Hello everyone,
I'm beginning to plan a trip to Switzerland for early October. We have ten days, but want to spend last three days in Paris. My sister and I are in our early and late 60's, and decided we want to end our future trips in Paris because we love it so.

We're thinking of flying into Zurich and returning from Paris. We have only 7 days in Switzerland and are torn between these two itineraries:
Lucerne - 2 nights
Bern Oberlander - (Brienz, Thun) 2 nights
Lac Leman area - 3 nights
or
Lucerne - 2 nights
Bern Oberlander (Brienz, Thun) - 2 nights
Lugano - 3 nights

If we do the first itinerary we could train from Geneva to Paris. Seems like an easy trip.

If we do the second itinerary, we probably could do Lugano to Milan and fly Easy Jet to Paris.

Even though it is a personal preference, which would be a better stay Lugano or the Lac Leman area? What do you think of the allocation of days in each area? Thank you for your help. Gladys

I love Vevey and Montreux but haven't been to the other places to give you a comparison of the two choices.

Hi gladfon,

Like suze above, I frequently stay on Lake Geneva and really love it there. In fact, I've rented an apartment in Montreux for two months this summer (Aug-Oct).

Here are some ideas of my favorite things to do there:

Montreux old town
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR...reux_Vaud.html

Lavaux
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR...reux_Vaud.html

Promenade Fleuri
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR...reux_Vaud.html

Morges
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR...rges_Vaud.html

Gruyeres
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR..._Fribourg.html

I have also been to Lugano and really didn't enjoy it. The lakeside promenade is next to a major, busy street, which destroyed its appeal for me. I also thought Lugano was a major city, with all its noise, crowds, cars, etc. If you like the vibe of a major city, you'll like Lugano. If you don't like a big city but would also like to experience the Italian section of the country, you could try Locarno. Anyway, I was supposed to be in Lugano for a week and I left after a few days.

Maybe you can find some photos online at google or at www.webshots.com. That might help you make your decision.

Have fun!

s

Hi Suze and Swandav,
Thank you for your replies. After looking at the pictures I can see why you both love the Lake Geneva area. Swandav, what wonderful reviews of the villages (cities?) in the area. Your pictures apparently were taken in late Spring. I'm wondering what the area will be like in October. I'm leaning towards doing this area, it looks so beautiful.

Are there any Lugano lovers out there? I would appreciate your input. Thank you. Gladys

gladys ---it makes so much more sense to take the train from Geneve to Paris; however you go you should finish there.

I haven't been to the Ticino area, but if you really want to include it, a triangle Luzern---Locarno---Lac Leman area makes sense. Locarno you can reach from Luzern by direct train in just under 3 hours. Locarno to Montreux is 3 hours 40 minutes, via the very scenic Centovalli railway to Domodossola, then to Brig and onward to Lac Leman.

But then, you would not see the Berner Oberland. I see both your plans include Brienz/Thun, so this area is important to you. Perhaps you could decide based on which area has the best chance of good weather and scenery in October? Hopefully someone with experience on that can come in and help---it would be nice to know if someplace has fall weather that is notoriously bad!

Hi Enzian,
Thank you for your comments. I am interested in seeing the Berner Oberland, even though we are not hikers. I am now waiting to hear from others regarding the weather and scenery in Ticino and Lake Geneva. I am drawn to Lake Geneva because of its beauty, and also the ease of train travel from there into Paris. Thank you so much for your help. Gladys

Hi gladfon,

I've been to Montreux in March, May (2x), August (2x), October, September, & November (2x). I can tell you that it's always good, lol!!

Seriously, though, I think October will be great. When I was there in Sep 05, it was still *very* hot. With the warming temperatures these days, I think September will still be hot; so October should be ideal.

My only October visit was in 1997, and unfortunately, I don't remember details back that far!!

On the other hand, the Ticino will be great at that time, too. It may be warmer in the Ticino, if that's a consideration --

Good luck!

s

I'm topping this so I can weigh in tomorrow when I'm likely to have a bit more time (LOL). Bottom line, though, in case my friends think they know my opinion is Lac Leman. My heart is on Lago Maggiore, but my screen saver is St. Saphorin in the Lavaux. You will fall in love with that area. S', is early October before or after grape harvest? (I can never remember.) Affectionately, but so busy I can't keep up. J.

hi, gladfon -- I am considering doing about the exact same trip!!! Only mine would be end of July. I opted more for your first itinerary, but that's just what I'm doing, not really advice, as I haven't been to Swit. or Lugano.

I plan to take the TGV to Paris from Lausanne rather than Geneva, as I'll be over Montreux way and it's closer, but either works.

I'm really kind of hoping some of these Swiss experts maybe could help with my question on some transportation options around the Verbier/Martigny area, so if Suze or anyone has ideas on that, my post should pop up near the top if you search on Switzerland in the country box.

Sorry to use your post for advertising, so to speak, but I really need some advice.

>Are there any Lugano lovers out there?<

I'm one of those - but for the beauty of the Lake, not necessarily for the town. Our upcoming June trip will be to and from Geneva...

My thinking about the Alps is, if you only have a couple of days scheduled and the weather does not cooperate, what then?

Hi Swandav, Jmw, Christina, Tuck
I am getting so excited about this trip reading your responses.

Swandav I'm glad to hear that the Lake Geneva area is great all year round. It looks awesome in your pictures.

Christina if I were going in July I would definitely go to Lake Geneva.

Tuck, I am not too worried about weather in the Oberland. It may seem odd to mountain lovers, but I would be content to see the alps without being on them. If the weather cooperates,
I'd like to go up to Jungfraujoch(?). I've read that Brienz and Thun are good bases for exploring the area. Do you have some suggestions for one day, if we go to Jungfraujoch. Thank you for your replies.

Hi JMW44,
Thank you for your input; am looking forward to more. I always enjoy reading your posts on Switzerland.
Gladys

>but I would be content to see the alps without being on them.<

Well, that's my point. With cloud cover (not necessarily rain), you'll not be content because you won't be able to see them...

Lugano is nice for a 2 night stay. Go up Monte San Salvatore before sunset. It has a gorgeous view. You can watch all the lights come on below, and have a nice meal at the restaurant. You can even get in some casino time in Lugano. Stroll via Nassa.

Christina~~ sorry but i only know the Geneva area... Lausanne, Vevey, Montreux. I have included other cities like Amsterdam, Paris, or Venice as part of my trips, but I have yet to see any other part of Switzerland other than Lac Leman.

Gladfon~ It is pretty gorgeous, non? Wait 'til you see it in person!

My first trip was one November. It was cool and sometimes rainy but still wonderful. You did need a decent wool coat, boots, hat, and gloves.

We visited Lugano in August 2005 and had a wonderful stay for two nights. The setting is beyond description - I've never seen anything quite like it - with the mountains coming right down to the waterfront. It's a large-ish resort town that still has a certain charm when you explore the older part. And the lake shore park is wonderful for strolling in the evening.

We stayed at Hotel Lugano Dante and it sits in a small piazza with frescoed buildings. It served a hot chocolate for breakfast that you could stand a spoon up in.

If you enjoy shopping, there are a lot of high-end stores, along with the CO-OP department store. It has a take out food store in the basement, and we made the most delightful meal one night while sitting on the bench by the lake shore.

And we visited the Casino as mentioned earlier but the games aren't quite like Vegas so we were a bit stymied.

One night they had a Caribbean music band playing in the main piazza - not what I was expecting in a visit to Switzerland but lots of fun. Another piazza had strolling classical musicians serenading diners in the various restaurants.

But the highlight quite simply was the boat ride around the lake and the stop at Gandria, and then the ride up to Mount San Salvatore. Wonderful views! The boat ride allowed you to get off and on at various stops for the price of one ticket.

Hi Toni,
Thank you for your detailed description of your experience in Lugano. It sounds wonderful. Now I am thinking perhaps I should consider Enzian's suggestion of leaving out the Oberland and going for Luzern, Lugano, and Lac Leman. That would give us a taste of three different areas. I'm concerned that with just two days in the Oberland we might be stuck if the weather is bad. I thought that one only had to be concerned about the weather at the mountain top, and not about weather at the lower altitudes. Any comments on weather in early October? I think I saw a post saying that October may have clearer days than the summer. Well, I'm going to continue to think about it. Thank you all. Gladys

Hi Gladys---Switzerland is so beautiful, it is hard to go wrong anywhere. My time there has been limited to summer, but I have seen postcard photos of some of my favorite places in the fall, with the larches turning golden, and I want to be ther in the fall. They alway show beautiful blue skies inte photos, but it may not always be like that. I have friends who have gone in September, hiked in a foot of new snow, and two weeks later the sun was out again and the snow all gone. And I have been there in August when it was so cluody you couldn't see the mountains. So you never know what you will get, no matter when you go.

I think you should choose based in the itinerary that makes the most sense, the hotels and towns that appeal to you. The weather is more likely to be friendly south of the Alps, in the Ticino, and around Lac Leman, than in the heart of the Berner Oberland. But some places in the BO are lovely no matter what the weather (I am thinking of the lovely Lauterbrunnen valley).

I always have trouble deciding where to go in Switzerland. But it is always a great trip, no matter what we choose. You and your sister will have a wonderful time.

Hi gladfon,
I've lucky enough to have been to Switzerland three times - twice in spring and once in autumn/fall, actually two weeks over last September-October. As I've been to all the places you've mentioned, I'll make these comments:
Luzern and Brienz I prefer in spring - particularly Brienz when there's more snow on the mountains. Lauterbrunnen Valley was spectacular in both seasons; we had wonderful weather over three days in Grindelwald [up a side valley] last year, but Lauterbrunnen itself would give you more options if the weather wasn't as good. E.g It's an easy one-change train ride to Thun from there, or Bern if you like. I don't like Interlaken, particularly in autumn.

The train trip from Luzern to Brienz is lovely - in both directions.

Lac Leman, particularly the Eastern end, is beautiful. I prefer Vevey to Montreux, but only because Montreux is so built up. There are many mountain railway trips from there - as well as from Aigle and Martigny - that are covered by a Swiss Pass, with 50% discount on the remainder. [The Swiss Pass also covers the ferry trips on all the Swiss lakes - but only the southern side of Lake Constanz, or Bodensee as it's called on the Geramn side. I'm not sure whether the Swiss Pass covers all or part of Lake Maggiore].

Enjoyed Lugano very much, and also the Domodossola [Centivalli] train ride from Locarno. We saw it in spring, with lots of snow, but I imagine it would be lovely in autumn too. Lake Lugano is a narrow lake and quite scenic - except for some ugly development. Locarno is on Lake Maggiore and is much much bigger - a different experience. I haven't stayed in Locarno so can't comment.

If you enjoy train travel you can get from Vevey/Montreux to Domodossola via the Simplon tunnel, do the Centivalli trip to Locarno and back in an easy day. [Personally I would recommend that over the other short trips from Aigle or even the Mont Blanc one from Martigny.]