We're spending some time in Paris in August and thinking about taking a train into Switzerland and then go to Lake Como. We can only spend a couple of nights in each place. If we only have one or two days in Switzerland, what should we really see and do? Would you recommend Locarno? Any hotel recommendations if our budget is about $200/night in both Lake Como and Switzerland. Any advice would be greatly appreciated

Absolutely the Interlaken-Grindelwald-Wengen area of the Berner Oberland

the highlight of Switzerland for me every time i go there

a Valahalla of glacier-girdled peaks, tiny cog rail trains, gondolas, walking paths and the finest views anywhere

Locarno is nice but not extraordinary as is this area

Hi schnookies,

It's quite easy to take the TGV from Paris to Lake Geneva, skirt the lake, then go on to the car-free town of Zermatt in the high Alps of the Valais. Spend a few days in Zermatt (or in Brig), then continue on to Lake Como via Milan.

Have fun!

s

I will definitely save your recommendations! How many hours is that train ride from Paris?

Zermatt is just as awesome as the Grindelwald-Lauterbrunnen area and does have the world=famous Matterhorn mountain at the end of its glacier-strewn valley.

You would be in either place in about 6 hours from Paris - Zermatt maybe a tad longer.

Zermatt however would be much closer to Locarno than Grindelwald

From Zermatt you'd take the train or drive down to Brig then the Simplon tunnel rail or road route to Domodossola then hop the tiny Centovalli train to Locarno or drive on roads that parallel the train thru the '100 Valleys' area of Ticino to Locarno - taking, by train about 5 hours.

Hi again,

Yes, Zermatt or Brig would be more enroute for you than the Berner Oberland.

Anyway, you can research the train schedules at the Swiss rail site,

www.rail.ch

Just enter
From -- Paris
To -- Zermatt
Date -- use the European format of day.month.year
Time -- use the 24-hour clock

Then you'll get all the information you need, including times of departure, length of trip, track numbers, and changes.

Also note that you can buy your ticket online at the same site, and discount tickets are available about 90 days in advance. I bought one for last August from Paris to Geneva for 20E.

Have fun!

s

Thanks for some much needed great info!!!I may be back with more questions

Another vote for Zermatt. While the Berner Oberland area is fantastic, Zermatt would be more enroute to Lake Como. I usually stay at the Hotel Daniela (www.zermatt.ch/daniela) in Zermatt. This year I have a rate of 170CHF for a double room with a balcony facing the Matterhorn. It also includes a buffet breakfast and access to the Hotel Julen's Wellness World (indoor swimming pool, gym, etc.). The Hotel Daneila and Hotel Julen are owned by the same Julen family.

If you have the chance, take the cable cars up to Klein Matterhorn. The view is fabulous. You can look down into Italy. I have done it twice. It still thrills me.

hi,

i would suggest to buy a swiss pass.

www.swiss-pass.ch

and to travel arround with the swiss travel system.

the price list on this Swiss Rail site shows why you should buy a Swiss Pass before getting to Switzerland where the same pass is quite a bit more expensive than those sold in the U.S. thru Rail Europe, part owned by the Swiss Railways

Q- why is the Swiss Railways ripping off folks on these passes that they sell much more cheaply in the U.S.?

PalenQ's post prompted me to go to the RailEurope site, after initially printing out the swiss-pass.ch info on the different passes. On Rail Europe, the same passes are all less expensive. But even so, I am not sure that any of them make sense for me. My trip is round trip Geneva, 6 nights Montreux, 2 nights Geneva. I need the train roundtrip Geneva-Montreux - 54chf. Then maybe one or 2 ferry rides, maybe the chocolate train or just the train to Gruyere, maybe the cogwheel up to Rochers de Naya (don't think that is on the passes - maybe 1/2 off). We are not doing any extensive travel inside Switzerland. An 8 day Swiss Pass is $315, 4 day Flexipass is $253, Swiss card is $159. I am giving $ prices here because that is what is shown on the rail europe site. Am I missing something about the value of these passes, or am I right in thinking that it would be best for me to buy my tickets on an as needed basis?

For butnotrmpt,

Yes, that's the catch -- you really have to do a lot of travel to make any of the Passes an economical option. Or -- some folks simply like the flexibility and ease that comes with a Pass.

One thing you may consider is the Half Fare Card, which costs 99 chf and is valid for one month. Then you get half off everything that moves in Switzerland. I've been using the HFC for most of my trips to Switzerland, and it has been the best option for me.

Good luck!

s