9 days in switzerland
Apr 12th, 2015, 11:32 PM
#22
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How about Gstaad?
www.gstaad.ch
Right in the middle of the gorgeous rolling hills country. You could take a morning train, then stash your bags there and see Gruyeres that day.
s
www.gstaad.ch
Right in the middle of the gorgeous rolling hills country. You could take a morning train, then stash your bags there and see Gruyeres that day.
s
Apr 13th, 2015, 04:04 AM
#23
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would you suggest it better if we did a day trip to Gruyère and stay a night in montreaux instead ??>
Yes by all means - Gruyeres is a fabulous old town but is not on a lovely lake like Montreux is - Montreux much more romantic to stay than Gruyeres - Gruyeres a nice town for a few hour stroll.
Plus the train trip from Montreux to Gruyeres is very scenic. From Montreux you can also take a lake boat cruise to nowhere say late in the afternoon - just to relax - maybe bring a picnic on board - sit in the open-air and just relax.
Again many people love nearby Vevey even more than Montreux.
Yes by all means - Gruyeres is a fabulous old town but is not on a lovely lake like Montreux is - Montreux much more romantic to stay than Gruyeres - Gruyeres a nice town for a few hour stroll.
Plus the train trip from Montreux to Gruyeres is very scenic. From Montreux you can also take a lake boat cruise to nowhere say late in the afternoon - just to relax - maybe bring a picnic on board - sit in the open-air and just relax.
Again many people love nearby Vevey even more than Montreux.
Apr 13th, 2015, 06:53 AM
#24
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you'll be seeing the exact same scenery two times if you did a day trip to Gruyeres and then take the Golden Pass to Wengen.>
I have taken the old Chocolate Train route when it began in Lausanne and went straight up thru vineyards en route to Gruyeres not at all going over the Golden Pass route - in fact this route could be just as quick or quicker - so you do not have to cover the same scenic railways to do that. One route in a mainline normal gauge route and the other a narrow-gauge route.
Looking at schedules times should be about the same via either route from Montreux, about 10 minutes or so from Lausanne by train:
Lausanne We, 15.04.15 dep 07:42 1 RE 3107 Regional-Express
Palezieux dep 07:58 2
Romont We, 15.04.15 arr 08:13 3
Transfer time 10 min.
Romont We, 15.04.15 dep 08:23 1 RE 4008 Regional-Express
Bulle We, 15.04.15 arr 08:42
Transfer time 10 min.
Bulle We, 15.04.15 dep 08:52 4 S 60 S-Bahn
La Tour-de-Treme dep 08:54
Le Pâquier-Montbarry dep 08:56
Gruyères We, 15.04.15 arr 08:59
I have taken the old Chocolate Train route when it began in Lausanne and went straight up thru vineyards en route to Gruyeres not at all going over the Golden Pass route - in fact this route could be just as quick or quicker - so you do not have to cover the same scenic railways to do that. One route in a mainline normal gauge route and the other a narrow-gauge route.
Looking at schedules times should be about the same via either route from Montreux, about 10 minutes or so from Lausanne by train:
Lausanne We, 15.04.15 dep 07:42 1 RE 3107 Regional-Express
Palezieux dep 07:58 2
Romont We, 15.04.15 arr 08:13 3
Transfer time 10 min.
Romont We, 15.04.15 dep 08:23 1 RE 4008 Regional-Express
Bulle We, 15.04.15 arr 08:42
Transfer time 10 min.
Bulle We, 15.04.15 dep 08:52 4 S 60 S-Bahn
La Tour-de-Treme dep 08:54
Le Pâquier-Montbarry dep 08:56
Gruyères We, 15.04.15 arr 08:59
Apr 13th, 2015, 09:27 AM
#25
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If you want to catch Palen's train at Lausanne, you have to leave Montreux at 7.04.
Alternatives:
Montreux dp 6.57 - Vevey 7.06/7.09 - Lavaux vineyard train - Puidoux 7.22/7.33 - Palézieux 7.40/7.46 - metre gauge train La Gruyère - Bulle 8.27/8.52 - Gruyères ar 8.59;
Montreux dp 7.18 - Vevey 7.24/7.30 - bus - Châtel St. Denis 7.55/8.00 - metre gauge train La Gruyère - Bulle 8.27/8.52 - Gruyères ar 8.59
Trains/buses every hr
Alternatives:
Montreux dp 6.57 - Vevey 7.06/7.09 - Lavaux vineyard train - Puidoux 7.22/7.33 - Palézieux 7.40/7.46 - metre gauge train La Gruyère - Bulle 8.27/8.52 - Gruyères ar 8.59;
Montreux dp 7.18 - Vevey 7.24/7.30 - bus - Châtel St. Denis 7.55/8.00 - metre gauge train La Gruyère - Bulle 8.27/8.52 - Gruyères ar 8.59
Trains/buses every hr
Apr 13th, 2015, 11:23 PM
#26
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u guys are super helpfull !!
so between spending a night in Gruyère or Gstaad im imaging Gstaad would be a better option ??
how long does it take between the 2 ?? and does is it easier for me to go from gstaad to wengen ??
so between spending a night in Gruyère or Gstaad im imaging Gstaad would be a better option ??
how long does it take between the 2 ?? and does is it easier for me to go from gstaad to wengen ??
Apr 13th, 2015, 11:32 PM
#28
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Hi xaara,
You can use the Swiss rail site at
www.sbb.ch
change the language to English.
You'll get all the info you need!
s
You can use the Swiss rail site at
www.sbb.ch
change the language to English.
You'll get all the info you need!
s
Apr 14th, 2015, 06:18 AM
#31
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Pal, no, the station at Gruyeres (and also at Montbovon) don't have luggage lockers. Don't know about Broc, but I doubt it.
neckervd, I envisioned them checking into the hotel in Gstaad by mid-morning and keeping suitcases there, then going on to Gruyeres for the rest of the day.
s
neckervd, I envisioned them checking into the hotel in Gstaad by mid-morning and keeping suitcases there, then going on to Gruyeres for the rest of the day.
s
Apr 14th, 2015, 09:49 AM
#32
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Bulle has a left luggage office
http://www.sbb.ch/en/station-service...osid.4086.html
but swan's suggestion (hotel at Gstaad) is much better.
http://www.sbb.ch/en/station-service...osid.4086.html
but swan's suggestion (hotel at Gstaad) is much better.
Apr 14th, 2015, 10:20 AM
#33
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Send lugage to Lausanne - pack day pack for overnighting in Gruyeres then pick up bags next morning - well I did not follow eveything so that may not be in the works? Or take day pack and stay in Lausanne or Montreux and pick bags up at nearby Lausanne anytime next day?
Apr 16th, 2015, 05:08 AM
#34
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thanks for all the advice ... we finally decided go stay in montreux for the night as there seemed to be allot more to do.... and with one of the days in Geneva we will work out going to Gruyère for the day .
another question ... we plan to get the Swiss rail pass for 8 days ...... however ...everyone keeps mentioning the Golden pass route ..... is that covered in the Swiss rail pass that i get or is that something additional ?? do i need to book in advance ?
another question ... we plan to get the Swiss rail pass for 8 days ...... however ...everyone keeps mentioning the Golden pass route ..... is that covered in the Swiss rail pass that i get or is that something additional ?? do i need to book in advance ?
Apr 16th, 2015, 05:16 AM
#35
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Hi again,
If you travel on the specially-designated Golden Pass wagons, then you must make reservations for it, and the reservations are extra. Your travel will be covered by the Swiss Pass, but you'll have to make reservations for the GP.
If you do this, you should go for the VIP seats at the very front or very rear of the train -- they are first class, so you may have to upgrade.
If you don't care about going on the designated wagons or going in the VIP seats, you can take any of the regular trains on the route or even one of the regular wagons on the GP train. There are some towns, etc, on this route, and locals are on the trains all day long. As you don't need reservations, you won't have to pay anything for this trip.
Have fun!
s
If you travel on the specially-designated Golden Pass wagons, then you must make reservations for it, and the reservations are extra. Your travel will be covered by the Swiss Pass, but you'll have to make reservations for the GP.
If you do this, you should go for the VIP seats at the very front or very rear of the train -- they are first class, so you may have to upgrade.
If you don't care about going on the designated wagons or going in the VIP seats, you can take any of the regular trains on the route or even one of the regular wagons on the GP train. There are some towns, etc, on this route, and locals are on the trains all day long. As you don't need reservations, you won't have to pay anything for this trip.
Have fun!
s
Apr 17th, 2015, 03:32 AM
#37
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If you travel on the specially-designated Golden Pass wagons, then you must make reservations for it, and the reservations are extra. Your travel will be covered by the Swiss Pass, but you'll have to make reservations for the GP.>
Are you sure of this - my info says not but I will check on it and get back - you are encouraged to make seat reservations to be in the observation cars but TMK reservations are not absolutely required. Again will check and get back - you may be right, things do change.
Are you sure of this - my info says not but I will check on it and get back - you are encouraged to make seat reservations to be in the observation cars but TMK reservations are not absolutely required. Again will check and get back - you may be right, things do change.
Apr 17th, 2015, 09:31 AM
#40
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VIP must be booked ahead - not that it is a requirement but since there are only a handful on each train advance booking is imperative - you sit in a compartment right next to the driver's booth so you can simulate driving the train - the VIP seats in the rear of the train are not nearly so nice but still novel - seeing the scenery and tracks as they fade away!
Back when the GP section from Montreux to Zweisimmen was called the Panoramic Express some years ago before the whole route Montreux to Interlaken to Lucerne was re-branded as the Golden Pass - then on that first section seats in panoramic observation cars indeed did have a seat reservation requirement.
Back when the GP section from Montreux to Zweisimmen was called the Panoramic Express some years ago before the whole route Montreux to Interlaken to Lucerne was re-branded as the Golden Pass - then on that first section seats in panoramic observation cars indeed did have a seat reservation requirement.
