Okay you have all been very helpful and I feel like I have a pretty good plan. One last question - our typical mode is to travel with hotel reservations and figure it out when we get there (though sometimes we book the first night because we know we'll be tired). It worked great in Italy, France, England and Scotland - but this is the first time we're taking all trains (we usually drive). Are there enough choices reasonably close to the train stations (we pack light so no huge bags to lug)?

where are you going to be in Switzerland? Most cities like Lucerne, Interlaken, Zurich have hotels near train stations. If you take trains and go without reservations, In my opinion it is a pain drag luggage from hotel to hotel.
Re: hotels - in Lucerne we stayed in Wildenmann, it is walking distance and excellent historic hotel.
In Bern, we stayed in Krebs (I beleive?) hotel near train station but I was not impressed.
There are tourist offices in most large train stations so it is not a problem to get room except busy summer season maybe. Cannot comment on that since we always prebook. Hate to be without reservations!
Sophia

Hi,
I'm eagerly awaiting my trip too. From my research, there seem to always be hotels and other types of accommodation near train stations, because they welcome last minute guests like you. In fact, the train stations often have tourism offices who (sometimes for a small fee) will find a hotel for you upon arrival. Keep in mind, however, that these offices have "business" hours, so don't arrive after 5 seeking their help. In larger cities, they may be open till 7 some nights. At any rate, for most of the towns I've read up on, you need only walk outside the station and look down the street. Also, define for yourself "enough choices". Sometimes the train station is some distance from the main part of the town. And a town the size of Zurich has 6 stations with not all of them having hotels nearby; make sure you get off at the main station. Bon voyage!

The website I mentioned in your "homework" thread also has maps which will show you where hotels are located in relation to the trian stations. The site is run by the Swiss Hotel Association which has 2,500 member hotels. Just type in the city and it sorts the hotels by number of stars.

Good morning, Merrisr
Have on few occasions in CH taken my large bags to the bahnhof the night before leaving for a particular destination in CH and check them on a head, the bags were always at the destination upon our arrival. You can also check them at the time of your departure and then pick them up later
at your destination. Twice have check bags in Chicago on Swiss with the
final destination at Grindelwald, involved a change of trains at Zurich,
Bern and Interlaken an the bags arrived in Grilndelwald on the same train we had been on. Richard of LaGrange Park, Il. Would not try this in any other EUR country!!!rjv