necessary.
But yes, laundry facilities should be available -- guidebooks like the Rough Guide and Lonely Planet routinely note their locations. Expect to pay more than you would in the U.S., as energy is generally much more expensive than in the U.S.
But yes, laundry facilities should be available -- guidebooks like the Rough Guide and Lonely Planet routinely note their locations. Expect to pay more than you would in the U.S., as energy is generally much more expensive than in the U.S.
Will definitely check out the guidebooks you mentioned. Thanks!
Mar 18th, 2019, 08:57 PM
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IME, overpacking is a common first-time mistake. Many (most?) people come to detest every extra ounce. The standard guidance: Lay everything you plan to take out. Put half back in their drawers / closets / whatever. Double the cash.
There's a lot of guidance on how to pack out there, in guidebooks and on the web and in various places on Fodor's. You might find it useful to review some of that advice.
There's a lot of guidance on how to pack out there, in guidebooks and on the web and in various places on Fodor's. You might find it useful to review some of that advice.
Mar 18th, 2019, 11:50 PM
#27
I've commented on the Vienna hotel (good choice); and we have stayed at the Seehotel Grüner Baum in Hallstatt. If possible, ask for a lake view room with a balcony. You won't regret the upgrade. And, perhaps make a reservation for dinner on their lakeside terrace.
Once upon a time I packed light; now I am the opposite. I will take and use every bit of the 23 or 30kg luggage weight space offered with a flight, or available for a fee. For me, the potential extra €50 for my case far outweighs the time spent in a laundry and/or the hotel costs for said laundry service. Plus, I don't like dragging everything onboard: my luggage is down below, and it's just me and a shoulder tote on the plane.
Once upon a time I packed light; now I am the opposite. I will take and use every bit of the 23 or 30kg luggage weight space offered with a flight, or available for a fee. For me, the potential extra €50 for my case far outweighs the time spent in a laundry and/or the hotel costs for said laundry service. Plus, I don't like dragging everything onboard: my luggage is down below, and it's just me and a shoulder tote on the plane.
Mar 19th, 2019, 05:46 AM
#28
I've not stayed in the Motel One in Zurich, but I have stayed at one in Munich. Being a chain, I'm assuming they're all pretty similar. Having said that, I looked at the Zurich Motel One website, and it looks a bit more upscale than the one I stayed at in Munich.
IME the rooms tend to be very small and bare bones, but they do the trick. Certainly okay for a night or two. Good breakfast.
IME the rooms tend to be very small and bare bones, but they do the trick. Certainly okay for a night or two. Good breakfast.
Mar 19th, 2019, 10:57 AM
#29
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I've not stayed in the Motel One in Zurich, but I have stayed at one in Munich. Being a chain, I'm assuming they're all pretty similar. Having said that, I looked at the Zurich Motel One website, and it looks a bit more upscale than the one I stayed at in Munich.
IME the rooms tend to be very small and bare bones, but they do the trick. Certainly okay for a night or two. Good breakfast.
IME the rooms tend to be very small and bare bones, but they do the trick. Certainly okay for a night or two. Good breakfast.
Just want safe and clean.I’ve already figured out the Vienna location with thanks to fourfortravel. The other stops, I mostly want to be sure I’m in the right area to maximize time spent doing things and not traveling to/from lodging. Here’s more info:
In Hallstatt, there aren’t many options but the Seehotel Gruner Baum appears to be right in the center of town on Wolfengasse.
In Salzburg, the Star Inn Premium Confort Gablerbrau looks like it is right around the corner from Mozart-Wohnhaus.
In Zurich, Hotel Motel One Zurich is on the far southwest side of District 1, right across the Schanzengraben from the Botanical Garden.
In Lucerne, the Altstadt Hotel Krone appears to be in the city center on the north side of the Reuss.
In Grindelwald, the Hotel Tschuggen is in the middle of what appears to be the long and skinny -ish city center along Dorfstrasse. Appears to be about a 6 minute walk west to the main train station.
In Zermatt, the hotel Welschen is just east of the waterway, maybe an 8 minute walk to the train station. I’m not entirely where the best location is to stay in Zermatt. It doesn’t look like this hotel is within the city center but an 8 minute walk isn’t bad.
Finally, in Geneva I read a lot about staying the the Old Town area. There aren’t many hotels there though. I found a lot nearer to the train station but I also read quite a few comments not to stay in the area. Confused. So Hotel Cental is in Old Town, kind of in the center.
Mar 22nd, 2019, 03:32 AM
#30
An aside, but since you will be in Vienna while the exhibit is still here, consider adding time at KHM for the Rothko exhibit. I recently toured the exhibit with my art group (I'm not "artsy," which is why I attend--so that I will learn something!) and loved it, even dragging DH for a return visit.
https://rothko.khm.at/en/
https://rothko.khm.at/en/
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