My friend has a house in basel, and I can stay there for free. So, My friends and I we wanna rent a car and travel around. 4 of us want to save the hotel fee, bcoz we are poor students. So, we plan base at basel. Would anyone please suggest where to go in switzerland and in France by car? Now the summer is long, so we can start early in the morning and come back late. We like to travel and hike somewhere on the mountain.( not so difficult hike)

thank you for your help!!!

jasmine

I suggest that you beg, borrow or steal a guidebook or two. One for Switzerland and one for France.

How I envy you!

I agree with Peg, go to the library and get the guidebooks she suggests but remember that Germany is only a few miles from Basel.
We went to Basel on a day trip from Germany. It would have been smarter for us to take public transpo instead of a car but my motto now is sometimes, live, learn, warn others.

How old are you? You may pay quite a bit to rent a car, while taking trains you can get student discounts. Check it out.

One last thing about renting the car. Can you drive a manaul? You will pay a lot extra for an automatic and extra if you're under 25.

Go to www.abebooks.com Since numerout people have recomended them, I've bought a bunch of books.

My latest for an upcoming trip, is a Moon travel guide to Prague. 2008 and $1.62.

Love this website.

thanks for remind me that the automatic is a lot more expansive! I have the guide book, but just can't make decision if travel to geneva 1 day ,and como lake 1 day, and zurich would be possible?

Como is no day trip from Basel. Too far. There are more than enough options that do not require wasting most of the day on road or rail to get there.

Zürich is one hour, no big deal.

Geneva is doable but still quite ab it of travelling.

How about the many destinations in Alsace, like Colmar, Strasbourg, Ecomusée d'Alsace museum village near Mulhouse, the wine villages, the Vosges mountains...?

And how about a bit of Germany, the Black Forest, Freiburg?

Did you consider Bern or Luzern?

Schaffhausen, the Rhine Falls, and Stein am Rhein?

If you are into really old stuff, visit the ancient Roman excavations of Augusta Raurica in Kaiseraugst, just a short hop from Basel.

All these places can be easily reached by train, by the way, there is no need to bother with a rental car.

If you want to see the mountains you're goin gabout it the wonr way.

Zurich is a business city and there is no reason for a tourist to bother.

You should be heading up into the mountains - for instance, go to Interlaken and take the train up the Junfraujoch. You can also visit a couple of the villages part way up the mountains and take some easy hikes/walks from there.

Also Luzern is a charming city with lake steamers and access to several mountain peaks.

Don;t think you'll make Como by car.

Also - have you looked at costs in Switzerland - for car rental, food, etc. It is probably the most expensive place in europe - and on the McDonald's meter (not suggesting you eat there - but for comparison) the McMeal that is about %8 here is about $18 there. Just so you're prepared.